Gnu-utils to replace busybox

Forum: Apps
Topic: Gnu-utils to replace busybox
started by: TWILIGHT32

Posted by TWILIGHT32 on Oct. 30 2006,03:51

Hello,

I have started learning Linux recently. so wanted to use the true GNU utils to replace busybox and also have access to the "man " command to learn more about the commands

I did install the GNU utils by using "Upgrade to GNU utils" menu option. It donwloaded under userid DSL. I have a few questions:-

1) If I download and install under userid DSL, do I have to do the installation again if I log in uder a different id ?

2) How can I check if the command I use is really the Gnu utils and not busybox ?

3) I noticed I have some problems using the "man" command, it seems to work only when I am connected to the internet. when I am not connected, it does not work. Is there anything else I have to download to get it to work without having to connect to the internet ?

4) I have also installed the firewall extension. How do I check if it is working, is there any command that I can submit to check if the firewall is working or not ?

thanks in advance for your help.

Posted by mikshaw on Oct. 30 2006,04:04

1) No. Just about every myDSL package is made available to all users. Most of these packages write icon and menu files into user dsl's home directory, so that's why dsl is the one to run the installation. The actual program files are still installed by root.

2) Use the command file `which program`, where "program" is the command you want to check. If it's a busybox tool, the result of file should say that program is a symbolic link to /bin/busybox

3) Man in DSL is not man. It's a script that accesses html man pages from the internet.

4) I dunno nuthin about no firewall

Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Oct. 30 2006,14:39

3) The 'regular' man program accesses the files in /usr/share/man - which takes up substational space. Of course, you could always download that program and the man pages you need (one of my machines show that they take up 25mb, gzip'd)

4) Block ICMP and try to ping that machine?
Or block the http port (port 80) and try to connect to http server.
I don't usually use a firewall on my client machines, my server does it - so these are just some (random) suggestions.

Posted by TWILIGHT32 on Nov. 13 2006,03:50

hello,

thanks for your replies/advices. I would like to download the man pages and man program.
how do I download and install the man program and pages ?

thanks in advance for your help.

Posted by mikshaw on Nov. 13 2006,05:00

Point your myDSL tool to the uci section of the mydsl repository. It is sort of old...the included man pages are for apps that were in DSL 1.2

Keep in mind that tab completion does not work with the man extension...if i remember correctly it actually freezes the terminal if you try it.

Also it does not overwrite the existing man application, so you'll need to either use a full path to /opt/man/bin/man or create an alias.

Posted by Winter Knight on Nov. 20 2006,10:24

1) With most distros, a regular user cannot install packages "system-wide", and so you would either have to install as root, or have each user who needs it install into their home directory. DSL, however, is intended as a single user system. User dsl, in a way, has full root access. Sometimes you, or menu items, have to precede a command with "sudo", though.

When user dsl installs an extension, such as gnu-utils, it replaces the system binaries, for all (both) users, including root.

Also, you might run into strange problems if you log in as another user. Some DSL scripts, and myDSL extensions assume that you are either dsl or root, and might have strange problems. Your mileage may vary.

4) I use Shields Up at grc.com to test a firewall. It is fast, and distinguishes between open, closed, and "stealth." There are many such services on the internet. Most of them are pretty slow, though. One problem with Shields Up is that it won't scan more than 64 ports above 1056, but it will easily scan the first 1056, and that is plenty just to make sure the firewall is working.