Basic file management / installing .tar.gz

SPACE_OG · 10-13-2005, 02:21 PM

Ok, I posted a really detailed question (to show that I am willing to do the work first and not just asking for hand holding) but lost the whole message because it had a URL in it so here is the short version (I wasted 30 min aready so here is a comment as well):
Please understand I am really discouraged after weeks of trying to get linux to work:
See the following that I am trying to do:
NOTE: Also I downloaded a .tar.gz file but my Linux machine has no browser yet so the file is on my XP PRO machine so the main thing I want to do is to get the file from my XP machine on to my Linux machine. I have putty install on XP machine but not sure if this what I use or how to use it.
If I can get a reply just to this one thing that would be great.

Here is the rest:

Get apache2 at least running on my machine:
NOTE: I have this version of Linux
<cat /proc/version>
Linux version 2.6.10-blackdog.1 (root@releasefloater.inrealm.net) (gcc version 3.4.4 20041218 (prerealease) (Debian 3.4.3-1))
It came with Apache reinstalled and is supposed to be running
<ps -ef | grep http>
Root 26802 817 0 01:59 pts/0 00:00:00 grep http (I think this means it is running right?)
But I can not seem to even load the Apache default page in a browser
Install a broswer (FireFox):
NOTE: I have downloaded the code which was made to work on my particular machine but do not know how to install it and e-mailed the person who posted the install code on how to install it but he does not reply.
Install PHP:
NOTE: Same scenario posted to my online Forum "(URL part removed) dogpound.projectblackdog.c**/forum/?group_id=5" with no reply.
Install MySql:
NOTE: Same scenario posted to my online Forum "(URL part removed) dogpound.projectblackdog.c**/forum/?group_id=5" with no reply.
Other minor basics like how to get files which are on a win XP machine onto my Linux machine

Just to ventilate to someone, I am not real happy with the "Open Source Community". As a concept it seems fine. But in reality as a LINUX Newbie what I am finding is that when I post on Forums / send e-mails etc. no one replies. I have posted on Forums on which I became a member of (I also have been honest that I am a total newbie with only MS experience which may be what is creating all my issues) and no one replies at all. Then someone else posts right after me and they get a reply within min / hours.
It is clear that the "Community" is really not very kind to newbie's or MS converts which does not seem to make sense if the goal is to really spread Open Source. I fear that like most other things it is possibly just another "click" and they have to watch Newbie's "squirm" around for a few months until they "pay their dues" and then someone will help eventually help them.

XavierP · 10-13-2005, 02:39 PM

OK, I'll bite. Blackdog appears to have about 10 members. It is possible that none of them have ever seen your problema and so cannot answer it. And Blackdog is by no means the whole of the community.

Since you are running Debian, you will have access to the apt-get tool. Run this:

Code:

su
<enter root password>
apt-get update
apt-get install firefox
exit

You will then have installed Firefox.

Your next step is to go to the Debian website and read up on your distro and learn what it can do.

tuxrules · 10-13-2005, 02:52 PM

I assume you can startup the machine and then you are placed at the command prompt. I am not which linux (distro) you use but as far as i can understand, it looks like some flavor of debian.

1. Installing a browser would be very easy if you have debian based distro...login as root and

Code:

apt-get update

and

Code:

apt-get install mozilla-firefox

2. For Apache...are you on a network where access incoming http requests are blocked.

3. .tar.gz are generally zipped and archived source code files for a software. They are pretty much like the zip files on windows...you have to extract those files in order to see the contents.

extract tar.gz files

Code:

tar -zxvf filename.tar.gz

To see what that zipped archive contains without really extracting it

Code:

tar -tvf filename.tar.gz

Quote:

It is clear that the "Community" is really not very kind to newbie's or MS converts which does not seem to make sense if the goal is to really spread Open Source. I fear that like most other things it is possibly just another "click" and they have to watch Newbie's "squirm" around for a few months until they "pay their dues" and then someone will help eventually help them.

