Linux Beginner, queries here!

[Phalanx]

Hi, I just recently installed Red Hat Linux 9.0 and I have a few questions that I would greatly appreciate being answered.
For a start, I want to install my Broadband modem onto Linux, When I tried it didn't seem to do much apart from read the disc correctly. Do I have to download specialist drivers off the internet or something?
Secondly, I noticed that there isn't a version of MSN messenger for Linux, are there any programs that I can use to chat to my friends on MSN through Linux?
Are there any anti-virus programs that are free and designed for Linux, I know that viruses are usually developed for Windows but there are still viruses out there, thx

[XpXJ19]

Go to gaim.sourceforge.net and download the latest version of Gaim. It is a multi-platform IM client that can connect to AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, MSN, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, Groupwise, and IRC all from a single program interface.

[Phalanx]

ok thx alot, I downloaded the drivers for my broadband modem for Linux, it shows on windows as a file that is unknown so does that mean that if I open the CD in Linux, It will recognise it as Linux's .exe and all the other windows apps on the disc won't be recognised?
Also, does Photoshop work in Linux or do I have to download a special version?

[Xayd]

Depends on how they distribute the driver. It might be source, it might be pre-compiled.

See the README and/or INSTALL file that came with the drivers, it should have installation instructions.

There is no photoshop for Linux, I'm afraid, but Gimp is similar. I'm sure there are red hat RPMs for it, try http://www.rpmfind.net

[mikeL]

kopete will let you chat through MSN Messenger

http://kopete.kde.org/

Here is a link to some linux anti-virus programs,

http://www.linuxlinks.com/Software/N...us/index.shtml

[Phalanx]

thx for the help but I am completely lost now, the driver came in some file type called a tga or tar or something like that and I have no idea what to do?
Does Linux have anything like self installing because if it doesn't im gonna need a guide for it

[mikeL]

For tar.gz files you need to log in as root, in a terminal window. As a regular user you would do the following

su -

enter roots password

cd (to where the file is located) "/home/user/downloads" as an example, then

tar -xvf name_of_downloaded_app.tar.gz This will create a directory named after the application

cd to the newly created directory. it's always best to read the readme or install file. but usually you would.

./configure
make
make install

this may look a little complicated compared to a windows .exe file, but that is linux, and after five or six times it becomes easier. trust me

[Phalanx]

Originally Posted by mikeL For tar.gz files you need to log in as root, in a terminal window. As a regular user you would do the following su - enter roots password cd (to where the file is located) "/home/user/downloads" as an example, then tar -xvf name_of_downloaded_app.tar.gz This will create a directory named after the application cd to the newly created directory. it's always best to read the readme or install file. but usually you would. ./configure make make install this may look a little complicated compared to a windows .exe file, but that is linux, and after five or six times it becomes easier. trust me

thx alot, this might sound noobish but wat is "su-"?

[ric449]

Super user, it means root.

[Phalanx]

Originally Posted by ric449 Super user, it means root.

ah ok, so where would I type all of that stuff then? (I know I sound dumb and I know it has probably already been typed but it is hard when you are trying to learn one operating system on another

[ric449]

You need to do it in terminal, it should be in the start menu or whatever Linux calls it.

[Phalanx]

Originally Posted by ric449 You need to do it in terminal, it should be in the start menu or whatever Linux calls it.

so it is a program called terminal, gotcha, and this is included in Red Hat isn;t it?

[Xayd]

Yeah, look around the gnome menu for an xterm. Open it then cd to the folder where you downloaded the driver.

If the file is .tar.gz...

tar -zxvf foo.tar.gz

will unzip and untar it.

If the file is .tar.bz2...

bunzip2 foo.tar.bz2
tar -xvf foo.tar

will unzip and untar it.

[neouser99]

su = switch user...but if you put on user in there, it assumes root

terminal is included in all distros, as it is the command line interface, similar to cmd for windows. it is next to possible to accomplish everything from the gui, but linux users everywhere swear by the command line, and I am one of them (so much easier). I think that in Gnome, you click the Hat -> System Tools -> Terminal to get to it, if you haven't found it.

as for the broadband modem....I am a bit confused. You don't want to install the modem onto your computer, it is all about the NIC that it has, which should be auto-detected by the kernel. the modem is basically just a bridge from fiber to cat-5, if it is a cable modem.

www.rpmfind.net will be your best site for everything you need for redhat. as your question about the self-installing, that is what the RPMs are. it is the package management system for RedHat based distros. "rpm -Fvh package name" is generally all you need to do.

For any of the commands that you don't understand, if you do a "man command" that will give you a pretty good idea of what the command is.

Also, not saying that we won't try to help you here, but www.linuxquestions.org is a webboard based solely on all Linux queries.

-neo

[Phalanx]

ok thx for all the help