This section contains packages that contain various applications for Red Hat Linux.
This section contains packages that are associated with the efficient storing and/or copying of files.
GNU cpio copies files into or out of a cpio or tar archive. Archives are files which contain a collection of other files plus information about them, such as their file name, owner, timestamps, and access permissions. The archive can be another file on the disk, a magnetic tape, or a pipe. GNU cpio supports the following archive formats: binary, old ASCII, new ASCII, crc, HPUX binary, HPUX old ASCII, old tar and POSIX.1 tar. By default, cpio creates binary format archives, so that they are compatible with older cpio programs. When it is extracting files from archives, cpio automatically recognizes which kind of archive it is reading and can read archives created on machines with a different byte-order.
Install cpio if you need a program to manage file archives.
The dump package contains both dump and restore. Dump examines files in a filesystem, determines which ones need to be backed up, and copies those files to a specified disk, tape or other storage medium. The restore command performs the inverse function of dump; it can restore a full backup of a filesystem. Subsequent incremental backups can then be layered on top of the full backup. Single files and directory subtrees may also be restored from full or partial backups.
Install dump if you need a system for both backing up filesystems and restoring filesystems after backups.
LHA is an archiving and compression utility for LHarc format archives. LHA is mostly used in the DOS world, but can be used under Linux to extract DOS files from LHA archives.
Install the lha package if you need to extract DOS files from LHA archives.
The ncompress package contains the compress and uncompress file compression and decompression utilities, which are compatible with the original UNIX compress utility (.Z file extensions). These utilities can't handle gzipped (.gz file extensions) files, but gzip can handle compressed files.
The rmt utility provides remote access to tape devices for programs like dump (a filesystem backup program), restore (a program for restoring files from a backup) and tar (an archiving program).
The sharutils package contains the GNU shar utilities, a set of tools for encoding and decoding packages of files (in binary or text format) in a special plain text format called shell archives (shar). This format can be sent through email (which can be problematic for regular binary files). The shar utility supports a wide range of capabilities (compressing, uuencoding, splitting long files for multi-part mailings, providing checksums), which make it very flexible at creating shar files. After the files have been sent, the unshar tool scans mail messages looking for shar files. Unshar automatically strips off mail headers and introductory text and then unpacks the shar files.
Install sharutils if you send binary files through email very often.
Taper is a backup and restoration program with a user friendly interface. Files may be backed up to a tape drive or to a hard disk. The interface for selecting files to be backed up/restored is very similar to the Midnight Commander interface, and allows easy traversal of directories. Taper supports recursive selection of directories. Taper also supports backing up SCSI, ftape, zftape and removable drives. By default, taper is set for incremental backups and automatic most recent restore.
Install the taper package if you need a user friendly file backup and restoration program.
The GNU tar program saves many files together into one archive and can restore individual files (or all of the files) from the archive. Tar can also be used to add supplemental files to an archive and to update or list files in the archive.
Tar includes multivolume support, automatic archive compression/ decompression, the ability to perform remote archives and the ability to perform incremental and full backups.
If you want to use Tar for remote backups, you'll also need to install the rmt package.
You should install the tar package, because you'll find its compression and decompression utilities essential for working with files.
The UNARJ program is used to uncompress .arj format archives. The .arj format archive was mostly used on DOS machines.
Install the unarj package if you need to uncompress .arj format archives.
The unzip utility is used to list, test, or extract files from a zip archive. Zip archives are commonly found on MS-DOS systems. The zip utility, included in the zip package, creates zip archives. Zip and unzip are both compatible with archives created by PKWARE(R)'s PKZIP for MS-DOS, but the programs' options and default behaviors do differ in some respects.
Install the unzip package if you need to list, test or extract files from a zip archive.
The zip program is a compression and file packaging utility. Zip is analogous to a combination of the UNIX tar and compress commands and is compatible with PKZIP (a compression and file packaging utility for MS-DOS systems).
Install the zip package if you need to compress files using the zip program.
This section contains packages that are associated with communications.
Dip is a modem dialer. Dip handles the connections needed for dialup IP links like SLIP or PPP. Dip can handle both incoming and outgoing connections, using password security for incoming connections. Dip is useful for setting up PPP and SLIP connections, but isn't required for either. Netcfg uses dip for setting up SLIP connections.
Install dip if you need a utility which will handle dialup IP connections.
Efax is a small ANSI C/POSIX program that sends and receives faxes using any Class 1, 2 or 2.0 fax modem.
