Q. I’m new to Linux. Over few days I found lots software distributed as .tar.gz file. How do I install tar.gz files under Linux?
A. tar.gz also known as tarball, an archive format for electronic data and software. Most Linux tarball contains a source code for software. If you are new to Linux I recommend using apt-get, rpm and yum command to install all binary packages.
Tarballs are a group of files in one file. Tarball files have the extension .tar.gz, .tgz or .tar.bz2. Most open source software use tarballs to distribute programs/source codes.
# 1: Uncompress tarball
To uncompress them, execute the following command(s) depending on the extension:
$ tar zxf file.tar.gz
$ tar zxf file.tgz
$ tar jxf file.tar.bz2
$ tar jxf file.tbz2
Now change directory
$ ls
$ cd path-to-software/
# 2: Build and install software
Generally you need to type 3 commands as follows for building and compiling software:
# ./configure
# make
# make install
Where,
- ./configure will configure the software to ensure your system has the necessary functionality and libraries to successfully compile the package
- make will compile all the source files into executable binaries.
- Finally, make install will install the binaries and any supporting files into the appropriate locations.
# 3: Read INSTALL / README file
Each tarball comes with installation and build instructions. Open INSTALL or README file for more information:
$ vi INSTALL
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- Last Updated: 6-18-07
{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
I have also got the same problem not able to installed linux
where do i put this code???????
i hate linux, and i dont want to….
all i see is people saying yeah the command/code to do this is so&so, but they never say where to put it!!!!
can someone email me, step by step process (with pictures, if you can) of how to install tar.gz files onto linux please…
my email is trenta91@gmail.com
Thank you
What then if the “make” and then “make install”
commands do not work?
Ben,
You need to install all development packages and compliers.
on Solaris:
tar: z: unknown function modifier
Joh,
Use gnu tar or tar command without z option under Solaris UNIX:
tar xf file.tarIf it is tar.gz, enter:
gunzip < file.tar.gz |tar xvf -hi guys, i was unable to unzip the files but the thing was i cannot install it i get this message.
=== TOOL-CHAIN CHECKS ===
checking for gcc… no
checking for cc… no
checking for cl.exe… no
configure: error: in `/boot/data/My Internet/rpm-5.1.6′:
configure: error: no acceptable C compiler found in $PATH
See `config.log’ for more details.
can anyone help me with this im new with linux, Im using the linpus lite ver 9.4 i tried installing RPM coz i cannot install new programs i dont know if linpus permits instalation of new programs hope you can help me with this thanks and i’ll appreciete it alot.
how to use commands apt-get, rpm and yum & what do they mean
For GNOME (Ubuntu) users use Terminal
For KDE (Kubuntu) users use Konsole
these are what you use to apply commands such as apt-get
./configure
bash: ./configure: No such fire or directory
Ive seen a few people tell me (for different software) to use ./configure, but its not reconized.
(Im using Ubuntu…)
i have and problem with the linux of “linpus” installed in acer one…
when i setup back-track 3 not found drivers for audio-vga-camera-flash driver mmc,sd…
In linpus is already the drivers, but not support compiler…
I not know what to i make with this laptop, acer one :(
Windows XP is not support, by usb hard disk or in the internal sd card of laptop (8gb), correctly.
Hi,
I’m using Fedora 8 and I’ve just installed wine 1.1.10 as a .tar.bz2 file. I’ve figured out how to unzip it and put it in a folder, but of course, I have not been able to install it or anything. I don’t think I have the right compilers, because it gives me this:
$ cd wine-1.1.10
$ ./configure
checking build system type… i686-pc-linux-gnu
checking host system type… i686-pc-linux-gnu
checking whether make sets $(MAKE)… yes
checking for gcc… no
checking for cc… no
checking for cl.exe… no
configure: error: in `/home/hyperion/wine-1.1.10′:
configure: error: no acceptable C compiler found in $PATH
See `config.log’ for more details.
[hyperion@amethystium wine-1.1.10]$ make
make: *** No targets specified and no makefile found. Stop.
$
So, those gcc, cc, and cl.exe files it’s looking for…are those something I need? Am I able to yum install those? What commands do I type in if I do that? I think I just have GNU and that will unzip stuff, but, of course, I can’t install the program with that I don’t think.
