PowerTools Packages
If you already know of a PowerTools package that you would like to install, see the section called Installing PowerTools Packages for installation information.
However, due to the large number of PowerTools packages available, it is helpful to be able to search through the package descriptions to find those that meet your requirements.
Reading the Contents of the CD-ROM
You can read the contents of the PowerTools CD-ROM from a shell prompt (either in a terminal window or in console mode). First you have to mount the CD-ROM drive.
Mounting the PowerTools CD-ROM
If your system is not set up to automount the CD-ROM drive when a CD is inserted, place the PowerTools CD in your CD-ROM drive. As root, type the following:
mount -t iso9660 /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom |
 | Note |
|---|---|
On your system, you or the system administrator may already allow users (instead of only root) to mount the CD-ROM drive. Users have this privilege if the user option is included in the /dev/cdrom line in the /etc/fstab file. However, keep in mind that you must be logged in as root to install any PowerTools RPMs. |
Navigating the CONTENTS File
After you have mounted the drive, cd to the mounted CD-ROM directory with the following command:
cd /mnt/cdrom |
Finally, type less CONTENTS to view the available applications. The CONTENTS file contains every program on the PowerTools CD-ROM, listed in alphabetical order.
Reading the CONTENTS file on the PowerTools CD-ROM can be a daunting task, considering the sheer number of applications available. Here are a few tricks to find a particular type of program without having to read through all of the descriptions:
Use the Group name — Every application is assigned to a particular group. For example, FaxMail, a fax sending utility, is in the Applications/Communications group, and Icecast, an MP3 Internet broadcasting system, is in the Applications/Multimedia group. By skimming the group names, you can save the time of having to read each package's description.
Search using keywords — The ls command supports easy searching. If you know you are looking for an IRC client, you can type less CONTENTS to view CONTENTS and then type /IRC and press
[Enter] . You will be taken to the first IRC client in the list. If this one does not interest you, pressing the[n] key repeatedly will let you skim through the CONTENTS file, looking only at IRC-related packages.
If you have trouble using the less command, type man less at a prompt for help.
Unmounting the PowerTools CD-ROM
When you are finished using the PowerTools CD-ROM to install packages, you can remove it from your CD-ROM drive. If you have the CD-ROM mounted in the /mnt/cdrom directory, do the following:
Change directories using cd /mnt so that you are one level above the /mnt/cdrom directory.
Type umount /mnt/cdrom to unmount the CD-ROM.
Type eject /dev/cdrom and the CD-ROM drive will open so that you can remove the CD.