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01-03-2010, 08:34 PM
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#1
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Member
Registered: Dec 2009
Posts: 35
Rep:
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Can't install .Deb file or (package)
I'm using a new Distro and after installing it and randomly searching for help on websites on how to install a .Deb file using dpkg at the konsole/terminal it says Bash : dpkg: Command not found . how is this possible ? Do I have to know about all the packages in the package manager to install this. slight difference for me ... knowing what I have and knowing if I need Apr93-323? (whatever) installed first or not ? The only thing I know is that I have the Iso image installed ... which is my linux distro . Where to go from here? because I usually go to a website site to find Software to install ...if I need it .back to the basics
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Click here to see the post LQ members have rated as the most helpful post in this thread.
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01-03-2010, 08:35 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Registered: May 2006
Location: USA
Distribution: Debian
Posts: 4,824
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WHAT distro are you using and why can't you use its package manager so you don't have to do any work?
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0 members found this post helpful.
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01-03-2010, 08:57 PM
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#3
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LQ Guru
Registered: Jan 2009
Location: Japan
Distribution: Mostly Debian and CentOS
Posts: 6,726
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xzibit
dpkg: Command not found . how is this possible ?
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Perhaps your distro is not Debian based.
What is the Distribution? If you don't know, one of the two following commands will probably tell you.
Code:
cat /etc/*release
cat /etc/*version
Evo2.
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1 members found this post helpful.
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01-03-2010, 09:03 PM
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#4
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Member
Registered: Nov 2009
Location: Chicago
Distribution: Arch and OpenBSD
Posts: 104
Rep:
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Is your distro rpm based? If so, convert the deb to an rpm with alien.
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01-03-2010, 10:55 PM
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#5
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Member
Registered: Oct 2004
Location: Atlanta
Distribution: CentOS, RHEL, HP-UX, OS X
Posts: 567
Rep:
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Xzibit,
Since you are fairly new to Linux you should probably know a few things. I know you are fairly new from our previous conversations we have had in the past.
First thing you should know is that there are really 2 main types of Linux. The 2 main types are RedHat based and Debian based distributions. Note this excludes BSD and Unix distributions. You will find RedHat based distributions use rpm packages. Debian based distributions will use deb packages. In either case you should understand what an rpm or deb file is. An rpm or deb file is a pre-compiled package designed for a specific distribution.
To help you understand a bit here are some RedHat based distributions
Fedora
yellowdog
ALT Linux
mandriva
suse
Now here are some Debian based distributions
Debian
Xandros
Knoppix
Vector Linux
DSL
Ubuntu
MEPIS
On a redhat based system you will you rpm or yum to install your packages. On a Debian based system you will use dpkg or apt-get to install your packages.
Here are a few Links that might help you out as a new user
Command Line basics, http://tldp.org/LDP/intro-linux/html/sect_02_02.html
The Linux File System, http://tldp.org/LDP/intro-linux/html/sect_02_02.html
The History of Linux, https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/rhasan/linux/
Also here are a few things to remember
-Windows user coming to Linux find Linux has a difficult learning curve. However new computer users find Linux is easier to use and learn than Windows. It is all a matter of how you interpret things
-Anyone who says Linux is free does not think their time is worth anything
-Somethings are different than other operating systems, even between distributions of Linux. However within Linux, you learn the basics and you can figure out the rest in no time.
-If you know DOS, then learning the Linux Command Line Interface (CLI) shouldn't be to hard. Many commands like ping and tracert are the same. some commands like ipconfig are only 1 letter off. In Linux it is ifconfig. Things like dir (Short for Directory) are not much different; in this case the Linux equivalent is ls (for List).
Last edited by worm5252; 01-03-2010 at 10:57 PM.
Reason: correcting spelling errors. Darn Fat Fingers
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3 members found this post helpful.
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01-04-2010, 05:40 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Registered: Apr 2005
Location: Heaven
Distribution: Debian Sid/RPIOS
Posts: 4,918
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PCLinuxOS uses Synaptic. Open it and search for thwtavere it is you are trying to install, if you do not find it then search the web for an rpm package or ask in the pclinuxos irc.
