Need help with Linux

[efc]

For the 4th time in the past 6 months, I have made the decision to learn to use Linux. The difference this time is that I have set it up on one of my computers as the sole OS. The reasoning is that when I turn that computer on there is no choice, I have to deal with Linux.

I need some hand holding. Still having big problems with simple issues.

Request someone with the knowledge, exchange instant messaging info so that you can knock this stuff into my thick skull.

Request anyone willing to take on this daunting task PM me to make arrangements.

Using Mandrake 10

[Big Booger]

I can help to a certain degree. Why not post them here for the benefit of other users? Also you can get more than one reply to an issue. If not I can pm you.

[efc]

I have been using the Linux system to browse the internet, send and receive mail, and use the programs that come with the Mandrake 10 installation.

The next thing I want to learn is loading new software. For instance, I found a free AV program called "F-Prot". I have tried repeatedly to install it using the instructions on the web site. No luck.

Question:

Is there a particular location that you should download programs to?

Once you have the file downloaded how do you install it?

[Big Booger]

This is a good question. I had so much trouble installing software when I first used Linux.

There are actually many ways to install software with Linux. The main ones are URPMI, RPM, and compile from source using the command line (if using red hat try APT for easy software installing and updating).

I will also say this efc, when you first install Mandrake, I highly recommend you to install ALL developmental packages. I just check every single box. The reason being is that most software will require at some point a developmental package. If they are already installed, then your trouble factor goes down.

URPMI is the program you need for Mandrake 10.

http://urpmi.org/easyurpmi/index.php

That site will give you all the info you need for installing URPMI.

http://www.linux-mandrake.com/cooker/urpmi.html

And another site with more info above.


Now on to your specific F-prot AV installation. I haven't installed this yet, but as soon as I get home I will give it a go.

F-Prot Antivirus tarballs now come with an installation script called install-f-prot.pl. It can be found in the directory created when extracting the tarballs. If you choose to use this script, you can skip the next step titled "Installing manually." To run the script, change to the f-prot/ directory and execute it:

tar xvfz /path/to/fp-linux-ws-VERSION.tar.gz
cd f-prot/
./install-f-prot.pl

That would be your best bet. I usually SU to root when installing software. It tends to reduce troubles. (root, as you might know is your administrator account).

to SU to root, open a command prompt, and at the prompt type:

su root

then type your root password.

Now that you are in root, you can install the software. Fprot has it's own installation script. So you needn't worry where to download it. I just create a folder on the desktop called Downloads, and put all my downloaded software in that folder.

Now use this:

tar xvfz /path/to/fp-linux-ws-VERSION.tar.gz
cd f-prot/
./install-f-prot.pl

Tar basically is like a decompressing command. It will decompress the compressed .tar.gz file.

Now if you downloaded the files to your desktop, you can type
tar xvfz /path/to/fp-linux-ws-VERSION.tar.gz

In the command prompt (make sure you are root and not your regular account name)

Where /path/to/....tar.gz is the path to the desktop download folder. I don't know the path offhand as I am at work. When I go home I can update this thread.

The path would be like /home/USERNAME//Desktop/downloads/

If you downloaded fprot to the desktop downloads folder

Then CD to the f-prot folder.

type:
cd f-prot/

then type:
./install-f-prot.pl

Now if all goes well, the F-prot installation should begin.

F-Prot Antivirus has all of its files in one directory called f-prot/. For the deb and rpm packages, that directory will be installed under /usr/local/. We recommend users of the tarball to do the same. An installation script included with the tarball should also install the directory to /usr/local/.

http://www.f-prot.com/support/helpfi...loc_files.html

Now on to verification of installed F-prot:

To verify the commandline scanner works, please run it with the -verno option and then attempt to scan a file:

f-prot -verno
f-prot /etc/passwd

If that works, you're all set.

[efc]

Thought that I would install again with, as you suggested, all blocks checked. Tried it twice. Each time the mouse would not respond. I'm too sleepy to think. Will try again tomorrow.

