Hello,

I am struggling to understand how it is possible to install a program without an RPM. I have had several programs now with an install-sh script, but no real instructions on how to use it other than to use the make program when in the install directory. I can understand decompressing into an install directory, but I don't know what to do with the the install-sh file when i am done. When I use the make command i get an error. Can someone send me to an article or help me to understand what to do? Thanks!

rpm's are binaries, the actual program.
If you've got sources, you have to compile them yourself (making a executable program from sourcecode).
in most cases the only thing you will have to do, is decompress the archive go inside the newly created directory, run ./configure make & make install.
example:
tar -zxvf someprogram.tar.gz
cd someprogram
./configure
make
su (-> we need superuser to install)
make install.

tar -zxvf : decompress an archive
./configure: checks if all libraries needed to compile succesful are present on the system
make : compiles the sources (it makes a program)
make install: copies the program to a directory where the sysem will find it.

when asking questions like this it is highly recommended that you mention the program you are trying to install. the error message would help also...

sorry the program i am trying to install is freeradius .8.1

is there no README or INSTALL file in the "someprogram" directory?

mkdir -p /usr/src/802/radius
cd /usr/src/802/radius

cvs -d server:anoncvs@cvs.freeradius.org:/source login

CVS password: anoncv

cvs -d server:anoncvs@cvs.freeradius.org:/source checkout radiusd

cd radiusd
./configure --prefix=/usr/local/radius

make
make install

/usr/local/radius/sbin/run-radius -X -A

make
su -
Root password
make install

why did you not use
freeradius-20021109-1.2.0 RPM for i386 ??