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I'm using a new Distro and after installing it and randomly searching for help on websites on how to install a .Deb file using dpkg at the konsole/terminal it says Bash : dpkg: Command not found . how is this possible ? Do I have to know about all the packages in the package manager to install this. slight difference for me ... knowing what I have and knowing if I need Apr93-323? (whatever) installed first or not ? The only thing I know is that I have the Iso image installed ... which is my linux distro . Where to go from here? because I usually go to a website site to find Software to install ...if I need it .back to the basics
Click here to see the post LQ members have rated as the most helpful post in this thread.
Xzibit,
Since you are fairly new to Linux you should probably know a few things. I know you are fairly new from our previous conversations we have had in the past.
First thing you should know is that there are really 2 main types of Linux. The 2 main types are RedHat based and Debian based distributions. Note this excludes BSD and Unix distributions. You will find RedHat based distributions use rpm packages. Debian based distributions will use deb packages. In either case you should understand what an rpm or deb file is. An rpm or deb file is a pre-compiled package designed for a specific distribution.
To help you understand a bit here are some RedHat based distributions
Fedora
yellowdog
ALT Linux
mandriva
suse
Now here are some Debian based distributions
Debian
Xandros
Knoppix
Vector Linux
DSL
Ubuntu
MEPIS
On a redhat based system you will you rpm or yum to install your packages. On a Debian based system you will use dpkg or apt-get to install your packages.
Also here are a few things to remember
-Windows user coming to Linux find Linux has a difficult learning curve. However new computer users find Linux is easier to use and learn than Windows. It is all a matter of how you interpret things
-Anyone who says Linux is free does not think their time is worth anything
-Somethings are different than other operating systems, even between distributions of Linux. However within Linux, you learn the basics and you can figure out the rest in no time.
-If you know DOS, then learning the Linux Command Line Interface (CLI) shouldn't be to hard. Many commands like ping and tracert are the same. some commands like ipconfig are only 1 letter off. In Linux it is ifconfig. Things like dir (Short for Directory) are not much different; in this case the Linux equivalent is ls (for List).
Last edited by worm5252; 01-03-2010 at 10:57 PM.
Reason: correcting spelling errors. Darn Fat Fingers
PCLinuxOS uses Synaptic. Open it and search for thwtavere it is you are trying to install, if you do not find it then search the web for an rpm package or ask in the pclinuxos irc.
actually... you've got a few more choices than that
if you want to stick with linux, you have debian based, red hat based, source based, or they have their own package manager (archlinux's pacman amongst others). There are so many versions because people want to do different things in different ways and those people are free to build their own systems
BSD, Solaris and the other Unixes are not linux and should really not be discussed in detail on this particular forum.
you obviously HAVE a distro installed... tell us what it is and we can help. I tend to like the .deb based distros myself, but there's no MAJOR disadvantage to using .rpms
Last edited by Vypadkovyy; 01-05-2010 at 01:41 AM.
Okay , Debian, BSD, Redhat and Unix Based . Why so many versions ? How do I make a choice ?
Umm, maybe you've forgotten, but you asked a question about why you couldn't install a deb file with dpkg. People requested more information so that they could answer your question. Do you still have this problem? Did you resovle it? Do you care to respond to the people who tried to help you?
My bad, I think my intro to Linux post I made threw him off.
Xzibit,
we need more information in order to help you with your issue. We need to know what distribution of Linux you are using. If you do not know off had you can run one of the following commands to find out.
Code:
cat /etc/*release
or
Code:
cat /etc/*version
Last edited by worm5252; 01-05-2010 at 11:55 AM.
Reason: forgot a closing bracket on a code tag
The OP is/was using PCLinuxOS or at least thats what he was running when he posted the OP.
Or at least thats what his browser reported.
PCLinuxOS can be found on IRC Freenode.* There are many channels setup; some are there for help and others for chat.* Please be sure to visit these channels according to your need or stop in and let us know what you think in our user chat channels!
Freenode #pclinuxos – this channel is for general* user chat.
Freenode #pclinuxos-support – the user support channel for PCLinuxOS
Freenode #pclinuxos-nl-be – the PCLinuxOS Dutch IRC Channel
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