[Big Booger]

If the mouse doesn't respond you can continue with the installation, and install the mouse at a later period. (using the keyboard as the mouse).

I have had this happen once when I used a USB adapter for a serial mouse. All that needed to be done was to go into the hardware properties and select generic USB mouse driver. Worked like a charm after that. Even the scroll wheel worked.

[Big Booger]

Ok efc,
I am back home and just installed F-prot on my PC in Mandrake 10.

Here's a copy of the command line that I used;

http://www.f-prot.com/

F - Prot Antivirus - workstation - for Unix.


######################################################
# You are starting the configuration part of the: #
# F - Prot Antivirus installation. #
######################################################

This installation script for F - Prot Antivirus only supports installation from:
/usr/local/f-prot/

Please decompress the F - Prot Antivirus workstation under /usr/local,
so that once extracted it will become:

/usr/local/f-prot.
(This is particularly useful since all our documentation,
manuals and support services assume this location.)

If you want to install f-prot into another directory, you will need to do it man
ually.
(for further information on manual installation, read the HTML help-file.
The latest version of the HTML help-file is always available at
http://www.f-prot.com/support/helpfiles/unix )

Please decompress the f-prot workstation distribution under /usr/local/
and try re-running this script again from within the created directory:
/usr/local/f-prot

Exiting...
[[email protected] f-prot]# dir
CHANGES ENGLISH.TX0 f-prot.sh LICENSE man_pages SIGN2.DEF tools
doc_ws f-prot install-f-prot.pl MACRO.DEF README SIGN.DEF
[[email protected] f-prot]# cd ../
[[email protected] FPROT]# dir
fp-linux-ws.tar.gz f-prot
[[email protected] FPROT]# mv f-prot /usr/local
[[email protected] FPROT]# dir
fp-linux-ws.tar.gz
[[email protected] FPROT]# cd ../
[[email protected] Downloads]# dir
FPROT
[[email protected] Downloads]# cd ../
[[email protected] Desktop]# cd /home
[[email protected] home]# dir
bigbooger
[[email protected] home]# cd ../
[[email protected] /]# dir
bin dev home lib media opt root srv tmp var
boot etc initrd lost+found mnt proc sbin sys usr
[[email protected] /]# cd usr
[[email protected] usr]# dir
bin etc games include java lib local sbin share src tmp X11R6
[[email protected] usr]# cd local
[[email protected] local]# dir
bin doc etc f-prot games include lib libexec sbin share src
[[email protected] local]# cd f-prot
[[email protected] f-prot]# dir
CHANGES ENGLISH.TX0 f-prot.sh LICENSE man_pages SIGN2.DEF tools
doc_ws f-prot install-f-prot.pl MACRO.DEF README SIGN.DEF
[[email protected] f-prot]# ./install-f-prot.pl
(c) FRISK Software International

http://www.f-prot.com/

F - Prot Antivirus - workstation - for Unix.


######################################################
# You are starting the configuration part of the: #
# F - Prot Antivirus installation. #
######################################################

Where do you want a symbolic link for F - Prot Antivirus to be generated?
[/usr/local/bin/] : [PRESS ENTER]
Where do you want the symbolic links for section 8 manuals to be generated (man8
)?
[/usr/share/man/man8/] : [PRESS ENTER]
Where do you want the symbolic links for the manuals for executable programs to
be generated (man1)?
[/usr/share/man/man1/] : [PRESS ENTER]

######################################################
# You are starting the file-check part of the: #
# F - Prot Antivirus installation. #
######################################################

Checking file: '/usr/local/f-prot/f-prot': OK.
Checking file: '/usr/local/f-prot/man_pages/f-prot.1': OK.
Checking file: '/usr/local/f-prot/man_pages/check-updates.pl.8': OK.

######################################################
# You are starting the installation part of the: #
# F - Prot Antivirus installation. #
######################################################

Setting up symbolic link: /home/bigbooger/Desktop/f-prot: OK.
Setting up symbolic link: /usr/share/man/man8/check-updates.pl.8: OK.
Setting up symbolic link: /usr/share/man/man1/f-prot.1: OK.


