I have recently installed my first Linux operating system. Novell Suse Linux 10.1-Retail.
I am trying to enhance the Multimedia components and have downloaded packages and saved them to the Desk top. When I try to use Yast to install them I am getting confused. I have opened Yast--Installation source---add source. I choose the Desk top (where the programs are) but Yast will not recognise the desk top as a source.
What am I doing wrong?

Normally yast using repository or cd as installation source, and the repository is not only simple as 1 single folder with few rpm files.

So, if you want to install the package which you'd download, simply use this command (as root)
#rpm -i packagename.rpm
Ks

Thank you.
I am wanting to update Kaffeine to 0.8.2. The Cd installed 0.7.1-28. So I uninstalled that. I downloaded the new version as tar, which I opened as a folder on the Desktop.
I then used Konsole as su and when I entered the command you gave me (used Kaffeine 0.8.2) as package name and nothing happened.
Sorry to ask such an elementary question but I am afraid the Novell Suse linux handbook throws no light on this.

Hi,

I had the same problem with suse10.1 not allowing local directory as installation source for the yast gui. It should do that, and the rpm package I was trying to install had instructions (for suse10.1) saying to do it that way, so maybe that really is a bug. But, the problem with the manual install here is just that tar is a different (older) archiving / packaging system to rpm. Try using #man tar for the applcable commands.

Now, actually, I'm reading this because I'm having difficulty choosing a suitable multimedia player. I couldn't get much joy with the default kaffeine, when trying to play an mp3 file. Do you have reason to believe the upgrade would address that? What's the download URL?

regards..... andrew.

Andrew, I am trying to set it up this way.---
http://www.acaciaclose.co.uk/index2.html
Ross

Ross,
If you are beginner, try always avoid install package from .tar. Because it won't help you to setle down the dependency issue(Software A depends on B, B depends on C and D, so once you upgrade, you need to upgrade ABCD together).
As begineer, try using using repository server. Example like:-
ftp://packman.inode.at/

And, below is some tutorial I search for you as bonus.
http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT7527984757.html
Ks

This site is good for downloading media programs. The versions that SuSE supplies may not play MP3s or DVDs because of legal or licensing issues:
http://packman.links2linux.de/
On the bottom of the page, will be a list of dependencies that you might want to download as well. For finding an rpm on the web, try the www.rpm.pbone.net website. It will analyze your system and provide links to dependencies. You can select "SuSE Other" and the packman versions will show up as well.

Also consider adding packman.unixheads.com to your installation source.
Select YaST2 -> Installation Sources -> Add
For protocol, select HTTP. For Server Name enter "packman.unixheads.com". For Directory on Server enter: "suse/10.1" Make sure that the "Anonymous" button is selected.

Now in YaST -> Software Management, you can select By Repository in the Filter and then highlight the packman repository. Now you will have a secondary filter show up where you can use search, or package groups, whatever you want. This method allows you to handle the dependencies automatically, provided that they don't conflict with what you have installed already.

Hi Roscoe,

I tried the acaciaclose website, just as you recommended, which is very good. Taking their advice, I've since been to the Amarok website and installed the mp3 bits which are missing from the suse10.1 distro (which is why I'd tried Kaffeine in the first place). They had very clear instructions.

I am absolutely gobsmacked, but this actually worked first time. Usually I'd be expecting a couple more hurdles to get the sound card connected to the application as well as the speakers. So thanks very much for the tip.

This method also used the Yast "add repository" features, and you will have seen by now that you have similar advice from the foregoing two posts. Good luck.

But I still want to complain. When you add repository with yast gui, the system goes off to the net for an unspecified period of time, without telling you what it is doing - and I'm on a dialup line, so it could be minutes or hours.

I assume adding the repositories manually would not avoid this issue, so does anyone know a better way to maintain software?

best regards.... andrew.

Hi again Ross,

As an added bonus Firefox shockwave plugin, which had had non-functioning sound, now works.

By the way, of the four or five packages on the relevant page, the only one you actually need to get mp3 up is libxine1.

regards... andrew.

Thank you. It is a steep learning curve.
My home line is very slow so I downloaded at my office, which has a high speed line,and I saved onto a USB Flash drive. I hoped it would be easy to install from there.

not so easy... slow Internet for Linux like a fish inside a small aquarium... You will feel painful...
Ks

Hi Kstan,

Thank you. So, I take it there is no good workaround for unknown delay with "add repository" on dialup?

regards....andrew.

the only way you can live without internet in Linux is don't simply upgrade any package(for newbie only). You will have trouble in solving dependency issue. However, few solution which everybody know is:-
-purchase better broadband services (384k should be enough)
-Prepare more money. Actually 56k is enough, but you definitely pay much more money for high internet usage.
-use some distro which give as many package as possible, example Suse10.1 give you many application
-bring your CPU to your friend house and install/update package via repository. Once the whole system updated, then normal dialup should be enough for your future.

Ks