Hi to all!
One of the most frustrating thing on Linux is the amount of time wasted in order to do simple tasks. I, for instance, I'm use to the simple work with windows, -installing everything within the reach of a double click (how wonderful)- and now I have found out that I need to read lots of tutorials and forums to execute simple tasks.
For example:
I want to install Mathematica on Fedora 11. I have the cd and I have allocated the file (/home/media/L/Unix/Installer. Of course, I can't do the "double click thing" so I have to open a terminal. I have something like this:
"[spurious@machinename L]$" (without the quotes)
so, I want to install Mathematica. On Mathematica site, they tell me I need to type ./MathInstaller. ok... I do this:
Asumming I have entered the correct file
"[User@machinename L]$ /file1/file2/file3/..../filen ./MathInstaller"
I arrive to something like:
"Enter the installation directory, or press ENTER to select
/usr/local/Wolfram/Mathematica/7.1"
I press, of course, ENTER, and I get this:
">Error: Cannot create directory /usr/local/WolframL/Mathematica/7.1.
You may need to be logged in as root to continue with this installation.
>"
Well, once you've arrived to the terrible, infamous ">" sign (which means you can not do anything except closing the terminal) I start again...
However, as smart as I am, I start everything from "root"... I go like:
"[spurious@machinename L]$su -
Password
nothing to see but you type your password)"
and you received something like:
"[root@machinename ~]#"
(which is good because now you have permission to do something)
This is when you start wondering if moving to linux is a good idea, since, (remember, you want to install Mathematica) you have spent a lot of time trying to do a simple task that you can accomplish with a "double click"... But I'm stubborn, I'm determine to be able to do a simple task... so, I think in possibilities: I will start the more simple way:
"[root@machinename ~]# ./MathInstaller"
This is the logical way, isn' it? Alas!, no... you get a solution like this:
"[root@machinename ~]#there is no file or directory"
Well,it wasn't that simple... c'mon, you are not within the reach of the installer... Machines are not yet that bright... so, I try to move to that file... that's easy, right? you just type cd and the path of your file... even more, you can save a lot of typing with "~" thing... so, you type:
"[root@machinename ~]# cd ~/media/L/Unix/Installer/ "
It seems right, right?... I mean, that's the path... but... (this is the exact moment that Hansel & Gretel start coming back from memories)... no,no,nonono... you get this response:
"-bash: cd: /root/media/L: No such file or directory..."
yikes! Let's try a different way... hmmm. Of course, you type exit... and start again... I mean, I open another terminal, move to the directory of the file I want to install... and I type the following:
"[spurious@machinename L/Unix/Installer]$ sudo ./MathInstaller"
And you get this:
"[sudo] password for Spurious:
(you type root password]
Sorry, try again
[sudo] password for Spurious:
(you type Spurious password)
Spurious is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported"
SoooOOOoo... not only I haven't been able to perform a simple task, but, I will be reported!!! To whom?... to me? I'm the only one that uses this machine, My Machine!
So... having explained my problems, I have two questions:
how do I install something that is not in the repositories?
how can I put myself in the sudoers list so I can be able to install something, since root and user are me and myself.
greetings!