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Topic: newbie help? (very newbie!), help with dsl

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cbagger01

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Posts: 4264
Joined: Oct. 2003

Posted: June 21 2004,17:12

I don't use dialup connection so I have not tested this, but you could try using the wm-ppp dockapp which will appear in the lower right corner of your "Enhanced" desktop (called the "slit").

Here are two ways to install the program (not tested):

(1) Install the Synaptic Package Manager, scroll down to the wmppp.app package and install it.

(2) Enable apt. Then type the following from an Xterminal (rxvt):

sudo su
apt-get install wmppp.app
exit

You also will need to start up the program from the command prompt. I would try typing in something like "wmppp.app" or "wmppp" or "wm-ppp". You could look for help files for more support.

Finally, once you are up and running you will probably want to make the program part of your "enhanced" desktop script. I forget where the batch file is located but I am sure that someone else can point you in that direction.

If this works well, this app might be a good candidate for either direct inclusion with a newer version of DSL or at least a *.dsl package.

Good Luck.

gm6jag

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Posts: 11
Joined: June 2004

Posted: June 21 2004,22:04

Hi Chagger,

Whoah kiddo! This is a three day old newbie here! *>) Sounds like it might be the idea, but I think I'll need to play and learn a bit more, like what's a Synaptic Package Manager for example.

I'll keep this on file, and maybe when |I understand| a bit more I can give it a try. The next two things I want to do is get myself e-mailing, and then see about a HDD install maybe, so that I can see if I want to do a FULL upgrade type thing or not.

I've got Mandrake and Red Hat on CD here, but the learning curve seems a bit steep on these, so that's why I thought about trying dsl, and so far I'm impressed by it working out of the box more or less. I can UNDERSTAND WHY it has no docs or help stuff, to keep the size down, so I'll need to scrabble around till I find my feet with the very basics on the CD first.

Regards

Mel
GM6JAG

gm6jag

Group: Members
Posts: 11
Joined: June 2004

Posted: June 21 2004,22:22

quick test using dsl

Sri fr bandwidth guys, testing

cbagger01

Group: Members
Posts: 4264
Joined: Oct. 2003

Posted: June 22 2004,05:26

Without getting into much detail, here is a quick overview of the standard DSL software installation methodolgy.

DSL is partially derived from a larger livecd Linux Distribution called "Knoppix".
Knoppix is based on the Debian Linux distribution.

Debian Linux and its cousins have some really cool features. Here is some reading on the subject:

http://www.debianuniverse.com/readonline/

On a technical level, one of the great features of Debian-based Linux systems is an advanced package management system. A package management system is used to install, upgrade and remove software. The closest analagy to a package management system in the MSWindows ™ world would be the "Add/Remove Programs" section of the Control Panel.

Now imagine an "Add/Remove Programs" menu that is smart enough to:

(1) Compile a constantly updated list of THOUSANDS of computer programs and provide an instant method to download and install them from the Internet at the push of a button.

(2) When you choose to install program X , the program knows that you also need program Y or library Z in order for program X to work properly. It then automatically downloads and installs X, Y, and Z together so that your program works correctly the first time and you don't get "PROGRAM X ERROR: Failure due to missing program Y" messages. This "missing program" or "missing library" problem is commonly known as "dependency hell" and can leave the average user very confused because he or she then needs to stumble around and figure out how to install program Y. Many other Linux distributions (although some of them are working on a Debian-like solution) suffer from this problem.

For example, in MSWindows ™ you may try and install a new game program, but this program needs Microsoft Direct X version 8.1 and your computer has Direct X version 6.0 already installed. A good software company would inform you of the dependency and give you the option to upgrade your Direct X to version 8.1 But some software companies will not do this. Instead, they will place a tiny one line comment inside their "README" text file informing the user that "Direct X version 8.1 is REQUIRED or the program will crash" or something like this.

The poor user is then left with a game that crashes until he finds the README file or calls tech support for help.

The core of the Debian package management system are some command line (MSDOS-like) utility programs like 'dpkg' and 'apt-get'.

You can use these programs to install and remove software.

However, some users prefer to have a nice graphical XWindows style program with menus and buttons and program informational screens, etc. "Synaptic" is the name of the most popular graphical program and is used in DSL.

If you look in the "Got Memory & Bandwidth" menu (I believe that it is inside the "Tools" menu), there will be an option to download and install Synaptic.

Once you are ready to start installing new software into your DSL system, I recommend that you give Synaptic a test drive.

Good Luck.

8 replies since June 17 2004,08:06

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