NOT TRUE...everybody here was a newbie once and if they had had such an experience, this forums had already been non-existant.

Again, before you post you should atleast search this forum, search google. Remember, this is a voluntary forum, nobody is obligated to answer infact we all help because we have been helped before. So in order to help you, help us understand what your problem is with as much info you can provide.

Tux,

bosewicht · 10-13-2005, 03:15 PM

You should also remember, the people that will help you are not getting paid. They are just like yourself doing other things and browsing the forums, so being upset because they are not answering your issues fast enough isn't the best idea. One thing you could do is buy a book on *nix/debian. Look around online for tutorials and another avenue to check are the irc channels. Debian has a lot of them and you may (or may not) get a faster response to your issues.

Eerath · 10-13-2005, 03:42 PM

Have you considered a "gentler" distribution, like MEPIS? It's still Debian based, so it should run in the same way as Blackdog.

By the way, do you have the X server and a GUI installed?

Oh, and to install .tar.gz...

tar -zxvf "packagename".tar.gz
cd "packagename"
./configure
(lot's of gobbledigook will go by, and hopefully no errors will be encountered)
make install

That's it (I think!)

Or, you can use alien (apt-get install alien) to convert non-native packages to .deb and install them by running:

alien -d -i "packagename".tar.gz

SPACE_OG · 10-13-2005, 04:20 PM

Not sure how to post a reply to only one responder but here goes to reply to all those who were kind enough to reply.

1. Yes it does not make point to complaint BUT I have been reading and have been on web sites now (for weeks) I included all that in my first attempt to post and lost the text so recomposed a short version that left all that detail out. After spending so much time showing that I am and have been willing to work hard myself I posted a much shorter version (the one you replied too) the second time.
2. OSU Uses Debian so I want to learn based on that version
3. I have to use the .tar as have no browser on Linux yet so downloaded on XP PRO first,
4. Once I figure out how to get the tar over to the Linux machine then I will try to install based on your instructions.

Thanks for all the help I feel better about the overall community now. :0)

tuxrules · 10-13-2005, 04:33 PM

can you PC access the internet? If it can then you won't need a graphical browser to go and actually download a file. You can browse the net and find the .tar.gz file using one links or lynx. Both are text-based browsers. If you know the exact location of the file on the server...you can even use wget.
For example, you can browse via a text-based browser like this.

Code:

links www.linuxquestions.org

to get the file using wget

Code:

wget http://name-of-the-site/filelocation/filename.tar.gz

You can even try, ubuntu. It is an exceptional distro based on debian and is absolutely easy to install.

Tux,

SPACE_OG · 10-13-2005, 04:37 PM

Yes the Linux PC is on my network but I think that it has no browser at all installed.
That is why I want to install FireFox.
I have the tar on my XP machine so am going to see if I can use putty to get it over to the Linux machine.

tuxrules · 10-13-2005, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SPACE_OG
Yes the Linux PC is on my network but I think that it has no browser at all installed.
That is why I want to install FireFox.
I have the tar on my XP machine so am going to see if I can use putty to get it over to the Linux machine.

availability of a browser (in this case firefox) has no connection with network availability. If you have managed to install the operating system...try logging in and see if you can use links to actually browse a site.

SPACE_OG · 10-13-2005, 04:45 PM

<links>
command not found

XavierP · 10-13-2005, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by XavierP
Since you are running Debian, you will have access to the apt-get tool. Run this:

Code:

su <enter root password> apt-get update apt-get install firefox exit

You will then have installed Firefox.

Your next step is to go to the Debian website and read up on your distro and learn what it can do.

and

Quote:

Originally posted by tuxrules
1. Installing a browser would be very easy if you have debian based distro...login as root and

Code:

code: apt-get update

and

Code:

code: apt-get install mozilla-firefox

You don't need a browser if you have an internet connection. Use apt-get on the command line to install one.

SPACE_OG · 10-13-2005, 05:35 PM

Thanks for all the help. :0)