Hi all,

I have been a casual linux user since 1999, but I've decided to try and make a full change into Linux technology. One thing that's always stumped me is software installation on Linux. I am not too fond of manually compiling source code (I do like using terminal screen and consider myself a power user). Before, a few years ago, software installation was not really a problem because the original media had everything you needed, from web servers to database apps, it was all there. Nowadays, though, these distros don't bring much software with them. Most distros though, have the option to download packages from the repositories, which brings me to my current problem:

I am using Mandriva Spring 2008. I want to install mysql-server on it. I open the Package manager it ships with, and I tell it to add a new installation media. The app then asks me if I want to download the repository list and add them automatically. I tell it to do so. After a few minutes, it reports that it can't contact the site, that it may be unavailable, or that my connection is not working. I know my connection works because I can surf the web, and I know that at least the mandriva homepage is available. However, I'm stumped. I tried searching for the mandriva repositories list on google but I can't seem to find them (to add them manually). How can I configure Mandriva for repositories? Where can I find the lists? Where else can I download the packages I need? Please, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Try Mandriva control center> configure media sources for install and update

all the best

Hi thanks for your quick reply. The option you suggested is the one I've been using. I click the add button and tell the system to get the Full Set of Sources. After a few minutes, I get this error message:
"There was an error downloading the mirror list: retrieval of /var/cache/urpmi/basic.2008.1.i586.list failed. The Web site may not be available."

I tried running drakconf as root, and I tried locating this file myself, but no, it does not exist on my disk. Have I gotten a broken distro, perhaps?

Even I do not use it , it give my the change to down load it and give the amount disk space that it will use.
So it is possible that you,re distro is broken or some else goes wrong during install , but at this momentI do not know how to correct it


all the best

Hi,

Thanks for your help, though. I'll keep poking around.

the problem you are having is one i just finished working through

the problem is that the package manager cant resolve the ip address for the remote repository. this is a dns issue

in my case, i am using an adsl router as a net gateway. my internet connection configuration had the routers ip as the primary dns server. this caused problems as many (but srangely not all) net apps couldnt resolve ip adresses. probably because the router couldnt proxy the dns service correctly.

the solution: find out your isp`s dns adresses (eg, im with iinet dns ip:203.0.178.191) and set that as the dns server address instead of what is listed in your internet connection configuration panel.

hope this helps