Installing software

[Tobias Zimmergren]

Hi

I'm really new to Linux and the whole concept of Open Source, I've got 2 questions.

 

1) I've downloaded a program, how do I install it?

It was a .tar.gz and I've extracted it (I'm using RedHat 8.0) to a folder.. I don't know howto run the program though, any suggestions?

 

2) What server can one set up? I want a HTTP server (Apache) and IRCd (Unreal) and then I want a server for mail, anyone can recommend me any program for mail?

 

 - I don't know howto install any of the above mentioned software, please inform me a bit :)

Thanks, appreciate it.

[Frithjof Engel]

1)
Usually there is a file called README in every tarball. You should read that
first. Additionally you'll probably find a file called INSTALL.
To find out how to install this software read that.
If you have a source-tarball (what you probably have) the usual process
of configuring, compiling and installing is like that:

cd <directory>
./configure
make
make install

Good luck,
Frithjof

PS: Please don't do crossposting :)

[Peter]

Tobias Zimmergren wrote:
>
> 2) What server can one set up? I want a HTTP server (Apache) and IRCd
> (Unreal) and then I want a server for mail, anyone can recommend me any
> program for mail?

Do you want server or client software?
From the type of your questions, I'd guess you want client software.
There are several apps for each of the things you are after. I use
web browser: Galeon (and Konqueror)
email: kmail
newsgroups: knode
ftp: gFTP
editor: Quanta

You might like to try out a few different apps and see which ones you like.

HTH

Peter