New user looking for help with installing programs

[WalktheLine]

I've been browsing these forums for awhile now and finally decided to post. I took the plunge this weekend to Linux. So far, everything has been good. The install on my Dell laptop was easier than expected. The hardest part has been getting used to the new environment. I've done a lot of reading on these forums and google searches to get me by. I even manage to install Wine! haha... however, I am having problems installing other programs. For instance, I want to mess around with IPCOP and WireShark. I a networking student in college. Now I download the programs, but it opens in an archve manager. I extract the files to my documents folder. However, I can not figure out where to go from there. I have been using Terminal to navigate to the ipcop folder, but I can't seem to get an install running. Can I get some assistance?

I have been doing searches but nothing has worked so far.

[rokytnji]

WireShark should be in either
Applications>Add/Remove. then search for WireShark.

or

System>Administration>Synaptic Package Manager. Use search button for Wireshark and Icop.

[oz]

Welcome to the forums!

It is definitely recommended to use your default package tool for installing applications rather than installing from source when possible, especially for new Linux users. As pointed out above by rokytnji, that would be Synaptic (or APT) when using Ubuntu. If you really want to install from source instead of using the recommended method to install your software, you can check this link:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...are-linux.html

Hope you have fun with Linux!

[WalktheLine]

Welcome to the forums!

It is definitely recommended to use your default package tool for installing applications rather than installing from source when possible, especially for new Linux users. As pointed out above by rokytnji, that would be Synaptic (or APT) when using Ubuntu. If you really want to install from source instead of using the recommended method to install your software, you can check this link:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...are-linux.html

Hope you have fun with Linux!

I am having a blast so far with Linux! Can't wait to get back home and mess around with it more. I told my finance that Linux was giving me a headache (after 4 hours of trying to install programs) and she said, 'I am glad I am not the only one that gives you headaches.' So she appreciates it just like I do.

Thank you both for the help. I didn't realize I was trying to install from source. I thought I did a search for both but had zero results. I will try again though.

[D-cat]

Doing the search myself, I see that wireshark is in the list (you may have to press the refresh button first). I also see that ipcop is not, but there are some other firewall frontends available such as kMyFirewall and arno.

If you are partial to IPcop, it looks as though it can be done, but you will be in for some reading and compiling.

[WalktheLine]

Doing the search myself, I see that wireshark is in the list (you may have to press the refresh button first). I also see that ipcop is not, but there are some other firewall frontends available such as kMyFirewall and arno.

If you are partial to IPcop, it looks as though it can be done, but you will be in for some reading and compiling.

Yep, found the same myself D-cat. I just finished installing WireShark. I updated my system but never restarted. Not sure if that is why my searches didn't result in anything, but I have it now. Although, my network connection does not show up in the options. I read that it might have something to do with my privileges or something with my OS... so that appears to be my next challenge.

As far as Ipcop, I read that is was very powerful so I wanted to mess around with it. I can't seem to find it so I might have to try the source link above or just try a diff. firewall all together.

[elija]

Apparently IPCop is a distribution not an installable piece of software (IPCop.org :: The bad packets stop here!).

Most firewall front ends in Linux are just graphical ways of setting up rules for IPTables which is built into the Kernel. If you really want to get hardcore you could try setting up your rules manually (Iptables Tutorial 1.2.2) and if that is as scary to you as it is to me try one of the front ends

[WalktheLine]

Apparently IPCop is a distribution not an installable piece of software (IPCop.org :: The bad packets stop here!).

Most firewall front ends in Linux are just graphical ways of setting up rules for IPTables which is built into the Kernel. If you really want to get hardcore you could try setting up your rules manually (Iptables Tutorial 1.2.2) and if that is as scary to you as it is to me try one of the front ends

lol I think I will start with Firestarter. Have to crawl before I can walk.