installing packages Mandrake 8.1
 

Hello, another Linux Mandrake 8.1 question……
Being the Newbie that I am at this.. trying to install another “package”, using the procedure outlined in the Mandrake Linux 8.1 book that came with the OS. The book states that I can run “RpmDrake” from the control center in KDE but…… it is not there.
1. How can I run this “RpmDrake” utility?
2. Any other procedures for installing additional “packages” from my cd’s that came with this install?

Thanks for any input at all.

RpmDrake is in the the Mandrake control center, not the KDE control center.

This might seem strange to you or perhaps it's just that I really don't know what is going on but........ from the main logon menu screen I am only able to logon to things like gnome, KDE, sawfish, ... and there is no mandrake there......
Am I missing something here?
thanks for your assistance.

Look for a link to the mandrake control center on your desktop or in the k menu.

or when you logged in KDE open an Xterm it is under K->Terminals->XTerm, and use the console to install and upgrade the packages.
so now when you are in XTerm type:
su

enter the password for root

cd derictory/where/is/the/rpm/stored
rpm -ihv rpm-toinstall.rpm

If it is complicated, then use K->Configuration->packaging->GnoRPM for visual one.

Thanks People for your assistance, I will keep plowing through this whatever it takes.
I have discovered a few things since my original post.
Since Linux is installed on a "test" machine I can really try anything without fear........he,he,
Anyway, When I first installed Linux Mandrake I used the standard install, not "expert" and I selected just about all of the packages that were offered on the initial setup screen, what I found out was that RpmDrake was not installed (at least not a graphical Icon representing it) I was able to run it from terminal by typing RpmDrake though.
this next question should be a new post but, here goes.

I have this pc connected to two others running windows.
apparently no icons were installed in the control panel for networking and internet settings, for they are not there.
How can I get these icons established and or how can I check my network settings or other computers on the Lan?

Thanks again for your assistance, this sure feels weird.... I am a longtime windows user and have not been this lost in a long time.
:newbie:

I know that lost feeling! I came (back) to Linux about 6 weeks ago, like you on a test machine, and I had to re-partition and reinstall Mandrake 8.1 three times before getting things right.

I'd suggest that you start over on it, and select the "recommended" instead of "expert" option. Then re-partition the hard disk when you get to that step, to wipe out all the previous stuff. Select only the "server" and "network workstation" packages, plus one of the desktops (I chose KDE). This should give you a setup that's easy to get started with, and you can add to it later.

With this installation, when you do startx or boot direct into the GUI (as an ordinary user, not "root"), you should have one icon on the screen for the Mandrake Control Center. That's where the network icon, and the system icon, will be when you start it. Click the system icon and you'll find "Software Manager" as one of the sub-icons. That's RpmDrake, and it will show you everything you have installed. From there you can experiment a bit.

For communicating with the Windows machines, you'll need to have Samba configured. You'll find its configuration front end (SWAT) on the popup menu under Configuration. Check out all the threads here about Samba; it works great once you get it going, but getting there can be a battle. It took me three weeks to get it set up right! However I can now communicate both ways with any of the four Win98 machines on my little LAN, and I'm using the test machine as my firewall/router...

Thanks JimKyle for your input.
I will try your suggested steps.
As you, my main goal is to set the Linux machine up as the firewall/router for my lan.
Happy New Year.