Fedora 7 Installation Guide - Page 2

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1. Configuring sudo

Normally if you want to run a command which requires root privileges you have first to type 'su -', type your root password and then type the command. However you can bypass this by using the 'sudo' command. But first you have to configure it like this:

$ su -
Password: <- Give your root password here
# visudo

Now go below the line:

root    ALL=(ALL)       ALL

press a, and type the following

username ALL=(ALL)      ALL

where username is the username you use to login. Next press Escape.

Now, if you want to be promted for your root password each time you use the sudo command go to this line:

# %wheel        ALL=(ALL)       ALL

and with your cursor pointing on # press x

If you don't want to be promted for your root password each time you use the sudo command go to this line:

# %wheel        ALL=(ALL)       NOPASSWD: ALL

and with your cursor pointin on # press x

Next, press :wq to save and exit. (type the : as well)

Finally type:

# gpasswd -a username wheel

To test if you have done it correctly as a simple user type: 

$ sudo whoami

If everything is working properly the command should return the word root.

2. Configuring yum

Basic Commands

Install an application

$ sudo yum install application_name

Remove an application

$ sudo yum remove application_name

Install an rpm from your hard disk using yum to resolve dependencies

$ sudo yum localinstall application_name

Search for an application

$ sudo yum search application_name

Find info about an application

$ sudo yum info application_name

Update the whole system

$ sudo yum update

Enable a repository

$ sudo yum --enablerepo=repo_name

Disable a repository

$ sudo yum --disablerepo=repo_name

FreshRPMs Repository

In FreshRPMs repository you can find additional programs and multimedia codecs. Install it like this:

$ sudo rpm -hiv http://ftp.freshrpms.net/pub/freshrpms/fedora/linux/7/freshrpms-release/freshrpms-release-1.1-1.fc.noarch.rpm
$ sudo rpm --import http://freshrpms.net/RPM-GPG-KEY-freshrpms

Livna Repository

In Livna repository you can find additional programs and multimedia codecs. Install it like this:

$ sudo rpm -hiv http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-7.rpm
$ sudo rpm --import sudo rpm --import /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-livna

$ sudo nano /etc/yum.repos.d/livna.repo
or
$ sudo nano /etc/yum.repos.d/freshrpms.repo

Graphical Interface ( yumex )

If you are not familiar with console you can use yumex. Yumex is a gui that uses yum to simplify all the above commands. To get it type:

$ sudo yum install yumex

yum through proxy

If you are behind an http proxy server and you want yum to connect to the internet through that proxy open a terminal and type:

$ sudo nano /etc/yum.conf

Add this line in the yum configuration

proxy=http://ip:port/

ip is your proxy's ip address and port is the port the proxy listens to. Don't forget the / after the port number. Save with Ctrl+O and exit with Ctrl+X.

** Note: For the rest of the guide I'll be using yum for installing additional packages. If you prefer it you can enable/disable repos and install packages through yumex.

presto

Presto is a project that provides faster, smaller size downloads to Fedora users. With presto plugin enabled you use deltarpm repositories to download only the part of the rpm that has change, thus saving you bandwidth and time. To enable it open a terminal and type:
 

$ sudo yum install yum-presto deltarpm

Next we have to make some changes to the .repo file to support downloading from deltarpm repositories.
 

$ sudo nano /etc/yum.repos.d/fedora-updates.repo

and change it from
 

[updates]
name=Fedora $releasever - $basearch - Updates
#baseurl=http://download.fedora.redhat.com/pub/fedora/linux/updates/$releasever/$basearch
mirrorlist=http://mirrors.fedoraproject.org/mirrorlist?repo=updates-released-f$releasever&arch=$basearc
enabled=1
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-fedora

to

[updates]

name=Fedora $releasever - $basearch - Updates

deltaurl=http://lesloueizeh.com/f7/i386/updates
#baseurl=http://download.fedora.redhat.com/pub/fedora/linux/updates/$releasever/$basearch/
mirrorlist=http://mirrors.fedoraproject.org/mirrorlist?repo=updates-released-f$releasever&arch=$basearc
enabled=1
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-fedora

If you have x86_64 Fedora replace i386 with x86_64. Save (Ctrol+O) and exit (Ctrl+X). Now each time you try a yum update you should see a 'Loading "presto" plugin' mesage.

