I am new to linux. Iam now trying to install a program in my red hat 9 server. Since there in no install GUI I have read up on installing RPMS and you have to do it in the console. I can get to the root directory but when I try to do cd/file name or /filename it tells me that the directory is not found. Can any one tell me whats the best way to add new programs in. Its frustrating I spent a number of hours trying to get it to work with no success. also I would like to add PHP 5. can any one help..

Thanks

I uderstand what on the pages.. whats wriiten most of the time is make fore people that know. Ok lets assum Iam using asterisk-1.2.3tar.gz I downloaded to the drive. I use the linux unpacker I unpack it and gaive it anothe folder name..
Then I go to terminal
[root@localhostroot]# I type /root it give me the directory I do ls I can see all the folders in the directory. now If I do cd the forlder name I get no such file of directory or if I do/the folder namd I get the same thing.

Does any one have a step by step way of downloading the files and unpacking them then loading the program

Thanks..

Install the RPMs if you're having trouble with the source packages. Just run "rpm -ivh your.rpm and It'll install it for you; as root of course.

I'm not sure about your "cd" problem. Are you sure you're typing in the correct spelling and path to the folder? Use tab completion so you never misspell.

Does the file name have spaces in it?

are you typing the path correctly? using a / at the start of the path makes it an absolute path and starts it at the very bottom of the tree, so /folder would be telling it to look in / for a folder called that

Just out of interest, you do know Linux is case sensitive (unlike MSwindows)?

OK so If Iam unpacking a tar.gz what is the proper procedure an what program should I be using to unpack and run the RPM command. I understand that packages with .rpm are packages that install themselves what steps do you take to install the packages..

Thanks

"asterisk-1.2.3tar.gz" that is not an .RPM, it is source code that requires compiling. asterisk-1.2.RPM is an .RPM. You cannot install one via the others method. So which do you have?

he answered what to do if it's an .RPM.

If it's source use tar -xvzf <file> then c into it and try ./congirue