NEW to Linux enviroment
 

I just switched to Linux Mandrake 8.1 from Windows XP Pro(Got a BSOD and said forget Microsoft) so I am completely new to Linux.
It took me 5 installs to get it going without errors, but that doesnt bother me.

My problem is I have no idea how to install a third party software ie. Limewire for Linux. I downloaded it from Download.com, but now I am stuck. I read the manuals that came with Mandrake and it was saying something about packaging, but I dont know how to do that. I am using the Power Pack version that I bought from Best Buy for $69.99. Can someone please help me out here and point me in the right direction, maybe an internet manual for linux newbies. Any help will be much appreciated.

Nicholas Reker
Home User - Linux Newbie

ok, lets avoid the command line for the moment, if you running the k desktop, which is the default for 'drake i believe, find the file you dl'ed and click on it. if it's in rpm format, kde should launch kpackage. just use the default settings and click install. if it complains about dependences, post back with the errors so that we can figure out what you need.
if it's a tarball (tar.gz), than archiver should launch, select extract from the menu and select a place to put it, then enter that directory and read the readme or install files for directions. it's usually ./configure,make,make install, at the root prompt, but read the files for exact info.

for LimeWire to work you will need pure java installed on your machine, I suggest getting it from ftp://metalab.unc.edu/pub/linux/deve....3.1/i386/FCS/
and download j2sdk-1.3.1-FCS-linux-i386.tar.bz2
file, then use archiver to decompress the file, it will create the directory j2sdk1.3.1 in your current directory, now open up kpackage found in K->System I believe (or open the XTerm and work with command line, don't be afraid of it you'll have to learn how to use it anyway) and remove kaffe suite if it is installed on your system, for console method try this
[this is your prompt]$ /bin/su
[this is your prompt]$ Password: type pass for root, you remember it don't you?
[this is your prompt]$ rpm -e kaffe

Now when you're still in console

[this is your prompt]$ mv ~yourusername/dir/where/download/stored/j2sdk1.3.1 /usr

This will move the j2sdk1.3.1 directory with all its contents into /usr directory on you system
{this is your prompt]$ exit

Now you'll need to adjust the $PATH environment variable, using advanced editor found under K->Editors
open .bash_profile file which is hidden and is in your home directory
you'll see the statement which initializes PATH and looks like
PATH=$PATH:/home/user_name/bin
append :/usr/j2sdk1.3.1/bin
so it will look like
PATH=$PATH:/home/user_name/bin:/usr/j2sdk1.3.1/bin
save file close, and now back to console
[This is your prompt]$ source .bash_profile

The file I downloaded is a .bin file. I am not sure if there is an rpm installed, I'm not a programmer so I was wondering if there was an easy way at first until I get a little more familiar with the structure.


Thanks for the help
Nicholas Reker

First before you do anything with .bin file install java, because Lime Wire will not be installed without it, when java is installed open an XTerm
use cd command (change directory) and ls to locate the file
when you'll have found it just in console
run
sh LimeWire.bin (or whatever the name is for .bin file), and you should be able to install it.

Is it possible to run Red Hat RPM's on Suse?

It should work but most likly will cause problems...

i don't think i've ever known one program to cause as much grief as limewire. persoanlly i think it's annoying and slow, like all java apps. if you're using KDE try.... qtella-0.2.3-1mdk.i586.rpm on cd 3, and for GNOME, gtk-gnutella-0.12-5mdk.i586.rpm on cd 2. does very much the same thing, the same way, but easier...

RPM's are RPM's.. there shouldn't be any problem in running them on SuSE.. unless they are specific to Redhat... like a Redhat kernel or something on the lines like that.

there's a much more recent version of gtk-gnutella than 0.12 - i think it's almost at the 1.0 version - just search for it on either sourceforge or freshmeat.