Changing file permissions:

File permissions: /usr/local/f-prot/f-prot rwxr-x-r-x OK.
File permissions: /usr/local/f-prot/tools/check-updates.pl rwx------ OK.

######################################################
# Installation of F - Prot Antivirus is completed. #
######################################################

[[email protected] f-prot]#

As you can tell I got an error trying to install it from the download directory that I have on my desktop. So I moved the file using the MV command;

[[email protected] FPROT]# mv f-prot /usr/local

mv + file name + location

then I cd'd to the /usr/local folder.

(To move forward and backward in the command line type;

cd / cd ../

CD moves you forward and cd ../ moves you back.)

Once in the /usr/local folder just follow the directions that I posted for installing Fprot. It's that easy.

PS; you can usually shorten the forward and back steps by typing cd /path/to/...

it is faster, but I prefer step by step.

Hope that helps.

[efc]

OK - I can see and think again. I know, there is an opening for anyone.

This mouse issue is another of those things that is driving me crazy. The mouse worked throughout the installation, only to fail when the system was rebooted at completion of the install. Ran the install three times this morning before it finally worked. I had to install it as a USB mouse before it worked. Regardless everything seems to be working now. I will study tour information and attempt the F-Prot install shortly.

[Big Booger]

When you get it installed:

(open command prompt)

[I did this in root but it works the same in the normal user account]

[[email protected] f-prot]# f-prot -verno
F-PROT ANTIVIRUS
Program version: 4.4.2
Engine version: 3.14.11

VIRUS SIGNATURE FILES
SIGN.DEF created 10 May 2004
SIGN2.DEF created 10 May 2004
MACRO.DEF created 10 May 2004
[[email protected] f-prot]# f-prot /etc/passwd
Virus scanning report - 10 June 2004 @ 22:45

F-PROT ANTIVIRUS
Program version: 4.4.2
Engine version: 3.14.11

VIRUS SIGNATURE FILES
SIGN.DEF created 10 May 2004
SIGN2.DEF created 10 May 2004
MACRO.DEF created 10 May 2004

Search: /etc/passwd
Action: Report only
Files: "Dumb" scan of all files
Switches: -ARCHIVE -PACKED -SERVER


Results of virus scanning:

Files: 1
MBRs: 0
Boot sectors: 0
Objects scanned: 1

Time: 0:00

No viruses or suspicious files/boot sectors were found.
[[email protected] f-prot]#

That is what you should see.



TO DO A FULL SCAN:

command prompt:
f-prot /

that is it.

[efc]

Hate to report that I am still in the same honey pot. Can't even tell you where it breaks down because after hundreds of moves and attempts, can't remember what happened or in what sequence.

Suspect that I will have to buy a book, the next time I go to Branson or Springfield, MO.

BB- Thanks for the help. Got to get away from it for a while.

[Big Booger]

Are you having issues moving the file to the appropriate folders? I remember when I first tried it I though OMG, this is crazy, to go to the command line approach.

but once you get used to it, it takes very little time. But if you make one mistake, it doesn't work. That includes spatial errors, capitalization, spelling, etc...


I can do a screenshot step by step if you want. Shouldn't take more than 10-15 minutes tonight.

The main thing is if you get an error, copy and paste the whole terminal output into this thread. I might be able to see what is going on.

[efc]

I am aware of the case issue. Have worked with Unix systems over the years, however I was just a user. Had a cook book (go here, do this). Not a lot of understanding there.

Lets try the screen shots. I think that if I do it right once everything will fall in place. Screen shots will take a lot of space. May not be practicle for TZ. Will send email address by PM.

[efc]

Got it working. BB sent me instructions and screenshots by email. The size is over 1MB so it is not practical to here.

Thanks again, BB.

[Big Booger]

Glad it is solved. I will add that guide to the techzonez frontpage.

Any other issues just let me know.