You need to install efax if you want to send faxes and you have a Class 1, 2 or 2.0 fax modem.
The getty_ps package contains the getty and uugetty programs, basic programs for accomplishing the login process on a Red Hat Linux system. Getty and uugetty are used to accept logins on the console or a terminal. Getty is invoked by the init process to open tty lines and set their modes, to print the login prompt and get the user's name, and to initiate a login process for the user. Uugetty works just like getty, except that uugetty creates and uses lock files to prevent two or more processes from conflicting in their use of a tty line. Getty and uugetty can also handle answer a modem for dialup connections, but mgetty is recommended for that purpose.
KPilot allows you to synchronize your PalmPilot with your desktop. It allows you to backup and restore the various databases (Addressbook, ToDo List, Memos, etc.) as well as install applications to the pilot. Two "conduits" for the third party application KOrganizer are included which will let you sync your ToDo list and Calendar with that program.
Lrzsz (consisting of lrz and lsz) is a cosmetically modified zmodem/ymodem/xmodem package built from the public-domain version of the rzsz package. Lrzsz was created to provide a working GNU copylefted Zmodem solution for Linux systems.
You should install lrzsz if you're also installing a Zmodem communications program that uses lrzsz. If you're installing minicom, you need to install lrzsz.
Sendfax is a standalone backend program for sending fax files. The mgetty program (a getty replacement for handling logins over a serial line) plus sendfax will allow you to send faxes through a Class 2 modem.
If you'd like to send faxes over a Class 2 modem, you'll need to install the mgetty-sendfax and the mgetty packages.
Viewfax displays the fax files received using mgetty in an X11 window. Viewfax is capable of zooming in and out on the displayed fax.
If you're installing the mgetty-viewfax package, you'll also need to install mgetty.
The mgetty-voice package contains the vgetty system, which enables mgetty and your modem to support voice capabilities. In simple terms, vgetty lets your modem act as an answering machine. How well the system will work depends upon your modem, which may or may not be able to handle this kind of implementation.
Install mgetty-voice along with mgetty if you'd like to try having your modem act as an answering machine.
Minicom is a simple text-based modem control and terminal emulation program somewhat similar to MSDOS Telix. Minicom includes a dialing directory, full ANSI and VT100 emulation, an (external) scripting language, and other features.
Minicom should be installed if you need a simple modem control program or terminal emulator.
This suite of tools allows you to upload and download programs and data files between a *nix machine and the USR Pilot. It has a few extra utils that will allow for things like syncing the Pilot's calendar app with Ical. Note that you might still need to consult the sources for pilot-link if you would like the Python, Tcl, or Perl bindings.
The sliplogin utility turns the terminal line on standard input into a SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol) link to a remote host. Sliplogin is usually used to allow dial-in SLIP connections.
Install the sliplogin package if you need to support dial-in SLIP connections.
The uucp command copies files between systems. Uucp is primarily used by remote machines downloading and uploading email and news files to local machines.
Install the uucp package if you need to use uucp to transfer files between machines.
This section contains packages that are associated with databases.
Postgresql includes the programs needed to create and run a PostgreSQL server, which will in turn allow you to create and maintain PostgreSQL databases. PostgreSQL is an advanced Object-Relational database management system (DBMS) that supports almost all SQL constructs (including transactions, subselects and user-defined types and functions).
You should install postgresql if you want to create and maintain your own PostgreSQL databases and/or your own PostgreSQL server. If you are installing postgresql, you should also install postgresql-data, which will help you get started with PostgreSQL.
Postgresql-clients includes the client programs and client libraries that you'll need to access a PostgreSQL database management system server. This package contains the client libraries for C, C++ and PERL, as well as command-line utilities for managing PostgreSQL databases on a remote server. If you just want to connect to an existing remote PostgreSQL server, this package is all you need.
You should install postgresql-clients if you're installing postgresql. You should also install postgresql-clients if you're not installing postgresql, but you want to access PostgreSQL databases on a remote PostgreSQL server.
This section contains packages that are associated with editing text files.
Here is a fast, easy-to-use editor which is both network- oriented and very secure. GXedit is a graphical text editor which features a toolbar, network bar and tooltips, spell checking, inline help, the ability to send text as e-mail, macros and more. GXedit was designed to balance these and many other features without becoming too bloated.
You'll need GTK+ to use GXedit.
Emacs is a powerful, customizable, self-documenting, modeless text editor. Emacs contains special code editing features, a scripting language (elisp), and the capability to read mail, news and more without leaving the editor.
