Day 7

1. Day 7 Installing Software RPM tar, mtools make, ssh

2. Mtools • In Unix accessing floppy drives can be tricky. • Floppy disks can be used as Unix devices. • When the disk is inserted, you would mount it into the file system. • Typically done under /dev/floppy • Before removing the disk you would need to unmount it. • This disk would only be readable in another Unix system. • To use a disk is Dos format, you can use the Linux mtools.

3. The Tools • mdir a: • This will list of files on the DOS formatted floppy. • mcopy <file> a: • This will copy a file from your UNIX directory to the floppy • mcopy a:/<filename> . • This would copy a file from the floppy to the current directory • mmove • Move/Rename a file • mdel • Delete a file.

4. Software Packages • Redhat package manager (rpm) • From the command line: • rpm –q –a • Will show you all currently installed packages • gnorpm • Graphical version, which is a little nicer and allows you to not have to remember the 1000 parameters you can pass to rpm

5. Installing New Software • Most software companies distribute their software in both source code and binary formats. • If you get a source code version, you will have to compile it yourself. • This is a lot of trouble, avoid it if possible. • If you get a binary version, for linux it will be distributed as either a .bin (which is should be executable if you set permissions for it) or a .rpm (which means you can install it directly with the rpm command. • Some distribute software with tar.

6. What is tar? • TAR was originally created as a standard format to write information to a Tape device in Unix. • Tape Archive. • Today its used frequently as a way to distribute multiple files together. • Files which are tar files typically end with .tar. • Its often the case that a tar file is then gziped to shrink its size. Hence the ending: • .tar.gz *OR* • .tgz

7. Creating a new Tar file • tar cvf filename.tar * • This would (C)reate a file, using (V)erbose output, putting input into a (F)ile. • The file name will be filename.tar. • Into it we will put all files in the current directory. • Create a tar archive of your home directory. • Call it backup.tar

8. Verifying a tar file • To see what’s in a tar file: • tar tf filename.tar • This will give you a (T)able from a (F)ile called filename.tar

9. Opening a tar file • tar xvf filename.tar • Will e(X)tract, in a (V)erbose manner, from the (F)ile filename.tar • Be sure you put the files where you want them. The directory structure is also stored in the tar file.

10. Compiling Code • If software is distributed as source code, they are giving you the C or C++ code which a programmer wrote. • You will need to compile it. • In Unix there are a few variants of compiler • gcc • GNU C and C++ compiler • make • General utility which is used to specify which files to compile and in what order.

11. Installing SSH • Download ssh from the front class web page on Kahuna. • Install it using: • This comes as source code. • First gunzip the file, then extract the tar archive. • Then we will have to compile it. • ./configure • make • make install

12. Using SSH • Test it out, by trying to connect to kahuna. • ssh -l enda kahuna.clayton.edu • You will be prompted about a security warning, and to save the key. • Accept any changes it asks for. • You may now delete the build directory

13. Install Star Office • Star Office is the equivalent of MS-Office. • It was created by Sun. • http://www.sun.com • Freely available.