3. Configuring Services

For a detailed description on all services and daemons read my Linux Services Guide.  

4. Installing video drivers

Installing nVidia driver

From Freshrpms:

$ sudo yum --enablerepo=freshrpms install nvidia-x11-drv

And then restart X by hitting ctrl+alt+backspace (be carefull, all windows will close).

From Livna:

$ sudo yum --enablerepo=livna install kmod-nvidia

And then restart X by hitting ctrl+alt+backspace (be carefull, all windows will close).

Installing ati driver

leigh123@linux from fedoraforum.org has posted a solution that allows you to install ATi drivers without downgrade. First check here if your card is supported by this driver. The procedure is the following.

1. Install fglrx driver

You must have livna repository enabled. As root type:

yum install kmod-fglrx xorg-x11-drv-fglrx xorg-x11-drv-fglrx-libs-32bit
yum update kmod-fglrx xorg-x11-drv-fglrx xorg-x11-drv-fglrx-libs-32bit
service fglrx restart
fglrx-config-display enable

If you are using F7 x86_64 and 8.39 you will need to apply a fix to the driver

su -<
cd /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/drivers/
mv fglrx_drv.so fglrx_drv.so.orig
cat fglrx_drv.so.orig | sed "s/\xe8\xb1\x30\xfe\xff/\x90\x90\x90\x90\x90/g" > fglrx_drv.so
diff fglrx_drv.so fglrx_drv.so.orig
aticonfig --initial

This command should report a change ( diff fglrx_drv.so fglrx_drv.so.orig )

If you are using F7 x86_64 and 8.40 you will need to apply a fix to the driver

su -
cd /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/drivers/
mv fglrx_drv.so fglrx_drv.so.orig
cat fglrx_drv.so.orig | sed "s/\xe8\x61\x2c\xfe\xff/\x90\x90\x90\x90\x90/g" > fglrx_drv.so
diff fglrx_drv.so fglrx_drv.so.orig
aticonfig --initial 

This command should report a change ( diff fglrx_drv.so fglrx_drv.so.orig )

2. Edit xorg.conf

su
gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Then add these sections. ( for driver version 8.42 or higher ).

Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection
Section "ServerFlags"
Option "AIGLX" "on"
EndSection
Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

( for driver version 8.41 or lower require these options instead )

Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "Disable"
EndSection
Section "ServerFlags"
Option "AIGLX" "off"
EndSection
Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

Don't forget to save the changes

Finally, the following options are useful in the section "Device" :

Option        "UseFastTLS" "0"
Option        "BlockSignalsOnLock" "on"
Option        "ForceGenericCPU" "off"
Option        "KernelModuleParm" "locked-userpages=0"

After editing don't forget to restart X ( Ctrl + Alt + Backspace )

3. Check for direct rendering.

Type these commands in a terminal

fglrxinfo

The output should look something like this.

display: :0.0  screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: Radeon X1300/X1550 Series
OpenGL version string: 2.0.6458 (8.36.5)

And this command.

glxinfo

The output should look something like this

name of display: :0.0

display: :0  screen: 0

direct rendering: Yes
server glx vendor string: SGI
server glx version string: 1.2
server glx extensions:
GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating,
GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, GLX_OML_swap_method,
GLX_SGI_make_current_read, GLX_SGIS_multisample, GLX_SGIX_hyperpipe,
GLX_SGIX_swap_barrier, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_MESA_copy_sub_buffer
client glx vendor string: ATI
client glx version string: 1.3
client glx extensions:
GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context,
GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_ARB_multisample,
GLX_ATI_pixel_format_float, GLX_ATI_render_texture
GLX version: 1.2
GLX extensions:
GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context,
GLX_ARB_multisample
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: Radeon X1300/X1550 Series
OpenGL version string: 2.0.6458 (8.36.5)

If you can't get direct rendering try adding this line to the "Device" section of xorg.conf

Option "UseInternalAGPGART" "no"

4. ( no longer needed for 8.42 and up ) Install XGL beryl / compiz ( install script by nicofo )

Type these commands in a terminal.

su -
wget http://nicofo.tuxfamily.org/scripts/xgl/installXGL_EN
sh installXGL_EN
yum -y install beryl

If you need to remove xgl (rpm+config files installed by script): run installXGL_EN -r

5. ( no longer needed for 8.42 and up ) Now, you have just to open a new session (no need to reboot Fedora). At the login screen (GDM or KDM), click on the "Session" menu and choose your preferred session: KDE + XGL or GNOME + XGL

XGL Update by nikofo

Check here .