This package includes the libraries you need to run the Emacs editor, so you need to install this package if you intend to use Emacs. You also need to install the actual Emacs program package (emacs-nox or emacs-X11). Install emacs-nox if you are not going to use the X Window System; install emacs-X11 if you will be using X.
Emacs-X11 includes the Emacs text editor program for use with the X Window System (it provides support for the mouse and other GUI elements). Emacs-X11 will also run Emacs outside of X, but it has a larger memory footprint than the 'non-X' Emacs package (emacs-nox).
Install emacs-X11 if you're going to use Emacs with the X Window System. You should also install emacs-X11 if you're going to run Emacs both with and without X (it will work fine both ways). You'll also need to install the emacs package in order to run Emacs.
Emacs-el contains the emacs-elisp sources for many of the elisp programs included with the main Emacs text editor package.
You need to install emacs-el only if you intend to modify any of the Emacs packages or see some elisp examples.
The Emacs Lisp code for input methods for various international character scripts.
Emacs-nox is the Emacs text editor program without support for the X Window System.
You need to install this package only if you plan on exclusively using Emacs without the X Window System (emacs-X11 will work both in X and out of X, but emacs-nox will only work outside of X). You'll also need to install the emacs package in order to run Emacs.
gEdit is a small but powerful text editor designed expressly for GNOME.
It includes such features as split-screen mode, a plugin API, which allows gEdit to be extended to support many features while remaining small at its core, multiple document editing through the use of a 'tabbed' notebook and many more functions.
GNOME is required to use gEdit (Gnome-Libs and Gtk+).
gnotepad+ is an easy-to-use, yet fairly feature-rich, simple text editor for systems running X11 and using GTK+. It is designed for as little bloat as possible, while still providing many of the common features found in a modern GUI-based text editor.
Jed is a fast, compact editor based on the slang screen library. Jed features include emulation of the Emacs, EDT, WordStar and Brief editors; support for extensive customization with slang macros, colors, keybindings, etc.; and a variety of programming modes with syntax highlighting.
You should install jed if you've used it before and you like it, or if you haven't used any text editors before and you're still deciding what you'd like to use. You'll also need to have slang installed.
The jed-common package contains files (such as .sl files) that are needed by any jed binary in order to run.
Xjed is a version of the Jed text editor that will work with the X Window System.
You should install xjed if you like Jed and you'd like to use it with X. You'll also need to have the X Window System installed.
Joe is an easy to use, modeless text editor which would be very appropriate for novices. Joe uses the same WordStar keybindings used in Borland's development environment.
You should install joe if you've used it before and you liked it, or if you're still deciding what text editor you'd like to use, or if you have a fondness for WordStar. If you're just starting out, you should probably install joe because it is very easy to use.
VIM (VIsual editor iMproved) is an updated and improved version of the vi editor. Vi was the first real screen-based editor for UNIX, and is still very popular. VIM improves on vi by adding new features: multiple windows, multi-level undo, block highlighting and more. VIM-X11 is a version of the VIM editor which will run within the X Window System. If you install this package, you can run VIM as an X application with a full GUI interface and mouse support.
Install the vim-X11 package if you'd like to try out a version of vi with graphics and mouse capabilities. You'll also need to install the vim-common package.
VIM (VIsual editor iMproved) is an updated and improved version of the vi editor. Vi was the first real screen-based editor for UNIX, and is still very popular. VIM improves on vi by adding new features: multiple windows, multi-level undo, block highlighting and more. The vim-common package contains files which every VIM binary will need in order to run.
If you are installing any version of the VIM editor, you'll also need to the vim-common package installed.
VIM (VIsual editor iMproved) is an updated and improved version of the vi editor. Vi was the first real screen-based editor for UNIX, and is still very popular. VIM improves on vi by adding new features: multiple windows, multi-level undo, block highlighting and more. The vim-enhanced package contains a version of VIM with extra, recently introduced features like Python and Perl interpreters.
Install the vim-enhanced package if you'd like to use a version of the VIM editor which includes recently added enhancements like interpreters for the Python and Perl scripting languages. You'll also need to install the vim-common package.
VIM (VIsual editor iMproved) is an updated and improved version of the vi editor. Vi was the first real screen-based editor for UNIX, and is still very popular. VIM improves on vi by adding new features: multiple windows, multi-level undo, block highlighting and more. The vim-minimal package includes a minimal version of VIM, which is installed into /bin/vi for use when only the root partition is present.
