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Extracting RPM contents.
by Douglas Willis 29 Aug '02

29 Aug '02

Hi, Does any one know how to extract the contents of an RPM without installing it? The reason I want to do this is I have an RPM that I want to install into a customised location rather than the defaults that are scripted in the RPM install script. -- Douglas Willis (ddw(a)nerc-bas.ac.uk) British Antarctic Survey High Cross, Madingley Road Cambridge, CB3 0ET, United Kingdom tel: +44 1223 221400, fax: +44 1223 362616

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Silver Lining
by Ian Bell 28 Aug '02

28 Aug '02

You may remember I reproted having my old PII 233 laptop stolen a while ago. Thanks to a new for old insurance policy I am now the proud owner of a brand new Dell Inspiron 2650 with a P4 1.6GHz processor running RH7.3. Happy Ian

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Re: [Alug] Mandrake install worked!
by Syd Hancock 28 Aug '02

28 Aug '02

Hi Russell Congratulations - have fun. I'm just a dabbler, by contrast with most people on the list who seem to be IT professionals. I had a similar experience to you - I was astonished to find a desktop after doing my first install! Not at all what I had expected from the recommended Linux books. All the same, the command line is essential - especially being able to switch to a different console when things go a bit wonky... Some things are easiest done with a GUI - like file copying etc, as you mention - many things can really only be done, or are best done, at the command line. Basically there are a huge number of things to learn and you will just have to pick them up as you go along. Mandrake tries to make it easy and approachable for the inexperienced user - the more experienced find it frustrating for that reason but for many people a lot of hand-holding and being able to do fun things right from the start is a good place to begin. But at some point we all have to start reading and studying and trying things out and breaking them and then trying to find out how to fix them <grin>. I do suggest that you look at the Mandrake support sites, especially <http://www.mandrakeuser.org> which has a lot of helpful, detailed, easy to understand information in the document section. They are useful for any inexperienced linux user, not just MDK users, as are the Suse and Redhat online support. The mandrake user and refrence guides are also invaluable. Best wishes, ask away when you need help - as long as you're making some effort to work things out for yourself then people will be very glad to help. Regards Syd

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Stalham Venue : Hope Remains
by Keith Watson 28 Aug '02

28 Aug '02

Just had some more feedback from the powers that be. 1stly they asked me to pass on their apologies once more (I think they are a bit embarrassed they didn't check sooner) for the cancellation at short notice. They are keen to show support for the open source movement, as much of our next generation systems are based on open source Apache/Java/XML technologies(s) (or commercial variants of, where necessary). We're currently are looking at our 3rd party insurance to see if and how the conditions can be varied. Funnily enough one step that will help is if we restrict access to some parts of the site (at the moment once you're in you're in). This will mean putting some internal locks on some of the doors and reviewing the zoning of the alarm system so we can selectively isolate those areas we want to be accessible. Presumably the insurers feel that if an area is inaccessible then the liability for any accidents is eliminated! So, don't give up hope just yet! Keith ____________ Those who seek the easy way do not seek the true way. - Dogen

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RE: [Alug] Remote command execution..
by Jonathan Dye 28 Aug '02

28 Aug '02

> -----Original Message----- > From: Simon [mailto:simon.parkes@btconnect.com] > Sent: 28 August 2002 07:25 > To: main(a)lists.alug.org.uk > Subject: [Alug] Remote command execution.. > > Hi all, > Is it possible to fire up ssh and run a remote command > in a perl script, somthing like : > > system("ssh <user>@<host>:/<command>"); the command would be system("ssh <user>@<host> <command>"); (or at least the ssh part is like that as I've not checked the perl system() command) > Would the above run the command then quit or stay logged in ? It should return when the remote command returns and it's return code will be that of the remote command. Remember that for it to work without asking for a password you need to have a key-pair set up without a password on it or use ssh-agent to remember the password for the key. > Basicaly I need to run a script on a local machine and > dependant upon results, run a script on a remote machine, > then continue back with the script on the local machine. > > Hope it makes sense.. > > TIA > Simon JD _____________________________________________________________________ This message has been checked for all known viruses by the MessageLabs Virus Scanning Service

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Mandrake install worked!
by Russell Ward 28 Aug '02

28 Aug '02

Hi there, again. Just to tell you that I appear to have a working Linux system now, after previous postings regarding problems with the install. Briefly, I did replace my computer with a newer one, 64MB RAM and 4GB HD. Then just put in the CD and boot floppy, under Win98, and it worked at the second attempt, with a neat GUI install. A couple of things I found offputting as a Linux newbie: No-one explains the partitioning process, you seem to have to know about that already. The 'auto-partition' offers several partitions under Linux, why is that? I wanted, and got, just one, mount point '/', alongside a Win98 partition. Also, it is so much easier to learn Linux using a GUI rather than commandline/console, such as browsing the file structure as well as opening various apps. Sounds obvious, but this doesn't seem to be emphasised in the literature, where commandlines and editing config files abound. I'm glad I persisted, though productivity so far has gone down (damn 'Asteroids'!). I may eventually have some questions regarding C++ possibilities. Until then, thanks to everyone again for your earlier help. Cheers Russell _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com

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Re: [Alug] Mandrake install worked!
by Jenny_Hopkins＠toby-churchill.com 28 Aug '02

28 Aug '02

Russell Ward wrote: >Hi there, again. Just to tell you that I appear to have a working Linux >system now, after previous postings regarding problems with the install. > >Also, it is so much easier to learn Linux using a GUI rather than >commandline/console, such as browsing the file structure as well as opening >various apps. Sounds obvious, but this doesn't seem to be emphasised in the >literature, where commandlines and editing config files abound. Glad the install was successful. However, I couldn't disagree more with the GUI thing. For a newbie, the command line stuff is a far steeper learning curve but once you are even halfway up the cliff you have a much better understanding of what is actually going on in your linux system. I'm renowned for doing things the hard way, however. Jenny.

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Remote command execution..
by Simon 28 Aug '02

28 Aug '02

Hi all, Is it possible to fire up ssh and run a remote command in a perl script, somthing like : system("ssh <user>@<host>:/<command>"); Would the above run the command then quit or stay logged in ? Basicaly I need to run a script on a local machine and dependant upon results, run a script on a remote machine, then continue back with the script on the local machine. Hope it makes sense.. TIA Simon

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Firestarter Pre-reqs?
by Keith Watson 27 Aug '02

27 Aug '02

Does anyone know what kernel (2.4.18) options are needed for the Firestarter package (0.8.9 as I'm running Gnome 1.4)? And are there any other packages I should install first (iptables?). Keith ____________ Live life as life lives itself. Zen Proverb

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September 1st Stalham Cancelled
by Keith Watson 27 Aug '02

27 Aug '02

Apologies to all but I'll have to cancel the meeting this Sunday. The management here at Stalham have asked me to pass on their apologies also. Apparently there's a problem with our public liability insurance, or to be more accurate the terms of it have changed since we last used the site for something like this a couple of years back. Very sorry about the late notice. Keith

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