installing software

[mrstirs]

Right, this Linux business is proving more complicated than I realised I've got Red Hat installed, and now I want to install the stuff off disks 4 and 5 - the extra applications and stuff. Once I'm in Red Hat, I mount the cd drive, then what do I do?

Thanks for any help!

[MaXimum SMOKE]

I prefer using KPackage under the KDE desktop. Make sure you are installing an application that you really need, or want, by previewing it with kpackage. Generally linux users refrain from 'kitchen sink' installs (as in "everything but the kitchen sink ) as running services that you really don't need, can make an internet accessable machine more vulnerable to crackers. Remember linux assumes you may wish to build a server, and includes lots of services that the average workstation user has no need for.

[Floppyman]

Hi,

If the packages (programs you want to install) are in RPM format, you can use the RPM manager that came with Red Hat to install them. I think in Gnome it's called GnoRPM, or something similar. Hope this helps you some and let me know if you have more questions.

[Computer Hobbyist]

Which Red Hat distro have you installed?

Have you installed KDE or Gnome? (Or something else?)

CH

[mrstirs]

Hey, I've installed Red Hat 8.0. I'm using GNOME, I don't think I have KDE installed.

[Computer Hobbyist]

I have installed Mandrake and it gave me an option during the install process as to which packages I wanted. I am surprised Red Hat didn't . I need to download and install Red Hat just to see how they are doing the job these days.

Look around disks 4 and 5 for the packages you want to install. You need to decide what kinds of things you want on your machine. If you are going to use the machine as a workstation, don't install server software (except for samba.)

You will probably want to install your packages using GnoRPM. You can also do it from terminal. Either way you will probably want to start by going to root so you can install your package across all users. If in terminal start by typing su and then entering your root password. You will probably be prompted for the root password when using GnoRPM. (Strickly speaking it is not necessary for you to log in as root to use RPM, however, your user id must be authorized to create and access the files and directories required by the package, so the best way to make sure you can do that is to log on as root when you install a package.) If you are in terminal the normal argument for an install is rpm -ivh package name. Hope this helps.

CH

[mrstirs]

Hi,

Thanks for all your help! I've got the packages installed now, I used the package management thing - found it in a menu.

Red Hat, did give me the chance to install certain packages during the install - its just I hadn't yet downloaded the iso's for disks 4 and 5.

Got KDE installed now, using Konqueror...its rather nice