Hello, I am quite new to Linux. I just installed Ubuntu server on my iMac G3 (to test things out). I followed all instructions on downloading new applications to set it up as a server. However, when I try to access these applications by using ./program name the computer returns the error "Bash: permission denied". I am running as the root user, but it does the same thing even if I'm not root. Any suggestions?

Can you give some more information please?

What applications are you referring to and what are the permissions of the executable file?

I suggest you type something like the following:

and then post the output. If your executable is not in /usr/bin then just substitute its actual path.

Since I am horribly new at Linux, here is everything I am doing...

1) Log in as chriskurowicki (normal user)

2) Log in as root using "su"

3) Current directory is root@shaky:/home/chriskurowicki

4) cd "files"

5) dir

6) 2 folders, MD5-2.03 and openssl-0.9.8e

7) Then I tried going into the folder of MD5-2.03

8) a dir reveals Makefile.PL, MAINIFEST, MD5.pm, README, and t

9) If I use ./MD5.pm or ./anything I get the error "bash: ./MD5.pm: Permission denied


It does the same thing when I am not logged in as root.

....Maybe all apps need to be in /usr/bin???

Er... ok hold on... here we go:

First of all, in Linux the native command to list the contents of a director is "ls". This is preferable to "dir" and will highlight the different types of files and directories in different colours. For example, a file which appears in green when you type "ls" at the prompt, is executable (or at least has executable permissions).

Secondly: are the packages you are interested in "MD5" and "OpenSSL"? Are you trying to run them or install them?

Thirdly, I don't think that MD5.pm is an executable program. It looks to me like a checksum (an encrypted code used to check the validity of your source package, it is a way of ensuring that it has not been tampered with).

Fourthly, name a program you would like to run and which you believe your system has installed. It is not easy to help with a broad generalization of a problem.

Finally, at step 5, type the following:
and post what you get as your result. The result will indicate what you can execute from that directory.

Hmm, well, MD5 is supposed to be a firewall application. I did the ls -1A in its folder and came up with Changes, Makefile.PL, MANIFEST, MD5.pm and README all in grey. Below that is "t" which is blue (a folder?).

The packages I was referring to need to be installed.

Open the file called "README" in a text editor.

If you are using a file browser, simply double click and it should open in your default editor. If you are in a terminal try
Note: to exit emacs press "CTRL+Z"
or
Note: to exit the vi editor, press ":" and then type "q" and press "enter".

The README file should give you instructions on how to install the packages. You will either have the binary package which will have specific installation instructions or you will have the source package which you need to build yourself.

I see there is a perl pack and contains a Makefile.PL. To run it you should type something like

followed of course by make ; make install

Regards
Andy