Alan
You need to install developers tools using gui or command line options. See following faq for more info:
http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/howto-install-c-cpp-compiler-on-rhel/
Hi,
Omega,
I can’t install tar packages,
Is there a solution to resolve the problem “./configure: No such file or directory” i am using Ubuntu too
I always hear people saying linux is better than windows xp, but the reallity is that it is not! It is only different and for ME windows is way better than linux because it simple works and do what I need it to do. In linux I have to configure too many things to get it to work and many programs you find in windows xp simple do not exist in linux and do not have any option to replace those programs. Installs are very difficult do do in linux. I am missing my xp. The only advantage in linux is the fact it is free, but gives in headaches. It is the true!
how do i open the place to type in the command lines?????
very new to linux, using the acer one linpus linux and is all very confusing.
much help would be appreciated.
imeldapitt@btinernet.com
Thank you so much, this is it I was looking for. :)
Hi,
Linux can be hard. There are many different “Distributions” each distribution is constructed to meet different peoples needs. You will have to search online and review “linux distribution” and see which one sound like it is for you.
The easiest way to install applications is to use the tools that come with the distribution you decided to install on your computer. The tools are “apt-get”, “rpm” and “yum” and more. They are included in the linux distribution to make installing easy.
I am using OpenSuse 11.1 Gnome and they have graphic tools for installing files. I usually google “OpenSuse 11.1″ and the name of the app I am looking for.
If you download “source” you are downloading programing code that needs to be turned into binary executiable code to run. This can be very difficult and requires that your linux has the developer packages installed. This may be too difficult for the casual Linux newbie.
Hi ,
Linux users,
I have problem in connecting to mysql database.
Problem is as follows …..
Error in inserting the data
the error is:java.sql.SQLException: No suitable driver found for jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/Database?user=root&password=sairam
i have problem with redhat linux installation
during installation “8254 timer not connected IO APIC ‘nopic’ error ”
massege appear what can i do while i have updated version of karnal 2.6.27-11genric
and new version of BIOS
please! give me best soluation….
Actually it would be a bit wiser to read first the readme.txt file…
Hi I am new to linux-although not that new. I downloaded linx – only with CLI.
Now I want to install X. But whenever it try to make a package it says:
**make Nothing to be done for ‘all’ **
Please guide me to a book or website to understand the process of make…?
Im also new to Linux and only of curiosity . While Windows is so simple , fast and logical then Linux headache of dimentions. When you got your system setup (which is easy nowadays) you would to install programs and its also simple IF……….. you use the package manager in your distribution . Then your are limited to what THEY think is good for you. So today itried to install a tar ball . All explained here , only i cannot see where all the files go to. If I cant find the path then I cant install ! Is there a software for Linux which opens the tar ball and can install it from there ? Excuse me for my english . I didnt bother to correct it .
For all those who are new to linux and say they hate it switch back to mac or windows there are many people happy to help you on the web but if you are unhappy you should really switch back and if you don’t know how to find the command terminal you should really switch to windows with its supposedly “user friendly OS” and if you are on the fence read this http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm and join linuxforums.org here is some also key reading for new linux users from that oh so helpful forum site http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/linux-newbie/57918-all-new-users-read-first.html hope that helps
Oh and check out what marty said you either need to be willing to do research and read articles to learn this stuff or know it already(cause you spent way to much playing with source code and programming in high school like I did) or you just need a smooth runnin OS for email internet and maybe some simple word processing
“For all those who are new to Linux and say they hate it switch back to mac or windows ”
Well……. you have to try it before you now whether it sucks or rocks !!!! and my conclusion is that Linux distributions are for people who only wants to read email , chat ,read the news and using the “office” pack every now and then . There are many Linux distributions that full fill that kind of need only when you have to install programs you are more or less in deb shit . Also I have experienced that there are no drivers for a lot of new hardware and if there happens to be , then its more than a double click to get it installed. Linux people seem to make a big issue out of that it runs on everything you can find in the dump yard instead of the latest new stuff . I had problems last year with two motherboards and Ubuntu . Maybe focus on what makes life easier using their computer would be better . I don’t call it freedom when you can only install software with build in package installers. Using apt-get , yum and others with command line is a nightmare typing exactly the program you want included version number is not that funny . There is very good a reason why people get very aggressive trying a Linux system and its called Windows and it ROCKS I must say after playing around with just about every distro within the last two weeks . The extra time i spend to understand just a fair bit of whats going on , I could have worked and made money to buy 20 original Windows Cd’s . It was interesting though . I lost some of my hair and my eyes are still red . I give it a try every year , when I have time but for now . Bye bye Linux world though its for “FREE”
Ps. Thanks for the links . It was in fact very qualified help I got and it was needed here in the jungle of blocks and amateur sites which often lead to more confusion.