5. Installing Microsoft fonts

** Note: Fedora 7 uses deja-vu and liberation fonts. Give them a try!

If you are using KDE you can copy the fonts from a Windows installation and then open Control Center -> System Administration -> Font Installer and drag 'n' drop them in there. You must restart your open appilications in order to see the new fonts.

Alternatevlly you can type:

$ wget http://www.my-guides.net/downloads/msttcorefonts-2.0-1.noarch.rpm

$ sudo rpm -hiv msttcorefonts-2.0-1.noarch.rpm

$ sudo /etc/init.d/xfs restart

6. Configuring Firefox

**Note: If you have 64bit Firefox take a look here . 

Default browser

KDE

By default Konqueror is the default browser in KDE which means that if you click on a link in another application such as an irc or msn client the web page will open in Konqueror. To make Firefox your default web browser open Control Center -> KDE Components -> Component Chooser. Click on Web Browser and then choose "in the following browser" and write "mozilla-firefox" (without the ""). Click apply

Then go to KDE Components -> File Assosiations and then text -> html. Choose Firefox Web Browser from the Application Preference Order and click on Move Up, until it comes first. Hit apply and you are set.

acrobat plugin

To be able to view pdf documents through Firefox you must have adobe acrobat reader installed as described here .

flash plugin

Download flash plugin from here. It should be saved on your Desktop. Open a terminal and type:

$ cd ~/Desktop

$ tar -xzf install_flash_player_9_linux.tar.gz

$ cd install_flash_player_9_linux

$ sudo cp libflashplayer.so /usr/lib/firefox-2.0.0.6/plugins/

$ sudo cp libflashplayer.so /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/

Restart firefox and type about:plugins in the address bar. If the plugins have successfully installed you should see Shockwave Flash.

mplayer plugin

The mplayer plugin allows to view video files through Firefox. To install it type:

$ sudo yum install --enablerepo=livna mplayerplug-in

$ sudo cp /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/* /usr/lib/firefox-2.0.0.6/plugins/ 

Restart firefox and check if the plugins have successfully installed by typing about:plugins in the address bar.

java plugin

First you must check if you already have installed the fedora jre. Type:

$ rpm -q jre

If you see any package uninstall it like this:

$ sudo rpm -e jre

Now you have to download the Linux (self-extracting file). Click here to go to sun's java site.

Go to the folder you have downloaded jre. Here it will be Download in my home directory.

$ cd ~/Download

And type the following to install:

$ sudo mv jre-6u1-linux-i586.bin /opt
$ cd /opt/
$ sudo chmod a+x jre-6u2-linux-i586.bin
$ sudo ./jre-6u2-linux-i586.bin

Use spacebar to read the agreement. At the end enter yes to proceed with the installation.

Finally to make Firefox use the installed plugin type:

$ sudo ln -s ./jre1.6.0_02/plugin/i386/ns7/libjavaplugin_oji.so /usr/lib/firefox-2.0.0.6/plugins/libjavaplugin_oji.so
$ sudo ln -s ./jre1.6.0_02/plugin/i386/ns7/libjavaplugin_oji.so /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/libjavaplugin_oji.so

Check if you have compat-libstdc++-33 and compat-libstdc++-296 installed by typing:

$ rpm -q compat-libstdc++-33
$ rpm -q compat-libstdc++-296

Install the missing pakages/packages like this:

$ sudo yum install compat-libstdc++-33 compat-libstdc++-296

Restart firefox and type about:plugins in the address bar. If the plugins have successfully installed you should see JAVA(TM)Shockwave Flash among the plugins.

mms streaming play

In the address bar type:

about:config

Right click with the mouse and select NEW and then STRING. Type this in the box:

network.protocol-handler.app.mms

Click ok and in the box type the program you want to open the streaming media with, such as mplayer.