UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

I have sucessfully installed GNUtar using pkgadd but with some questions:

When I tried to install with pkgadd -d GNUtar (which is the directory of the package) - I received the error "pkgadd: command not found"

Then I tried the same but with pkgadd -d. GNUtar and it installed fine. (found example on net and tried)

What did the "." do and where can I find info on this? Why wouldn't it install without the "."?


Part 2:

Now that I have GNUtar installed, I'm trying to untar CNR (Cisco Network Registar File) and it says that GNUtar must be used and not Solaris tar. (I think solaris tar truncates long file names?)

I installed GNUtar as root (didn't know if that was correct).

Now I think I have to add to path /usr/local/bin BEFORE /usr/bin for GNUtar to work.

How do I (and should I) add this path. (I was reading that you should not edit root's path??) I was thinking of creating a user e.g. CNRadmin and edit the .cshrc file using vi, adding /usr/local/bin path before /usr/bin. Then gtar file as this user and install program as this user.


If root does not have this in it's path then how do I run gtar as a one time command(syntax)?

Don't know what is the practiced or correct method...Please help because I would like to start learning the correct way and build on that (since this is basic).

Thanks for any and all replies.

From the man page for pkgadd:
DESCRIPTION
pkgadd transfers the contents of a software package from the
distribution medium or directory to install it onto the sys-
tem. Used without the -d option, pkgadd looks in the default
spool directory for the package (var/spool//pkg).

So, anytime you are doing a pkgadd and the package isn't in /var/spool/pkg, you have to specify where it is - which you did the second time with '.'.


2nd part - you can add that to your path at the end with no problem (correct, root's path should not be changed but /usr/local/bin is one that many folks use - the one thing you never want to add to root's path is . ) You can do this by looking at the .profile in root's home directory and seeing if the PATH is set there - if not, you can set it if root's shell is sh or ksh with
MANPATH=$MANPATH:/usr/local/bin
export MANPATH

Running gtar just once, add the full path to the command :

# /usr/local/bin/gtar options yourtarfile

I did this before but have forgot..........................

I have installed gtar sucessfully....as before but have forgotten how to gtar a file. It gives the following error:

/usr/local/bin/gtar -zxpf cnr_5_5_10-solaris.gtar.gz

gzip: stdin: not in gzip format
/usr/local/bin/gtar: Child returned status 1
/usr/local/bin/gtar: Error exit delayed from previous errors


(platform - Solaris 9/64 bit/GNUtar sol -64 bit ver)

had a hard time doing it last time and never recorded how I did it. Please help. (gtar in path)

[QUOTE]Originally posted by finster
[B]

I have installed gtar sucessfully....as before but have forgotten how to gtar a file. It gives the following error:

/usr/local/bin/gtar -zxpf cnr_5_5_10-solaris.gtar.gz

gzip: stdin: not in gzip format
/usr/local/bin/gtar: Child returned status 1
/usr/local/bin/gtar: Error exit delayed from previous errors



I think you have to 'gunzip' (gnu unzip) the file before untarring it, so try this.

gunzip cnr_5_5_10-solaris.gtar.gz

after doing this you will have a file named "cnr_5_5_10-solaris.gtar" and you will lose your original .gz file. Then try untarring "cnr_5_5_10-solaris.gtar"

tar -vxf "cnr_5_5_10-solaris.gtar"


I hope this will work.

Thanks this worked.....

well, I did modify it slightly...

The installation guide said to :

gtar -zxpf <distribution file name>


gunzip cnr_5_5_10-solaris.gtar.gz

after doing this "cnr_5_5_10-solaris.gtar"


Then I left off the "-z" switch (unzip).

gtar -xpf cnr_5_5_10-solaris.gtar

It seemed to work ....

Just wondering why the -z switch did't work (supposed to unzip and then tar.............(according to installation manual - 1 command -----gtar -zxpf <distribution file name>)??


thanks.