Hello ... long time listener, first time caller.

I have been running Linux (mostly RedHat) for years and have pretty much stayed with the RPMs from RedHat. Every week or so, I run "up2date" and get the latest RPMs that they have rolled for me. When they kill my free access to the RHN, I have problems remembering my password and start another account (I HAVE purchased boxed sets before, so I don't feel quite so bad).

My problem is that I have recently gotten adventurous and found Freshrpms.net and other sources of more current RPMs.

GET TO THE POINT! ... Ok, when I download and install freshrpms' copy of Mozilla (for example) it installs to a different place (/usr/local instead of /usr/bin or wherever). So, if I start poking around trying to change the links to things like my taskbar browser laucher ... things start to break. Now some things use the new version and some use the old one (until I uninstall the old one and just break the stuff).

My question is larger than the stupid mozilla problem. I want to know how other incessant fiddlers manage a system (personal, not business) with stock RPMs and other newer third party stuff.

Thanks.

I never had any problems with rpm's from freshrpms.net. Are you using the ones that are made for your version of RH. For instance some are listed for 8.0 some are listed for 9...etc.

Also, I subscribe to the fresh rpms mailing list...if you are interested in keeping up on what is available from there and problems like this one you should head on over and sign up. Plus if you don't get a suitable answer here those folks are pretty nice and very helpful. One of the more active posters is Mathais (the creator of freshrpms.net) so of course he usually has an answer to the more vexxing q's.

EDIT: For the sake of others reading this post who will then wish to also sign up for the mailing list: Make your posts to the list complete/to the point and make sure you have googled your question first. The folks are nice but busy and many poor questions can go unanswered.

Good Luck!

I apologize if I wasn't clear. I retrieved the correct RPM for my version of Red Hat. There was no problem with the freshrpm package for Mozilla. It was only that I believe it installed in /usr/local instead of where the original Red Hat RPM installed. Freshrpm RPMs of previously "not installed" packages worked fine.

I guess a more clear version of my "problem" would be if I had a Red Hat stock installed Mozilla and wanted to replace it with a more up-to-date compiled source tarball. the stuff just seems to land in different places.

I didn't mean to imply a problem with freshrpms. I have found things there I was unable to find anywhere else. I'll take your suggestion of heading over there and signing up for their mailing list.

Ahhhh. Now I see. Well I am an ardent objector to mixed systems (i.e. source and rpm software) For this very reason. When you install via tarball you get crap everywhere. I try to find a rpm at all costs and use tarball as a last resort.

Now every time I post this sentiment I get a lot of tisking from the mixed system/anti rpm crowd but I have several computers that run just fine, do what I want them to do and I have almost 100% rpm based machines

Just my $.02

Good Luck and take care!

So, you don't run into the "different program locations" problem I indicated when you get RPMs from freshrpms (or even foo.rpm straight from the author's website)?

I guess I agree with you that it would be best to get packages into my system using only one method. The problem is that I demo the absolute latest version of lots of security tools and other packages for which I just cannot find RPMs.

I am a few days away from reinstalling (Red Hat 9), so I'll be in a good position to take your advice.

well, for the truly bleeding edge your best bet would be to learn to roll your own. Google the online book: Maximum RPM.

Like I said others disagree with me all the time in these forums but 1 method of install keeps it simple.