This section contains packages associated with the emulation of other operating systems.
Dosemu is a DOS emulator. Once you've installed dosemu, start the DOS emulator by typing in the dos command.
You need to install dosemu if you use DOS programs and you want to be able to run them on your Red Hat Linux system. You may also need to install the dosemu-freedos package.
Generally, the dosemu DOS emulator requires either that your system have some version of DOS available or that your system's partitions were formatted and installed with DOS. If your system does not meet either of the previous requirements, you can instead use the dosemu- freedos package, which contains an hdimage file which will be installed in teh /var/lib/dosemu directory. The hdimage file is already bootable with FreeDOS.
You will need to edit your /etc/dosemu.conf file to add the image to the list of disk 'drives' used by dosemu.
Install dosemu-freedos if you are installing the dosemu package and you don't have a version of DOS available on your system, and your system's partitions were not formatted and installed with DOS.
Xdosemu is a version of the dosemu DOS emulator that runs with the X ]Window System. Xdosemu provides VGA graphics and mouse support.
Install xdosemu if you need to run DOS programs on your system, and you'd like to do so with the convenience of graphics support and mouse capabilities.
This section contains packages that are associated with the engineering arts.
The bc package includes bc and dc. Bc is an arbitrary precision numeric processing arithmetic language. Dc is an interactive arbitrary precision stack based calculator, which can be used as a text mode calculator.
Install the bc package if you need its number handling capabilities or if you would like to use its text mode calculator.
Gnuplot is a command-line driven, interactive function plotting program especially suited for scientific data representation. Gnuplot can be used to plot functions and data points in both two and three dimensions and in many different formats.
Install gnuplot if you need a graphics package for scientific data representation.
Units converts an amount from one unit to another, or tells you what mathematical operation you need to perform to convert from one unit to another. Units can only handle multiplicative scale changes (i.e., it can't tell you how to convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit, which requires an additive step in addition to the multiplicative conversion).
Units is a handy little program which contains a large number of conversions, from au's to parsecs and tablespoons to cups. You probably don't need to install it, but it comes in handy sometimes.
The xlispstat package contains XLISP-PLUS, an implementation of the Lisp programming language for the X Window System. XLISP-PLUS also includes extensions for performing advanced statistical computations.
Install the xlispstat package if you need a version of the Lisp programming language for X with statistics extensions.
This section contains packages that are associated with file manipulation.
Bzip2 is a freely available, patent-free, high quality data compressor. Bzip2 compresses files to within 10 to 15 percent of the capabilities of the best techniques available. However, bzip2 has the added benefit of being approximately two times faster at compression and six times faster at decompression than those techniques. Bzip2 is not the fastest compression utility, but it does strike a balance between speed and compression capability.
Install bzip2 if you need a high quality compression utility.
The file command is used to identify a particular file according to the type of data contained by the file. File can identify many different file types, including ELF binaries, system libraries, RPM packages, and different graphics formats.
You should install the file package, since the file command is such a useful utility.
The fileutils package includes a number of GNU versions of common and popular file management utilities. Fileutils includes the following tools: chgrp (changes a file's group ownership), chown (changes a file's ownership), chmod (changes a file's permissions), cp (copies files), dd (copies and converts files), df (shows a filesystem's disk usage), dir (gives a brief directory listing), dircolors (the setup program for the color version of the ls command), du (shows disk usage), install (copies files and sets permissions), ln (creates file links), ls (lists directory contents in color), mkdir (creates directories), mkfifo (creates FIFOs, which are named pipes), mknod (creates special files), mv (renames files), rm (removes/deletes files), rmdir (removes empty directories), sync (synchronizes memory and disk), touch (changes file timestamps), and vdir (provides long directory listings).
You should install the fileutils package, because it includes many file management utilities that you'll use frequently.
The findutils package contains programs which will help you locate files on your system. The find utility searches through a hierarchy of directories looking for files which match a certain set of criteria (such as a filename pattern). The locate utility searches a database (create by updatedb) to quickly find a file matching a given pattern. The xargs utility builds and executes command lines from standard input arguments (usually lists of file names generated by the find command).
You should install findutils because it includes tools that are very useful for finding things on your system.
GIT (GNU Interactive Tools) provides an extensible file system browser, an ASCII/hexadecimal file viewer, a process viewer/killer and other related utilities and shell scripts. GIT can be used to increase the speed and efficiency of copying and moving files and directories, invoking editors, compressing and uncompressing files, creating and expanding archives, compiling programs, sending mail and more. GIT uses standard ANSI color sequences, if they are available.
