just another stupid newbie question

[dishawjp]

Hi All,

I know that this is a real newbie question, but I couldn't find anything in the man pages or in the Linux book I bought.  I downloaded a file and it's in .tar.gz format.  I I need to extract and install it.  I tried the tar -e command with no luck.  Any help would be appreciated.  Oh, I'm running Red Hat 6.2.

TIA

Jim

[caveman_piet]

The -z flag does the gzip/gunzip.

Try tar -tvzf filename.tar.gz - this should
only list the files in the archive

and tar -xvzf filename.tar.gz will extract

[electroman]

DOSman, curious, what was the last DOS version you used?

[RudeCat7]

Pretty soon you'll be "FreeDosMan"  

[choasforages]

umm, i normally stick to

tar -zxvf

and use it for tar.gz files

and

tar jxvf

for tar.bz2 files

have fun

[dishawjp]

Thanks All for the replies.  To answer electroman's question, I've used DOS versions from 3.3 through whatever it is that they call the "DOS" command shell in WinXP.  Of course, the last *real* DOS was version 6.22.

I may have to redownload the file now though... I kept playing with it and tried gunzip on it.  Now it's a .tar file.  I tried tar -x on it and nothing happened.  

Looks like I still have a lot of learning to do.  Can anyone recommend a decent book on Linux.  I have some old Unix reference manuals, but the only book on Linux I have doesn't really cut it.  It spends too much time with working with the GUI and I prefer working from a command line.  Besides that it answers all the questions I *don't* have.

Thanks once again to all of you for all your help.

Gotta quit playing with this damned computer now and head off to a clam bake.  Time to eat and drink myself stupid

Jim

[creedon]

quote:Originally posted by DOSman:
Thanks All for the replies.  To answer electroman's question, I've used DOS versions from 3.3 through whatever it is that they call the "DOS" command shell in WinXP.  Of course, the last *real* DOS was version 6.22.

I may have to redownload the file now though... I kept playing with it and tried gunzip on it.  Now it's a .tar file.  I tried tar -x on it and nothing happened.  

Looks like I still have a lot of learning to do.  Can anyone recommend a decent book on Linux.  I have some old Unix reference manuals, but the only book on Linux I have doesn't really cut it.  It spends too much time with working with the GUI and I prefer working from a command line.  Besides that it answers all the questions I *don't* have.

Thanks once again to all of you for all your help.

Gotta quit playing with this damned computer now and head off to a clam bake.  Time to eat and drink myself stupid

Jim

Goin' to Hinterwadles, eh?  Well, if you want to do a little traveling, PM me: I've got a 1994 edition of "using Linux"; it's about as basic a text as you'll find, but the basics have remained the same.
I'm using Debian 3.0 Woody and Sarge, with a Libranet 2.0 thrown in for good measure.  "Using Linux" has saved my butt on a few occasions, even though I'm running fairly new distro's; the basics haven't changed, and since you're (wisely) concentrating on the CLI, I think you would find the book useful.  I'll loan it to you (but I want it back.)

[RudeCat7]

Check out the Barnes & Noble bargain bin.

They love to discount Linux books

ex: Redhat 6 linux secrets $8.00
    Linux administration for dummies $1.75
    Redhat Administrator's book $5.00


 

[TheQuirk]

I find "General Linux I" by Dee-Ann LeBlanc and published by Coriolis to be a great book. It has a big "Exam Prep" thing on it. It's great.

[KernelPanic]

Osbourne, The Complete Refernce LINUX.
Get an old one for like $10

[voidmain]

If you gunzipped the file you now have just a tar file. Use:

tar -xvf filename.tar

if it is gzipped use:

tar -xvzf filename.tar.gz

[ September 08, 2002: Message edited by: void main ]

[Master of Reality]

http://forum.fuckmicrosoft.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=5&t=000763
i explained a bit here on how to install most formats.

[voidmain]

Yes, it's been answered at least 10 times since I've been here. We really need to get started on that FAQ! And it might be good to list the above as the "base"/"preferred" method, but also list other ways it can be done using Konqueror file manager etc...

[ September 08, 2002: Message edited by: void main ]

[Master of Reality]

ya, i havent used the GUI kpackage to install anything yet so i usually tell people the commandline way, but some might want to kow how to use kpackage and other GUI tools.

[dishawjp]

Thanks all for the replies.  I'll see what I can find at B&N and check for the other titles mentioned.  

Creedon... I didn't see your personal e-mail address in your profile.  The e-mail addy that I check the most is "*****" feel free to contact me there, and I'll be more than happy to buy you a couple of beers at one of the local taverns.  Are you familiar with the Dewittshire near the Le Moyne College campus?  I spend lots of evenings there  Or, anywhere else in the general area you prefer.  Let me know.

Edited... as per recommendation, e-mail address deleted and pm sent.

Jim
Jim

[ September 08, 2002: Message edited by: DOSman ]