Could someone provide an explanation on how to
install software in red hat linux in very simple
style. something like:

Step one : Download this package from the thiswebsite
Step two : copy to this directory
Step three: type this command
................................
and so on

I have a preinstalled red hat linux on my desktop.
Since I've never worked with linux before I feel
myself very cofused with the operating system.
Any your tips where and how to start with linux
would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
John

There are smaller and bigger threads about this already, so you should use the search tool first.

A quickie:

1) RPM packages, which are native binary (non-source) packages for RedHat/Fedora:

- download the preferred file (suffix .rpm, check the filename so it says it's for your RedHat distribution!), for example from rpm.pbone.net
- double-click on it, and you should be prompted for a password, after which the package is either installed, or if there are unmet dependencies (or something), you are given a reason why the package cannot be installed at that time, and a list of what is missing
- if needed, find the depending packages mentioned in the previous step, install them and after that the package you wanted to

2) Package manager method - automatic dependency checking and fetching

- start your package manager application such as Yum on Fedora, select the package you want to install and click OK/Apply/Install/similar.

3) Source code

- download the package, right-click on it and select the extract command, extract the package (the way you extract Zip archives with WinZip, for example)
- read the README and INSTALL files from inside the package, they tell you what to do next

4) Other formats

- either double-click on them if it happens that your system can manage the format, or if it doesn't, you need to convert the package into a format your system understands (like rpm), or just get the package in .rpm format or source code.

Depends on which version of Red Hat Linux your talking about, things have changed with the release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.

The two main ways are;

yum install foo
up2date install foo

Yes, it is that simple most of the time. Additional ways of installing applications are also possible, like installing from tar files and such. With the Red Hat family most just use up2date and/or yum depending on the version.

These sites may be helpful;

http://linux.about.com/od/commands/l...l8_up2date.htm
http://www.redhat.com/advice/tips/up2date.html
http://www.centos.org/docs/4/html/yum/

Also, if you don't know the exact package name (as I find is the case when I hear about a new package), the following will help find it:

where name is the package's partial name.

Definitely use the pkg mgr if possible, saves you from dependency issues. Also, at least on RH Fedora, there's a menu option Add/Remove Software. Much the easiest option.

Thanks,

Unfortunately, I do not have "yum" command in my linux.
How can I get it ?


Thanks,

John

I tried up2date install wine


The system response was

up2date install wine

Fetching Obsoletes list for channel: rhel-x86...

Fetching rpm headers...
########################################

Name Version Rel
----------------------------------------------------------


The following packages you requested were not found:
install
wine

What does this mean ???????

Thanks,

John

A five second Google shows you're using the incorrect syntax for up2date for one. The syntax for installing with up2date is:

Also, Wine may not have been found because that is not how it is listed in the repository (or I think channel is what it's called for up2date). Read the man page or Google how to search for packages with up2date.