I downloaded SO 5.2 today as a bin file. What do I do next to get it up and running? Does it need to be uncompressed? If so, how? I am using RH 7.0.

I did a little more research. So i tried this
[root@tbarden so]# ./so-5_2-ga-bin-linux-en.bin
and got this
bash: ./so-5_2-ga-bin-linux-en.bin: Permission denied

I downloaded it as root and am signed in as root, why would permission be denied?

it's not an executable... try chmod 755 (filename)

yeah you have to do that chmod 755 before you attempt to run that file. Try to run it as a normal user becuase if you install it as root then sometimes it wont let you open it as a user, been there done that so be careful what you do.

Edit: Just saw your reply above, I will try it as a normal user.

Ok chmod 755 worked. Then i ./so---.bin and installation begins. It defaults /root/office52 for installation directory. If I put it there will it still be accessable if I am not logged in as root?

It tells me java run time is not available. Where and how do I get that? Thanks.

java.sun.com

Ok, i downloaded j2sdk-1_3_1-src.tar.gz and extracted it to usr/java . I guess the next step is to add that to my path, or so I have heard. But I am not sure how to do that.

no, that's the sdk (Standard Delvelopemtn Kit), which IS java, the jre IS included in the sdk tho, but the jre is much smaller, if you don't want to use up all the space.

Ok, that is fine. I actually plan on do some programming once I learn how to get everything running. Do I need to add it to my path for SO or other applications that may use it? If so, how do I do that? Thanks!

No, the file ends in src.tar.gz, which shows that it's a compressed file (like Window's .ZIP files), and that it a source file (as they usually are under Linux). You'll need to install it first.

Move to a sensible directory (I use /home/thymox/files) and then unzip/tar it (tar -zxpvf /whereveryoudownloadeditto/something.tar.gz). There will almost definitely be a README file in there, and probably an INSTALL file. Read them.

The tar extracted about 11,000 files. I read the readme file but that was not helpful. Did not see an intstall file. I found a makefile but I do not know if I am supposed to do anything with that. Please help.

You probably have to:
./configure
make
su root
(type root's password)
make install

That's the usual method.

I went to the directory containing the makefile and this is what I got.
[root@tbarden make]# make install
make: *** No rule to make target `install'. Stop.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

Did you do the ./configure and the make parts first?

The configure script (what you run when you type ./configure) normally makes a new makefile, unless there are errors. This make file is used when you run make, and creates an executable (normally) in the current directory, unless there are errors. Running make install will only work if a) you've not had any errors, and b) there is a need to.

Unfortunately some programs do not include the make install routine, so typing it would not do anything. This is normally because different Linux distros keep their files in different places.

It sounds like it is the latter (no 'make install' routine in the makefile). Look around for docs on where you should copy your JRE files to, and then do so.