You should install the git package if you are interested in using its file management capabilities.
The gzip package contains the popular GNU gzip data compression program. Gzipped files have a .gz extension.
Gzip should be installed on your Red Hat Linux system, because it is a very commonly used data compression program.
slocate searches through a central database (updated nightly) for files which match a given glob pattern. This allows you to quickly find files anywhere on your system.
The stat utility prints out filesystem level information about a specified file, including size, permissions, link count, inode, etc.
The tree utility recursively displays the contents of directories in a tree-like format. Tree is basically a UNIX port of the tree DOS utility.
Install tree if you think it would be useful to view the contents of specified directories in a tree-like format.
This section contains packages that are associated with the Internet.
Elm is a popular terminal mode email user agent. Elm includes all standard mailhandling features, including MIME support via metamail.
Elm is still used by some people, but is no longer in development. If you've used Elm before and you're devoted to it, you should install the elm package. If you would like to use metamail's MIME support, you'll also need to install the metamail package.
Exmh provides an X interface for MH/nmh mail, a feature-rich email handling system. Exmh supports almost all (but not all) of MH's features: viewing the messages in a folder, reading/deleting/refiling messages, and sorting arriving mail into different folders before the messages are read. Exmh highlights which folders have new mail, and indicates which messages have not been read (so you don't lose the sorted, unread mail).
If you like MH/nmh mail, you should install exmh, because it makes the MH/nmh mail system much more user friendly. You may also want to use exmh if you prefer a graphical user interface for your mail client. Note that you will also have to install the nmh package.
Faces is a program for visually monitoring a list (typically a list of incoming mail messages, a list of jobs in a print queue or a list of system users). Faces operates in five different modes: monitoring for new mail, monitoring an entire mail file, monitoring a specified print queue, monitoring users on a machine and custom monitoring. Faces also includes a utility for including a face image (a compressed, scanned image) with mail messages. The image has to be compressed in a certain way, which can then be uncompressed and displayed on-the-fly in the mail program. This feature of faces is typically used with the exmh mail handling system.
Install faces if you'd like to use its list monitoring capability or its face image inclusion capability. If you would like to include face images in email, you'll also need to install the faces-xface package. If you would like to develop xface applications, you'll need to also install faces-devel.
Faces-xface includes the utilities that mail user agent programs need to handle X-Face mail headers. When an email program reads the X-face header line in an email message, it calls these utilities to display the face image included in the message.
You'll need to install faces-xface if you want your mail program to display Faces' X-face images.
Fetchmail is a remote mail retrieval and forwarding utility intended for use over on-demand TCP/IP links, like SLIP or PPP connections. Fetchmail supports every remote-mail protocol currently in use on the Internet (POP2, POP3, RPOP, APOP, KPOP, all IMAPs, ESMTP ETRN) for retrieval. Then Fetchmail forwards the mail through SMTP, so you can read it through your normal mail client.
Install fetchmail if you need to retrieve mail over SLIP or PPP connections.
Fetchmailconf is a tcl/tk application for graphically configuring your .fetchmailrc preferences file. Fetchmail has many options which can be daunting to the new user. This utility takes some of the guesswork and hassle out of setting up fetchmail.
Finger is a utility which allows users to see information about system users (login name, home directory, name, how long they've been logged in to the system, etc.). The finger package includes a standard finger client and server. The server daemon (fingerd) runs from /etc/inetd.conf, which must be modified to disable finger requests.
You should install finger if your system is used by multiple users and you'd like finger information to be available.
The ftp package provides the standard UNIX command-line FTP client. FTP is the file transfer protocol, which is a widely used Internet protocol for transferring files and for archiving files.
If your system is on a network, you should install ftp in order to do file transfers.
The fwhois program is a different style of the whois program. Both fwhois and whois query Internet whois databases to find information about system users. Fwhois is smaller and more compact than whois, and runs in a different manner.
Install fwhois if you or your system's users need a program for querying whois databases. You may also want to install whois, and then decide for yourself which program you prefer.
gFTP is a multithreaded FTP client for X Windows written using Gtk. It allows to have simultaneous downloads, resuming of interrupted file transfers, file transfer queues, a very nice connection manager and many more features.
IrcII is a popular Internet Relay Chat (IRC) client. IRC clients communicate with IRC servers, enabling users to "chat" via the Internet.
Install ircii if you want to participate in chat rooms.
