Hi being a newbie to linux, and familar with windows, I installed redhat 8.0 . It is set to bootup to the GUI mode and seems very nice so far. I have a question purtaining to how to add and remove programs in this OS. I amnot at all familar with the procedure and do I have to login in a non GUI mode to install any program. I have downloaded a tar.gz file and can get it opened but I do not know where and what to do with it, and after I get it extracted how to install it. Any help would be appreciated, or any suggestions for a newbie.... Thanks, just trying to learnIt!!!!!!!!! BN

Considering you are using Redhat, I would suggest that you try to download .rpm files instead of .taz.gz (BTW RPM=Redhat Package Manager) The advantages of RPMs is that they are easy to install/remove and maintain. You can install them by either using a package manager (not sure of the default name for the one in red hat), double-clicking on the icon in a graphical desktop or by the command line: # rpm -ivh package.name.rpm All of the above have to be done as root. One good place to find RPM files is http://rpmfind.net The advantage of compiling your own programs is that they will be better matched to your system and may run better. The default method is at the command line: # tar -zxvf package.name.tar.gz # cd package.name # ./configure # make # su [to login as root] # make install # Ctrl&D [to log out as root] One word of advice, always read and INSTALL or README files that may have been extracted.

another advantage of rpm (command = rpm) is that it creates a "database" of what is installed so you can interogate it. rpm supports updating and deinstallation. when you compile from source, it is typically a stinker to remove all the files from make install (altho some have a make uninstall) try man rpm