Jannik
Jannik,
Jannik,
I don’t mean to sound like an asshole but the fact is that linux doesn’t want users like you. Linux is for those who want a smooth running operating system that have the knowledge to tear the OS down and rebuild it the way they want it obviously you do not possess this knowledge.
As for Windows “rocking” it just doesn’t I mean the viruses written for windows have much more potential to destroy your entire system than those written for Linux(in fact it would be a .000000001% chance that somebody could destroy one linux computer with one worm while the slammer worm destroyed thousands of windows computers in relatively no time and with relative ease. I don’t assume you will understand this but for all else out there it is good to know.
Windows is designed incorrectly for the functions it promises to its users of today. Windows is monolithic and entirely over interdependent thus one program is hacked and destroyed all programs fail where as linux one program is hit with a virus that one program is done and you reinstall. Many hacks are executed using web servers but since Linux makes the web server its own user someone who hacks a linux computer through a security hole in a web browser can only make the web browser fail and can’t gain any real control of the computer.
Windows also depends on RPC(remote procedure call) in unnecessary situations. RPC allows your computer to access other computers over the internet looking for answers and one small hole in a server security network and bam a worm will get thousands of comps because of the constant unneccesary use of RPC. Linux is designed to use RPC only as a last result otherwise its direct access which prevents other outside parties access to your comp. Seems logical right you don’t want other people accessing your files frequently thats not very secure hence the Linux design.
Linux also seperates all users and their dedicated files so if one user gets a virus(which is still unlikely and very uncommon) and all of that users files are corrupted the other users remain intact as if nothing had happened thus the computer is still intact and recovery is much easier.
Linux also has much better security programs available that make it much harder to crack. Plus the added bonus of being able to change your OS with a few minor programming lessons you make your OS completely unique. Now what is harder for a lock pick to unlock the lock that 90% of the world uses or the lock that only 1 person in a 6 billion person world uses. Its logic really. Windows is so popular why would Microsoft care to fix these issues when their product already sells so well. Thus the free product used by those who want a supreme OS is always being changed an upgraded in major ways and fixed. However: as I said at the beginning linux doesn’t want you Linux is not an OS that is sold to make large profits by large Corporations linux is something you CHOOSE to have and if you don’t want it and all you want to do is say that it sucks the Linux user community will not miss you and don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out. And as always it is OK to not like Linux use Windows use Mac use what suits your needs and what you want I prefer the security the wide range of choice I have and the ability to power use you may not and that is fine. Please read the links I posted above they are informative and will help newbies learn the ropes and help those considering linux decide if it is for them and which distro is for them.
Yours Truly,
The Caped Crusader(definitely in know way is this a comic book reference or nerdy remark lol)
Oh and for all newbies to linux check linux.org out they have all kinds of lessons to get you going and that site will even turn you into a Linux wizzard and an engineer if you want to be I’ve seen it happen with my 76 year old grandmother she can do anything from terminal and she is a real Linux poweruser now because of that site’s courses
Linux.org
its wicked awesome
The thrill of learning… Yup yup, I can do things in windows by just pointing an clicking… I work hard for my cash so wonder which is really harder… The point an click in windows, or taking a little time to learn to do within linux… My ignorance is a blessing when I have the willingness to learn…
I find my time better spent learning than spent crying “I can’t do it”…
I have the same problem, god bless double click on .exe files
Linux is only hard because people are not used to it……they forget how frustrating Windows was when they started….it is the beginning of a new journey. They need to go into it with an open mind and let go of the Windows methodology in order to progress in Linux…this appears to be the first and most important step The potential for doing creative things is much greater in Linux and the things people share with you in the Linux Community is because they enjoy doing just that…sharing. Nobody is trying to rip you off in Linux like many of the Windows based vendors.costantly vying for your attention and money by every known dirty cyber-trick in the book..
I too wish Linux had .exe files and those tarballs are a PITA….that’s why I’m here looking to find answers. This is the beginning of my learning curve to turn my computer into what ‘I’ want it to be and not somebody elses idea of what my computer should behave like…only in Linux is this possible due to its open-source nature.