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01-04-2010, 06:26 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Registered: Oct 2004
Location: Houston, TX (usa)
Distribution: MEPIS, Debian, Knoppix,
Posts: 4,727
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Code:
cat /etc/*{version,release,issue}*
is more compact & more comprehensive. Even better, try:
Code:
# find *nix distro/version/release info.
_divider () {
echo -e "======================\n"$@"\n-----------------"
}
_execute () {
_divider $@
$@
}
# main line, pipable or redirectable
{
_execute lsb_release -a
for X in {/etc/*{release,version,issue}*,/proc/version}
do
_divider $X
cat $X
done
_execute uname -a
} | less -S
Edit:
Added code for /etc/*issue* to snippet & script. -- Thanks for the idea, worm5252.
Last edited by archtoad6; 01-07-2010 at 06:08 AM.
Reason: add /etc/*issue* code
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1 members found this post helpful.
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01-04-2010, 11:14 PM
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#8
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Member
Registered: Nov 2009
Location: Chicago
Distribution: Arch and OpenBSD
Posts: 104
Rep:
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I guess we will have no answer...
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01-04-2010, 11:24 PM
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#9
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Member
Registered: Dec 2009
Posts: 35
Original Poster
Rep:
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Okay , Debian, BSD, Redhat and Unix Based . Why so many versions ? How do I make a choice ?
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01-05-2010, 01:39 AM
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#10
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LQ Newbie
Registered: Jul 2009
Distribution: Ubuntu 9.04, Sorcerer, RHEL 5
Posts: 8
Rep:
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actually... you've got a few more choices than that
if you want to stick with linux, you have debian based, red hat based, source based, or they have their own package manager (archlinux's pacman amongst others). There are so many versions because people want to do different things in different ways and those people are free to build their own systems
BSD, Solaris and the other Unixes are not linux and should really not be discussed in detail on this particular forum.
you obviously HAVE a distro installed... tell us what it is and we can help. I tend to like the .deb based distros myself, but there's no MAJOR disadvantage to using .rpms
Last edited by Vypadkovyy; 01-05-2010 at 01:41 AM.
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0 members found this post helpful.
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01-05-2010, 02:25 AM
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#11
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LQ Guru
Registered: Jan 2009
Location: Japan
Distribution: Mostly Debian and CentOS
Posts: 6,726
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xzibit
Okay , Debian, BSD, Redhat and Unix Based . Why so many versions ? How do I make a choice ?
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Umm, maybe you've forgotten, but you asked a question about why you couldn't install a deb file with dpkg. People requested more information so that they could answer your question. Do you still have this problem? Did you resovle it? Do you care to respond to the people who tried to help you?
Evo2.
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1 members found this post helpful.
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01-05-2010, 11:55 AM
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#12
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Member
Registered: Oct 2004
Location: Atlanta
Distribution: CentOS, RHEL, HP-UX, OS X
Posts: 567
Rep:
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My bad, I think my intro to Linux post I made threw him off.
Xzibit,
we need more information in order to help you with your issue. We need to know what distribution of Linux you are using. If you do not know off had you can run one of the following commands to find out.
or
Last edited by worm5252; 01-05-2010 at 11:55 AM.
Reason: forgot a closing bracket on a code tag
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01-05-2010, 11:59 AM
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#13
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Member
Registered: Oct 2004
Location: Atlanta
Distribution: CentOS, RHEL, HP-UX, OS X
Posts: 567
Rep:
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Here is another way. I use Debian and this is how I can verify on my system
Code:
jared@debian:~/Documents/Scripts/jobs$ cat /etc/issue
Debian GNU/Linux squeeze/sid \n \l
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1 members found this post helpful.
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01-05-2010, 01:02 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Registered: Apr 2005
Location: Heaven
Distribution: Debian Sid/RPIOS
Posts: 4,918
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sorry double posted
Last edited by craigevil; 01-05-2010 at 01:03 PM.
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01-05-2010, 01:02 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Registered: Apr 2005
Location: Heaven
Distribution: Debian Sid/RPIOS
Posts: 4,918
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The OP is/was using PCLinuxOS or at least thats what he was running when he posted the OP.
Or at least thats what his browser reported.
PCLinuxOS can be found on IRC Freenode.* There are many channels setup; some are there for help and others for chat.* Please be sure to visit these channels according to your need or stop in and let us know what you think in our user chat channels!
Freenode #pclinuxos – this channel is for general* user chat.
Freenode #pclinuxos-support – the user support channel for PCLinuxOS
Freenode #pclinuxos-nl-be – the PCLinuxOS Dutch IRC Channel
http://www.pclinuxos.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
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1 members found this post helpful.
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