You've just installed Fedora Core 6, now what? Well, there isn't a straight guide everyone should use after installing Fedora or any other operating system. Everyone should configure and install additional applications based on their needs and wishes. However, there are a few steps it's recommended to follow, just to make your Fedora system a bit better, faster and ready for any modification you may apply.
Fedora Core 6 Kernel i586/i686 Bug
If you have chosen to install the
Virtualization software group during the Fedora Core 6 installer, you will end-up running a i586 kernel, even if your processor is i686 capable. This isn't a total disaster and you could live with it but your system will be a little bit slower and it will lack CPU frequency scaling. There are many ways to fix this error but the safest way is to do it manually, step by step:
To check which kernel architecture you currently have installed, open a terminal and run:
CODE
rpm -qa 'kernel*' --queryformat "%{NAME}-%{VERSION}-%{RELEASE}.%{ARCH}"|sort
If the installed kernel architecture is i586, but your processor is i686 capable, use the following commands:
- Install
yum-utils (you will need the root password):
CODE
su -c "yum install yum-utils"
- Get the current i686 kernel:
CODE
yumdownloader kernel.i686
- Once the kernel is downloaded, run:
CODE
su -c "rpm -ihv kernel-2*.i686.rpm"
- Finally, reboot the machine.
Full system update
It's highly recommended that you run a full system update the first time you install Fedora. However, keep in mind that it could take a long time to complete the update. To update, open a terminal and type:
You might see the error:
CODE
Loading "installonlyn" plugin
Existing lock /var/run/yum.pid: another copy is running. Aborting.
Then, you will have to stop the yum updater service:
CODE
su -c "/etc/init.d/yum-updatesd stop"
To install the nVidia/ATi drivers, follow this guide:
How to install video drivers on Fedora Core 6.
Adding repositories
Repositories are basically servers that host various packages for different distributions. Fedora has its own distributions but due to copyright laws and so on, not everything you need can be found under the same roof.
- To install the Livna repository which holds video drivers packages, mp3-related packages and so on, run the following command in a terminal:
CODE
su -c "rpm -ihv http://rpm.livna.org/fedora/6/i386/livna-release-6-1.noarch.rpm"
su -c "rpm --import http://rpm.livna.org/RPM-LIVNA-GPG-KEY"
- To install the Macromedia repository, holding the Flash player:
CODE
cd /etc/yum.repos.d
su -c "wget http://macromedia.rediris.es/macromedia-i386.repo"
su -c "rpm --import http://macromedia.mplug.org/FEDORA-GPG-KEY"
Due to lawsuits and copyrights, Redhat decided to remove mp3 support from Fedora. To re-enable it, after you've added the additional repositories, run the following command to install the MP3 plug-in (and FLAC) for XMMS and Rhythmbox:
CODE
su -c "yum install xmms xmms-mp3 xmms-faad2 gstreamer-plugins-ugly libmad libid3tag"
After adding the additional repositories, run:
CODE
su -c "yum install flash-plugin"
One of the most popular DVD player for Linux is and has been Xine. To install it from the Livna repository (so you will need it to be installed), run this command from a terminal:
CODE
su -c "yum install xine xine-lib xine-skins xine-lib-extras-nonfree libdvdcss"
Another quite popular player for Linux (and other platforms) is the VideoLAN Client, also known as VLC. What's special about this player is that it can play just about any video format available. And it's very simple to install it; simply open a terminal and type:
CODE
su -c "yum install videolan-client"
To install Sun Java 6 on your system, go to
Sun Java Downloads and download the
Linux self-extracting file. It's a self-extracting package called
jre-6-linux-i586.bin with a size of 18.09 MB.
Once downloaded, run:
CODE
cd /where/you/downloaded/it
sh jre-6-linux-i586-bin
(type yes)
Next, type:
su -c "mv -f jre1.6* /opt/jre1.6"
su -c "ln -s /opt/jre1.6/plugin/i386/ns7/libjavaplugin_oji.so /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/libjavaplugin_oji.so"
NOTE: You will also need the compat-libstdc++ libraries for the browser plug-in to work so follow the next section as well.
When you will run the
java command to run a Java application, Fedora will automatically pick the GNU java. To use Sun's Java, run:
CODE
su -c "/usr/sbin/alternatives –install /usr/bin/java java /opt/jre1.6/bin/java"
su -c "/usr/sbin/alternatives --config java"
(select the number corresponding with the /opt path; probably 2)
Fedora Core 6 ships with version 4.1 of GCC. Some applications won't compile correctly or at all with this version. However, you can install version 3.4 of GCC and alternate while compiling various source packages.
- First, make sure you have libstdc++ libraries installed:
CODE
su -c "yum install compat-libstdc++-33 compat-libstdc++-296"
- Next. Install the following packages:
CODE
su -c "yum install compat-gcc-34 compat-gcc-34-c++"
- To alternate through GCC versions, before starting the compile process, run:
CODE
export CC=gcc32
export CXX=g++32
Alternatively, you can try changing the GCC version through the configure script:
CODE
./configure --cc=gcc32
.. but this doesn't work every time.
Installing Microsoft Truetype Fonts
If you miss fonts such as Verdana, Tahoma or Arial, simply click
HERE and save the file somewhere on your hard drive (Desktop)
Now, open a terminal, change directory to Desktop and install it. Then, restart xfs:
CODE
cd $HOME/Desktop
su -c "rpm -ihv msttcorefonts-2.0-1.noarch.rpm"
su -c "/etc/init.d/xfs restart"
How to Install Video Drivers on Fedora Core 6 Fedora Core 6 Desktop Effects with Beryl Screencast Guide: Capure Your Linux Desktop on Video! How to Install XGL on Fedora Core How to Install Java in Fedora Core 6 2 Million Fedora Installs! Fedora 7 Test 1 Released Building a Live Fedora CD Fedora 7 Test 2 Released. Screenshots Inside!
Digg this!
Slashdot it!
Add to del.icio.us
Stumble!
Submit to Reddit
Add to Technorati
Furl
PDF
SHARE YOUR OPINION ABOUT 
DO YOU WANT TO CONTACT US?