If it helps anyone the best and least painful Linux distribution for people wishing to migrate from Windows to get up and running will most likely be Mint 6 in the Main Edtion because it contains all necessary codecs, most proprietory graphics drivers and all of the main applications you are likely to need. Get the Gnome version and avoid the KDE version for now because it is still a work in progress in Mint. I have Mint with Gnome on my Toshiba Laptop and everything just works….I came off Xp 2 weeks ago and the sense of peace and stability emanating from my computer now is nothing short of amazing after the constant irritations of Windows. If all you want is a stable, out-of the -box operating system to do normal everyday tasks this is your best chance in Linux….this is the Mint team’s stated aim….functionalility and stability ‘out of the box’.
Because Mint is not giving me any problems or demanding my attention every 5 minutes compelling me to waste time performing some pointless action to it not of my own making I have the mental space to create my own like trying to research and install those ‘lovely’ tarballs!
As long-winded as some of the techniques undoubtedly are in Linux (like installing tarballs) I am sure there is reason and method behind this apparent madness!
It has been interesting reading the different viewpoints because I agree with both sides..For me personally ..comfortably familiar though Wijndows is… it is commercially corrupted beyond redemption. I can’t stand my tv either for the same reason…that’s going as well!
Hi Kixo,
after extracting the tar file, cd tcl8.5.6/unix, then type ./configure
after it configures successfully, type $ make
then lastly, type $ make install
i got a problem with security, so for the last step, I added as $ sudo make install
key in your password and it will complete installation.
——–
And to all the linux lovers, appreciate your contributions. I’m really happy to go step by step for each program to be installed successfully and slowly making my linux system more “usable” everyday. But I also agree, it’s alittle difficult and struggled along the way as I have no background in programming.
Regards,
Jane
Nope… didn’t work.
Yet again, another ‘oh so easy’ how to guide for tarballs that doesn’t work. I’ve had ubuntu 7.10 for about 9 months now, and I still can’t install these damned tarballs. Now don’t get me wrong, I really like Ubuntu, and i want to support it, but these tarballz and terminal crap is infuriating. All I want is flash player 10, which would be a few clicks on windows or mac. THATS WHAT PEOPLE WANT! EASE OF USE! Why am I transported back to the mid-eighties with ubuntu’s terminal, and when will the powers that be at linux actually recognize this is the major put off for new users. I tell all my friends how awesome linux is, virus free, stable and super fast. They see it and they want it, but ultimately I dissuade them because I know they couldn’t deal with the terminal crap. Ubuntu must learn to deal with humans, not the other way around, if it wants to claim ‘it’s for humans!
@mentaloxide,
May I know what are you trying to install (tarball name)?
You should try OpenBSD, its got wicked screen savers.
-Theo
@Mentaloxide
I am using Mint 6 which uses Synaptic Package Manager..same as Ubuntu.
If you go into Synaptic and type ‘adobe’ (without apostrophes) in the Quick Search box …it should lead you to an entry in the program lists which says ‘flashplugin non-free……10.0.22.67ubuntu…etc…Adobe Flashplayer installer’…or similar:
1. Select it and check the box.
2.Select ‘Mark for Installation’ in the box that pops up.
3.Click the ‘Apply’ button at the top.
It works for me…hope it helps.
Its worth spending time sifting through Synaptic lists to find what you want because it avoids a complicated installation procedure like with tarballs.
I forgot to mention….make sure you select ‘ALL’ in the program categories list first in the left- hand box otherwise it won’t show up!
i hav configured the .tar.gz file but when i give command “make” it says ‘NO TARGET SPECIFIED’
help me to get what i m xactly looking for
I am very happy with linux I use a cady and removable draws I have one 80 gig disk running mandrive another running suse and another running windows xp if there is something I can not do on linux I change draws simple as that, and I never go on the net with windows ever.
And dont any one beat them selve up I have never been able to install a tarball, and I have been using linux for about a year now The only fault I see with linux is to many diffrent distributions.
