How to install software under Redhat Linux?

[InFecTed]

I have the software in tg.gz files (something like that). Now I can go as far as extracting the files from this .gz archive to some folder. What do I need to do next since there's no install or setup file...Help me, so far Linux seems great but I want my software installed (gtoaster and OpenOffice).

 

[FUBAR]

That depends on whether you downloaded the source or the binaries. Either way, there should be a README or an INSTALL file that you can read. There may also be a directory called docs that has one of those files.

If you got source, the usual course is to do a
./configure

and assuming that works ok, then you do a
make
followed by
make install

There's a lot more to the configure, like options to configure with, but those should be in the README file.

If you installed the binaries, usually you find the executable and run it. If you do an ls -F the executable files will have a * behind them. Other than that, not really sure of another good way to find the executable.other than trial and error and rtfm. Most web sites you donwload from also have some readme style docs.

 

[n0cmonkey]

There is information on this in the FAQ thread. Please read through that. Second, this is basic stuff you should have read about when you looked into how to use linux resources. Go back over your sources and read more carefully. Third, this question has been asked quite a few times, please search the forums. Forth, There are readmes with most software, they are not named that way because its 31337.