how do i run a file
 

hello, i've just recently installed FC4. the first thing i did was go to my terminal and type: yum update

are there any more updates i should do? i'm thinking my next step will be to go to the manufacturer's of my hardware components websites and downloading the latest drivers for linux and installing them... but herein the problem arises.

i'm about to ask a very stupid question but how do i run files? i'm not familiar with the linux file extentions and don't know the .exe equivilent. I looked all over for the answer to this question but it seems since it is so basic it has been overlooked.

for instance if i wanted to instal azureus. here is what i downloaded:

Azureus_2.3.0.6_linux.tar.bz2

now how would i go about installing it from the command line?

and could someone tell me the most common file extentions that are executable and how to execute them from the command line, please.

regards,

For Azureus, you just need to extract it. So, from the command line:

1. Change to the directory where you saved the file (cd /path/to/file). Obviously if you saved it in your home directory then you can skip this, as you'll start in there from a terminal.

2. Extract it with "tar xvjf Azureus_2.3.0.6_linux.tar.bz2" (without quotes). This will create a directory named "azureus", that you can cd into and run the executable by typing "azureus" (again without quotes).

thanks, what does the xvjf do? and could i receive input regarding what i should do next to my freshly installed FC4, and also a little rundown of common file extentions and how to run them from command line.

EDIT: I CD'd to azureus folder and typed azureus but it didn't recognize the command. so i did a "dir" and here's the output.
the one entitled azureus is in fact the installer. why won't it let me run it?

ALSO: hate to be a terrible pain in the arse but anyone know where i can find documentation for configuring firewall in FC4? I need to know how to open ports. (or just tell me how to get to the configuration of the firewall)

To "run a file", you simply type the filename. Here is the subtlety: When you attempt to execute a file rather than read it, the OS looks in the PATH system variable to see where it should look for executable files. The file could be right under your nose, but it won't run unless it is in the PATH.
To run a file NOT in the PATH, type "./filename"** This tells the OS to run this file here and not look in PATH.

Also, the file needs to be flagged as executable. Look at "man chmod" for details on how to make a file executable.

This actually says run filename in the _current directory_. You can also do: "/someplace/anotherplace/filename"---any legal way of specifying the path to the file will work.

Damn it, I knew I forgot something. Information about those options can be found in the tar manpage ("man tar"), but quickly:

x is to extract stuff from the archive
j is to "filter the archive through bzip2.", the file is .tar.bz2. If it was tar.gz, you'd put a z instead of j.
v is for verbose, i.e. it tells you what it's doing (you see the extraction happening, so to speak)
f is to use that filename, I think.

Perhaps the current directory isn't in your $PATH. Try "./azureus" (without quotes) and see if that works.

Also, just as a sidenote, "ls" is the Linux/Unix equivalent of Windows "dir". You can use flags to change the output:

"ls -l" lists all the files along with details such as file size and permissions
"ls -a" lists _all_ files, including hidden ones (those starting with a dot like .bashrc)
"ls -la" lists all files, hidden and not, with details
etc.

ls looks nicer aswell, it colours the differnt file tipes.

Azureus, not known to be very stable on linux AFAIK, then again ktorrent isn't for me either.

thanks guys it helped a lot.

(1) I hate to simply say "Read the manual." but just in case you don't
know how to look up "what does the xvjf do?".... type "man tar"
(no quotes) the man program will print out the manual page for tar.

(2) Unix/Linux does NOT enforce any pollicy about file extensions.
the dot (".") is just another character like the underbar "_". So
a valid file name might be "abcdef.qwerty.get.the.idea" and of
course .idea in NOT an extension it is simply a tag you use so
you can remember what kind of file it is. Linx does not look at
and "extensions" Sometimes I will use multiple "extensions" so
I can remember what is inside the file. like "foobar.txt.gz" might
be a compressed text file, compressed with gzip.

That said, there are common conventions

(3) read "man file".
The file command will tell you what kind of a file you have by looking
_inside_ the file

(4) in FC4 use the GIU firewall tool unless you understand quite a bit
about Internet Protocol. or better yet pick up a Dlink router

i happen to own a dLink router. my knowledge of internet protocol isn't what one would call savvy but i at least get the gist of the different types of protocals.

I remember when i first installed FC4 it asked me about a firewall and i remember i enabled it. But i no nothing about it or even where to find it in the GUI. Any help on how to configure the bastard would be great.

p.s what is the significance of a dLink router?

Seriously? I've never had a problem with Azureus crashing or anything.

Hmm, it does for me, bung it on another desktop then go back to it and it's vanished. or it just freezes. I am on 64bit tho, so could be a java problem, but demonoid.com list it as unstable on linux as well so its not just me...

Sorry, off topic. :tisk: