LinuxQuestions.org - A few puzzling Questions

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A few puzzling Questions

Right i have been annoying myself to install Linux in one of my machines and i have eventually install red hat 7.2. I got a few tyhings i dont understand, I have worked out how to install an RPG file, and how to uncompress archives, however i have downloaded a few programs that were archives and i am scoobed to know how to install the applications? What commands do i need?

Also the internet is connected via a file storing server, which means all my computers has access to the internet, I got Linux on the internet no problem but i cant find a way to access my files, i dont see an option of My Network Places or a matter of putting in the address \\<pcname> . all information i would be greatful.

What programs?

You can uncompress and unarchive tarball types with

tar -zxvf filename.tar.gz

or

tar -zxvf filename.tgz

Then cd into the extracted directory and usually you'll have a readme file or an install text file that might have installation instructions, which usually consists of:

./configure
make
make install

Double-check the read-me/install files though, just in case there are any other instructions.

yeah how do you run the commands though? like i said i know how to uncompress them, but i cant make heads or tails of the install text file, sorry i am really new to Linux and its confused me to hell.

Which programs? - also can you post the contents of the install text file?

it's the vlc media player st the contents of the INSTALL file

Quote:

$Id: INSTALL,v 1.25 2003/03/19 15:44:44 hartman Exp $

INSTALL file for the VLC media player

Mac OS X and BeOS users should read the documentation available at:
http://developers.videolan.org/vlc/

Configuring VLC
===============

A typical way to configure VLC is:

./configure --prefix=/usr --enable-gnome

See `./configure --help' for more information.

If you intend to debug stuff, you may want to compile with debugging
symbols:

make distclean ; ./configure --prefix=/usr --enable-gnome --enable-debug

Building VLC
============

Have a look at the generated Makefile.opts file, you may want to choose
which modules will be compiled as plugins, and which ones will remain in
the core application. The configure script tries to guess for you.

Once configured, run `make' to build VLC.

Installing and running VLC
==========================

You can install the VLC and its plugins by typing:

make install

But you don't need to install it if you don't want to; VLC can be launched
from the current directory as well:

./vlc

Building packages
=================

To build a Debian package, you may use:

dpkg-buildpackage -rfakeroot -us -uc

To build RedHat packages, use:

rpm -ba vlc.spec

To build an ipkg package (iPAQ familiar Linux), use:

ipkg-buildpackage

For a basic install the typical

./configure
make
make install

should be sufficient - make sure your root user when you "make install" - for the first two steps you can issue as an ordinary user.

how do you make install?

Just type it as you would for the first two commands.

So i go to the big foot icon and then run?

right i have sussed it out...i think

all commands in linux are typed in the terminal, just right click the desktop and click 'open terminal' (at least thats how it is for fedora core 1)

you can get to linux by going to the "big foot icon" in the corner, then system tools i believe, then terminal

i have sussed it now :) cheers