Basic installation and uninstall of software under Linux

The installation and uninstallation of Linux software has been a challenge for many new users. In Windows, we can use the security loading program that comes with the software or Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel. Similar to Linux, there is a powerful software loading and unloading tool called RPM. It can be used to build, install, query, update, uninstall software. The tool is used at the command line. You can get help for this command by entering RPM after the shell's prompt.

Installation of software

There are two different forms of software installation under Linux. The first installation file name is xxx.tar.gz; another installation file name is xxx.i386.rpm. Software distributed in the first way is mostly sent in the form of source code, and the second is sent directly in binary form.

For the first type, the installation method is as follows:

1. First, copy the installation files to your directory. For example, if you are logged on as root, copy the software to/root.

#cp Xxx.tar.gz/root

2. Because the file is compressed and packaged, it should be decompressed. The command is:

#tar Xvzf filename.tar.gz If it is filename.tar.bz2 format, it should be tar jxvf filename.tar.bz2 to extract

3. After executing the command, the installation file is extracted in the current directory by path. Use the LS command to see the uncompressed file. Usually in the resulting file after the decompression, there are "Install" files. This file is a plain text file, detailing how the package is installed.

4. Perform a decompression of the resulting executable script named configure. It is the system information required for installation to check whether the system has the necessary libraries to compile, and whether the version of the library meets the needs of the compilation. Prepare for the subsequent compilation work. Command is: #./configure

If you want to install the software to a specified directory, you should use #./configure--prefix=/your own directory, such as I want to install a mlterm into the/opt/mlterm directory, should be entered as follows

#./configure--prefix=/opt/mlterm

5. After the check is passed, the makefile file for compilation is generated. At this point, you are ready to start compiling. The process of compiling depends on the size of the software and the performance of the computer, and the time spent is different. The command is: #make.

6. After successful compilation, type the following command to start the installation:

#make Install

7. Installation completed, should clear the compilation process generated during the temporary files and configuration process generated files. Type the following command:

#make Clean

#make Distclean

At this point, the software installation is complete.

For the second, the method of installation is much simpler.

As in the first approach, copy the installation files to your directory. Then use RPM to install the file. The order is as follows:

#rpm-I. filename.i386.rpm

RPM will automatically unpack the installation files and install the software to the default directory. and register the software installation information into the RPM database. The function of the parameter i is to get the RPM into installation mode.