LinuxQuestions.org - [SOLVED] Command assistance

- Linux - Newbie (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/)

- - Command assistance (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/command-assistance-4175707305/)

Command assistance

I'm completely new to Linux, and am trying to install some hardware on my Linux machine that runs LinuxCNC (a CNC machining control program). Problem is, I don't understand the following from the hardware instruction sheet -

2. Put Makefile, vc-m1 and 99-vistacnc-pendant.rules to “src” under home directory ~/src$. If there is a Makefile in that directory, name that make file to different name, like Makefile_old.

Can anyone please explain where these files are to go, and if there's something more complicated about it than just copying the files to that location (wherever "that location" is!)?

Many thanks!

That sounds like instructions for installing from sources (that is, source code). This is a good tutorial about how to do that: https://www.linux.com/news/how-insta...-source-linux/

To install from sources, you need to have kernel headers installed; most distros do not include them in a base install to save space in the installation *.iso, but you can find them in the repos.

What distro version are you running?

Oh, and welcome to LQ.

Yep, it's just that simple. But note my sigline.
"that location" is a directory (folder to Windows users) that appears to exist - the "~/src$" will resolve automatically to your users directory; something like /home/sjhebrock/src$/ for example.

If using a GUI file manager simply drag and drop - after renaming that old Makefile if neccessary (right-click the file). Note that in linux, file (and directory) names are case sensitive.

Hi,

it may help us if we can know exactly what you are trying to install and if we can actually see the "hardware instruction sheet"? Is it online somewhere?
Maybe here: http://vistacnc.com/a03_download/download.htm?

But roughly it seems that it wants you to do something like:

Code:

mkdir ~/src

cp Makefile vc-m1 99-vistacnc-pendant.rules ~/src/

Or if ~/src already exists:

Code:

mv ~/src/Makefile ~/src/Makefile_old

cp Makefile vc-m1 99-vistacnc-pendant.rules ~/src/

Evo2.

Quote:

Originally Posted by evo2 (Post 6324327)

Code:

mkdir ~/src

cp Makefile vc-m1 99-vistacnc-pendant.rules ~/src/

Or if ~/src already exists:

Code:

mv ~/src/Makefile ~/src/Makefile_old

cp Makefile vc-m1 99-vistacnc-pendant.rules ~/src/

Evo2.

Yes, the instruction sheet is on that page under "M1 Driver and Installation Package v1.20." As you've probably already seen, this is for what's called a "jog pendant" - a handheld USB controller that emulates keyboard strokes to control the machine.

Specifically, I'm baffled by what the "src" and "~/src$" mean. I'm an MSDOS/Windows guy, and these baffle me!

Also, there are two file folders included in the installation package for 32-bit and 64-bit Linux OS, but no mention of them in the installation instructions - another mystery!

Sincere thanks for your assistance!

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjhebrock (Post 6324479)

Ok, it seems that you are reading 'M1 LinuxCNC Installation Instruction.pdf' from
http://vistacnc.com/manual_download/...1_linuxCNC.zip

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjhebrock (Post 6324479)

Specifically, I'm baffled by what the "src" and "~/src$" mean. I'm an MSDOS/Windows guy, and these baffle me!

Also, there are two file folders included in the installation package for 32-bit and 64-bit Linux OS, but no mention of them in the installation instructions - another mystery!

Sincere thanks for your assistance!

The installation instructions are on the first page of the pdf. Here I'll assume that you are using a 64-bit OS with kernel 2.8 or later.

Step "2."
If you're used to dos then you should have no problem on the command line. Assuming that you are in the same directory as the files extracted from the zip file:

Code:

mkdir ~/src/

cp Makefile ~/src/

cp vc-m1-64bit/vc-m1 ~/src/

cp 99-vistacnc-pendant.rules ~/src/

cd ~/src/

Step "3."
The next step requires you to be root or using su or sudo. I don't know how your system is configured, but one of the following should work

Option a)

Code:

sudo make install

You'll be prompted for *your* password.

Option b) (if option 1 didn't work)

Code:

su -l

make install

exit

With this, you'll be prompted for the *root* password.

Step "4."
You are supposed to copy vm-m1.hal file to somewhere. It specifies the same location as the ".ini" file. I have no idea what or where that is.
But assuming you know or can find out. Let's call it "/foo/bar/". You'd do:

Code:

cp 'vc-m1 HAL for 2.8 and above/vc-m1.hal' /foo/bar/

The instructions in steps 5. and 6. again refer to the .ini file an to another file that I again know nothing of: custom_postgui.hal.

Perhaps you know something about these files?

Evo2.

P.S. I just realised that the "2.8 and above" may be referring to the version of LinxCNC and not the version of the Linux kernel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by evo2 (Post 6324718)

Here I'll assume that you are using a 64-bit OS with kernel 2.8 or later.

What you sent is wonderful, Evo2, and I very much appreciate the time you spent writing out the instructions.

But now I'm hung up on trying to figure out whether I need the 32-bit or 64-bit files. The computer is running UBUNTU 10.04 LTS, which apparently has both 32-bit and 64-bit versions according to the web, and I don't know how/where to determine which files to install. Can you shed any light on this?

Thanks!

Code:

uname -a

arch

hostnamectl

Or examine a binary executable

Code:

file /bin/ls

If that is a symlink then examine its target!

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjhebrock (Post 6324770)

What you sent is wonderful, Evo2, and I very much appreciate the time you spent writing out the instructions.

No problem, we all had to start somewhere.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjhebrock (Post 6324770)

But now I'm hung up on trying to figure out whether I need the 32-bit or 64-bit files. The computer is running UBUNTU 10.04 LTS,

LOL, that's quite a dinosaur! I'm assuming it is not connected to the internet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjhebrock (Post 6324770)

which apparently has both 32-bit and 64-bit versions according to the web, and I don't know how/where to determine which files to install. Can you shed any light on this?

See MadeInGermany's post for the answer.

Cheers,

Evo2.

Thank you everyone, for your insights and assistance. I did manage to get everything installed per the instructions, but (of course!) now the program just crashes...