Need help installing packages

[Amano]

I've been at this for about two hours and I'm going to deck someone pretty soon...I feel like ripping Linux apart with my TEETH.

Just to put this problem into context, let me explain some stuff. Certain files in my /etc/sysconfig/network/scripts were deleted (how? Who knows). In trying to restore these files, after much searching, I found that I could reinstall the files by installing the sysconfig-0.40.6-4.2.i586 package, so I downloaded it in Windows.

Back in Linux, when I try to install it using yast, I get this crap:

-------------------------------------------------------------------
ERROR(InstTarget:E_RpmDB_subprocess_failed)
---
error: unpacking of archive failed on file /etc/sysconfig/network/scripts/check_configurations: cpio: rename failed - Permission denied

2006-12-10 15:14:37 sysconfig.rpm install failed
rpm output:
error: unpacking of archive failed on file /etc/sysconfig/network/scripts/check_configurations: cpio: rename failed - Permission denied

2006-12-10 15:22:56 sysconfig.rpm install failed
rpm output:
error: unpacking of archive failed on file /etc/sysconfig/network/scripts/check_configurations: cpio: rename failed - Permission denied
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I tried doing the install logged in as root, but it gives me the same message. I then located the package on my install CD and tried again, but no luck. I tried using chmod to change permissions, but I have no idea how it works (I've been using Linux for less than a week), and I even copied the entire contents of my install disk to the hard drive to install from there, hoping to bypass this permissions problem, but that didn't work either.

I'm getting super irritated in solving one problem only to have another pop up, and of constantly having to go back and forth between OSes to try to find a solution (my network is completely down in Linux due to those missing files).

If anyone has a clue what to do, please share, cause I sure don't...

[hughitt1]

Yea, installing stuff on linux can take a bit of time to get the hang of, but once you learn your way around with the package manager, and how to install a tarball, life gets a lot easier.

Try installing the file using rpm instead of through yast. You may get the same results, but its worth a shot.

Bring up a terminal (gnome-terminal / konsole), and navigate to the folder where sysconfig.rpm is located, then type into the console:

sudo rpm -ivh sysconfig.rpm

Enter your root password, and then it should install (hopefully). I Can't remember if yum is on suse by default, but if it is, that is another alternative to yast that may work better.

Let us know how it goes.

goodluck!

[Amano]

Thanks, I'll try it and post back later.

I also tried rpm -vv --rebuilddb, which is supposed to rebuild the package repository database; it ran to completion, but I still got the same error unfortunately.

[Amano]

Sigh...Allright...

I tried what you suggested, but apparently rpm can't find the file (sysconfig.rpm). I searched all my drives for it manually, but it's not there.

This is a permissions problem though, I'm pretty sure of that. I searched the net for the error message I'm getting (ERROR(InstTarget:E_RpmDB_subprocess_failed)), and other people were able to solve it using rpm -vv --rebuilddb, but none of their errors were caused by permissions being denied, which is the cause in my case (see error message above).

Also, I tried installing a different, random package, just to see if I'd get the same error, but I didn't. That package installed completely. So that means that installing the sysconfig packages in particular requires some special permission.

If you'll notice, the error message makes reference to something called 'cpio'; I searched the net again and installed a cpio package that was supposed to circumvent permissions, but it didn't work for sysconfig.

Maybe the problem is actually something really basic that I'm not aware of; if there's something so basic regarding permissions that you don't even think about anymore, I'd love to hear about it.

[Amano]

I have a theory as to why the files in my /network/scripts folder got erased.

After installing Linux, I did some upgrading through Yast, and then through Smart, and then with both of them running at the same time, while surfing the internet and listening listening to music. My theory is that, unlike Windows which suggests you close applications while installing this or that, Linux requires it for the most part. Also, running both updaters at the same time, while logged in as root, was probably the worst thing to do (those familiar with OS design: readers/writers problem maybe, with databases getting corrupted as a result?)

Thoughts? (on the mark, over-simplistic, you're a genius and your brain should be preserved for all time, etc...)

[hughitt1]

To get it re-installed, you can manually download the rpm (http://rpmfind.net/linux/rpm2html/se...ery=sysconfig). then in the terminal, change to the directory you downloaded the file to, and try the command again.

[Amano]

Yeah, I tried that but got a message about libmtp.2.so missing or something (this was while trying to install a sysconfig rpm package).

Anyway, it's ok, as I did a complete reinstall; hopefully I won't see that problem again. Thanks for your suggestion nonetheless.