I find Linux frustratingly, time-consuming and irritating. I still can’t install any “.tar.gz” or “.tar.bz2″ tarballs. I’ve gone for help online, offline, frontline, sideline, backline, you-name-it…I still can’t find someone who can give me a simple command line for how to extract and install an application from any tarball. Linux isn’t for novices, its for technophiles who have a lot of time to understand it…unlike Windows which is absolutely more straightforward to use (GUI or DOS level); a simple double click gets you installing, but in Linux, you have to go through all this *#@* jibberish. I’ll bet the command lines differ for the numerous “flavors” (distributions) of linux too…making life such a drag for new-comers.
I’ve given up on tar files for a while….it seems to me you have to start right from the beginning with learning the terminal and its commands before you can install them..I don’t have the time or inclination at the moment to learn it.
Linux , at this stage in its evolution, is strictly for people who enjoy computers as an end in itself unless you are happy with the tools already installed by default or from the repositories. Too restrictive for me personally.
The lack of clear documentation specific to these files presented in a way that is understandable to me (and a lot of people here apparently} has severely dampened my enthusiasm for using Linux.
I am sure out there somewhere, someone has written the definitive, clear and simple HowTo for tarballs but I have not found it yet.
I write this from a Vista machine having installed umpteen programs without thinking and only go into Command Prompt if there is no GUI facility for something.
I have learnt much with my Linux machine that I have been able to transfer to Windows but in the end a computer, for me, is only an appliance to be used and Windows, despite its many flaws, gets the job done.
I have the choice of both systems at my disposal and at the moment Vista is kicking Linux into the dust for ease of use and application setup
What you gain in one area you lose in another.
The complexity of program installation, outside the repositories, in Linux is its biggest obstacle towards wider acceptance and usage.
I’ve just found this explanation of tarballs…says it all for me:
” Tarballs are the standard, and are common with file extensions such as “.tar.gz” or “.tar.bz2″. This is the generic, distribution-free method of distribution software packages in the Linux world. However, tarballs are not very user-friendly; for example, to get a tarball from the Internet running, one might have to issue the following commands from the command line in a shell,
# bunzip2 myapp.tar.bz2
# tar -xvpf myapp.tar
# cd myapp
# ./configure
# make
# make install
This is a tedious task, and involves getting the software to compile before being able to run. If know-how is lacking, this method will also cause a lot of grief, as sometimes during the “configure” stage, dependencies to get it running aren’t met.
This is the aim of package management formats like RPM and DEB – to ease the burden of dependency resolution, so that the end-user will just install the software with ease, and if dependencies are required, they get installed along. “
When i try 2 install driver for lan card it gives me following error msg
Makefile:24:*** Linux kernel source not found.Stop
Can any1 help me?
I m using linux 9.
Being as there are quite a few people here spouting off negative opinions- I feel the need to respond.
Why did I choose Linux?
I chose Linux because
-it’s customizable
-it can do things Windows can’t-
-it has come a LONG way in the last few years and does practically everything I need it to
-the companies I want to work at use Linux
and last but not least
- I keep it on a USB flash drive, and boot it up on any computer!!!
That means all my applications, preferences, data, etc. goes with me from computer to computer. It’s revolutionary- and nobody knows about it. It’s called “persistence”.
Also- you really ought to think of the bigger picture of society and economy as a whole- do you want to enrich Microsoft or do you want enrich those who you choose?
Jorx.
Your comments are interesting…and true…for you. Everybody elses comments are true…for them! If you are happy to use Linux within the relatively tight confines of the repositories it’s ok, but if you want to use to programs from elsewhere a lot of prior knowledge is required to install them that a lot of people here (including myself) are not prepared to learn or can’t because of the lack of decent, understandable, documentation on things like these tarballs that can be grasped by the majority, who at the end of the day, were brought up on Windows, with all it’s associated terminology and methods.
Changing over is too much effort for too little gain unless, quite rightly of course, you enjoy the challenge of learning something new. For most people though a computer is just an appliance to be used, like a vacuum cleaner, and most people would not want to read a 500 page manual on how to get the best out of it!..this is Linux at the moment…it isn’t automated enough for most people.
Your comment on the ‘ bigger picture’ is misinformed in my opinion…the ‘free’ distributions, like Linux, is riding on the back of the commercial ones because it is Windows and OSx that stimulates the development and production of new technologies…Intel. for example, is not going to invest BILLIONS of dollars making chips for a free distribution for no return…is it?
Linux cannot exist without Windows and OSX but they can exist without Linux!…this is the reality.
On your last comment I must take issue.