Where to find RPM packages online for Scientific Linux 5.5?

linquestcub · 12-18-2010, 03:49 PM

Hi all,

I am an RPM newbie, let alone SL5.5, and cannot find downloadable packages for this distro. Could you help, please?

More precise, I am looking for sites comparable to deb and Ubuntu, such as http://packages.ubuntu.com/lucid/ (showing also the dependencies), but RPMs for SL5.5 not DEBs for Ubuntu10.04.

I am currently testing the Scientific Linux (SLl5.5) Live CD, using a USB stick for persistent changes. Works fine, Firefox is working, I can create and save documents, and SL even knows my old CD drive/burner (Debian Live and Centos Live do not). However, to access the Internet I need ndiswrapper and wpasupplicant. With

Code:

rpm -qf

I get a long list that also shows "ndiswrapper-1.55-1.SL.i686" but not the necessary ndiswrapper-utils on the Live CD. Consequently, the command

Code:

ndiswrapper -i <path>/<filename>.inf

responds "ndiswrapper not found". Also, only "wpa_supplicant-gui-0.5.10-9.el5.i386" is present, but not the wpasupplicant proper.
*** 1 ***
Where can I download those RPM packages for SL5.5?

*** 2 ***
Can I install the downloaded packages from the USB datastick with

Code:

rpm -Uvh <path to>/filename.rpm

?

Thanks,

linquestcub

P.S. I have a few years experience with Ubuntu, but would like to test something new, such as SL.

2handband · 12-18-2010, 03:53 PM

Dude, you're in the Slackware sub-forum.

knudfl · 12-18-2010, 04:09 PM

There are no sites like those for Debian / Ubuntu. Sorry.

Scientific SL 55 :
http://ftp.scientificlinux.org/linux/scientific/55/
i386 http://ftp.scientificlinux.org/linux...tific/55/i386/
http://ftp.scientificlinux.org/linux...ic/55/i386/SL/

Required packages : 1) ndiswrapper
2) kernel-module-ndiswrapper-`uname -r`
e.g. kernel-module-ndiswrapper-2.5.18-184.3.1.el5
Also available : wpa_supplicant + wpa_supplicant-gui

( No package ndiswrapper-utils for SL55 ).
..

unSpawn · 12-18-2010, 07:26 PM

Moved: This thread is more suitable in the Linux Distributions forum (Red Hat would have been OK as SL is a derivative) and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

John VV · 12-18-2010, 10:16 PM

first do not use the " rpm " command unless it is the last resort

also there is a reasion it is called "Scientific Linux" it is meant for the lab
and not so great on a home system

You use the program "yum" to install using the terminal
or the "add and remove software" gui under
applications/system ?

Have you read the documentation???
https://www.scientificlinux.org/documentation
the yum repos
https://www.scientificlinux.org/docu...q/yum.apt.repo
this is all in here .

PLEASE do not install rpm's form other sources and DO NOT use random rpm's from the net.
the VERY VERY high degre of stability ( the MAIN reason to use SL ) will be compromised
this is not good if it is running a piece of lab equipment or doing your needed calculations

linquestcub · 12-18-2010, 11:31 PM

Thanks to all for the quick replies, and thanks for moving my question to the right forum! Sorry, for having been in the wrong sub-forum.

I am just using the Live CD to do a few peeks into SL5.5, so please do not worry that I might corrupt the system.

linquestcub · 12-19-2010, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knudfl

...Scientific SL 55 :
http://ftp.scientificlinux.org/linux/scientific/55/
i386 http://ftp.scientificlinux.org/linux...tific/55/i386/
http://ftp.scientificlinux.org/linux...ic/55/i386/SL/

Thank you very much, knudfl!

But now the trouble starts with the LiveCD:

*** 1 ***

Code:

 # rpm -qa

Result: a very long list that contains all the programs mentioned by you above, e.g.,
kernel-module-ndiswrapper-2.6.18-194.3.1.el5-1.55-1.SL.i686
Fine! But:

Code:

# ndiswrapper -i /media/disk/AAASL55/FritzWindriver/fwlan.inf
bash: ndiswrapper: command not found

How come? fwlan.inf is on my USB stick and ndiswrapper should be installed!

*** 2 ***
Maybe it is not installed? Thus (now within the directory containing the RPMs):

Code:

# yum localinstall wpa_supplicant-0.5.10-9.el5.i386.rpm
Loaded plugins: downloadonly, kernel-module
Setting up Local Package Process
Examining wpa_supplicant-0.5.10-9.el5.i386.rpm: 1:wpa_supplicant-0.5.10-9.el5.i386
wpa_supplicant-0.5.10-9.el5.i386.rpm: does not update installed package.
Nothing to do

So, it is installed. Why can't I use it (see * 1 *, above)?
(Strangely, I can start all programs in "Applications" and on the menu bars, and they are in the list,too).

*** 3 ***
Additional question: how to open Nautilus with root privileges in SL55? (In Ubuntu: <Alt>+<F2> "gksu nautilus". Of course, this works not with SL55)

Hopefully, linquestcub

knudfl · 12-19-2010, 12:18 PM

rpm -qa | sort > packages.txt : will save a text file in /home/***/

rpm -qa | grep ndiswrapper : Will tell, if ndiswrapper is included.
Else : try to install it. But not all live-cds allows a real install ?

rpm -qa --last | head -10 : Will show, what is installed by you.

How to open Nautilus with root privileges in SL55 ?
All login to GUI as root, and running applications as root: disabled.
Suggest : Use su in a terminal, and then <command>.
Filemanager: You may be able to run 'mc', "Midnight Commander" as root.
..

linquestcub · 12-19-2010, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knudfl

rpm -qa |rpm -qa | grep ndiswrapper : Will tell, if ndiswrapper is included.

Code:

# rpm -qa | grep ndiswrapper
ndiswrapper-1.55-1.SL.i686
kernel-module-ndiswrapper-2.6.18-194.3.1.el5-1.55-1.SL.i686

Ok, installed. But:

Code:

# ndiswrapper
bash: ndiswrapper: command not found

However, if I do the same in UbuntuLiveCD, I get (showing only the first line):

Code:

~$ ndiswrapper
install/manage Windows drivers for ndiswrapper

********
Question: how can I coach the installed ndiswrapper to execute?
********

knudfl · 12-19-2010, 04:00 PM

Sorry, I didn't think of this before now :
The command isn't ndiswrapper ( if you do su ).
Then it is '/usr/sbin/ndiswrapper'
( Other binaries : /sbin/loadndisdriver ).

To have /usr/sbin/ and /sbin/ in your path, 'su -' is required.

..

linquestcub · 12-20-2010, 05:15 AM

Thank you! "su -" and "/usr/sbin" did it. ndiswrapper ok, my WinDriver is wrapped, WLAN USB stick works, I see the wireless SSIDs around me, but then...
when I try to connect to my SSID, the wireless icon to the right of the upper menu bar, starts circling a few times, then circling freezes, the mousepointer freezes, everything freezes :-(

Fresh booting does not help. Maybe this does not belong to this thread,but would you have a suggestion?

Thanks

fgordonie · 12-26-2010, 05:13 PM

what does the dmesg command run as root come back with?

Frank