Unix Package Managers & System Query Tools

Basic guide to getting stuff installed and getting information on various types of Unix and Linux systems

SGI Irix

Use the Software Manager via the Toolchest to add and remove packages or use the 'inst' command

For example to install the Multi-processor libraries for Irix, download the appropr iate package (in this case 6.x_mpt_1.3.tardist), untar it, run the inst command as root, select from and point to the local dirctory containing the untarred files, se lect list to view the items to be installed, select conflicts to check for conflict s or dependencies, select go to install and then quit to exit inst.

You can query the installed packages and their versions using the 'versions' command (eg versions | grep perl)

You can find out about SGI hardware via the 'hinv' command

Compaq Tru64

Use the Graphical System Manager (/usr/bin/sysman) or use the 'setld' command (/usr/sbin/setld -l )

For example to update the Fortran compilers or Tru64, download the appropriate pack age (in this case DFA541.tar contains an updated Fortran compiler), untar it,run /u sr/sbin/setld -l ./, select the install options and follow the prompts.

You can query the installed packages and their versions using the 'setld -i' command (eg /usr/sbin/setld -i | grep perl)

RedHat Linux

Use the Graphical Gnorpm package manager or use the 'rpm' command (rpm -i )

For example to install Opera, download the package (opera-static-5.0-1.i385.rpm), b ecome root, use rpm -i opera-static-5.0-1.i386.rpm to install it.

Debian Linux

Use the 'apt-get' to get a package from the network (apt-get install will install from a source listed in /etc/apt/sources.list ) or 'dpkg' for a local file command (dpkg install ). 'dselect' will also give you a front e nd on package management.

IBM AIX

Use the Graphical or command line version of 'smit'.

On an X interface 'smit' will invoke the motif style GUI version of the tool which will allow you to configure all aspects of the AIX system including the installatio n of software. Via a telnet or serial console session the ASCII version of the tool is invoked which gives you many of the same options just in text-only mode.

SUN Solaris

Use 'pkgadd' or the Graphical System Manager to install software (/usr/sbin/pkgadd -d ). Note that patches should be applied using patchadd rather than pkgadd

You can find out about SUN hardware using the 'showrev' command which can query hardware and software (eg showrev -a)