Network applications for the K Desktop Environment.
Includes: karchie (ftp archive searcher); kbiff (mail delivery notification) kfinger ("finger" utility); kmail (mail client); knu (network utilities); korn (mailbox monitor tool); kppp (easy PPP connection configuration); krn (news reader); ktalkd (talk daemon); ksirc (irc client).
Monitors the load on your PPP connection. Looks a lot like xload.
Lynx is a text-based Web browser. Lynx does not display any images, but it does support frames, tables and most other HTML tags. Lynx's advantage over graphical browsers is its speed: Lynx starts and exits quickly and swiftly displays Web pages.
Install lynx if you would like to try this fast, non-graphical browser (you may come to appreciate its strengths).
The mailx package installs the /bin/mail program, which is used to send quick email messages (i.e., without opening up a full-featured mail user agent). Mail is often used in shell scripts.
You should install mailx because of its quick email sending ability, which is especially useful if you're planning on writing any shell scripts.
Metamail is a system for handling multimedia mail, using the mailcap file. Metamail reads the mailcap file, which tells Metamail what helper program to call in order to handle a particular type of non-text mail. Note that metamail can also add multimedia support to certain non-mail programs.
Metamail should be installed if you need to add multimedia support to mail programs and some other programs, using the mailcap file.
Mutt is a text mode mail user agent. Mutt supports color, threading, arbitrary key remapping, and a lot of customization.
You should install mutt if you've used mutt in the past and you prefer it, or if you're new to mail programs and you haven't decided which one you're going to use.
The nc package contains Netcat (the program is actually nc), a simple utility for reading and writing data across network connections, using the TCP or UDP protocols. Netcat is intended to be a reliable back-end tool which can be used directly or easily driven by other programs and scripts. Netcat is also a feature-rich network debugging and exploration tool, since it can create many different connections and has many built-in capabilities.
You may want to install the netcat package if you are administering a network and you'd like to use its debugging and network exploration capabilities.
Ncftp is an improved FTP client. Ncftp's improvements include support for command line editing, command histories, recursive gets, automatic anonymous logins and more.
Install ncftp if you use FTP to transfer files and you'd like to try some of ncftp's additional features.
This package contains the files that are shared between the Netscape Navigator Web browser and the Netscape Communicator suite of tools (the Navigator Web browser, an e-mail client, a news reader and Web page editor).
Install the netscape-common package if you're installing the netscape-navigator and/or the netscape-communicator program.
Netscape Communicator is the industry-leading Web browser. It supports the latest HTML standards, Java, JavaScript and some style sheets. It also includes a full-featured Usenet news reader as well as a complete e-mail client.
Information on the Netscape Communicator license may be found in the file /usr/doc/netscape-common-4.51/LICENSE.
Netscape Navigator is the industry-leading Web browser. It supports the latest HTML standards, Java, JavaScript and some style sheets.
Information on the Netscape Navigator license may be found in the file /usr/doc/netscape-common-4.51/LICENSE.
This will install the basic Netscape Navigator Web browser. If you want additional features, such as the Usenet news reader and HTML editor, you should install the netscape-communicator package.
Nmh is an email system based on the MH email system and is intended to be a (mostly) compatible drop-in replacement for MH. Nmh isn't a single comprehensive program. Instead, it consists of a number of fairly simple single-purpose programs for sending, receiving, saving, retrieving and otherwise manipulating email messages. You can freely intersperse nmh commands with other shell commands or write custom scripts which utilize nmh commands. If you want to use nmh as a true email user agent, you'll want to also install exmh to provide a user interface for it--nmh only has a command line interface.
If you'd like to use nmh commands in shell scripts, or if you'd like to use nmh and exmh together as your email user agent, you should install nmh.
Pine is a very popular, easy to use, full-featured email user agent which includes a simple text editor called pico. Pine supports MIME extensions and can also be used to read news. Pine also supports IMAP, mail and MH style folders.
Pine should be installed because Pine is a very commonly used email user agent and it is currently in development.
The rsh package contains a set of programs which allow users to run commmands on remote machines, login to other machines and copy files between machines (rsh, rlogin and rcp). All three of these commands use rhosts style authentication. This package contains the clients and servers needed for all of these services. It also contains a server for rexec, an alternate method of executing remote commands. All of these servers are run by inetd and configured using /etc/inetd.conf and PAM. The rexecd server is disabled by default, but the other servers are enabled.
The rsh package should be installed to enable remote access to other machines.
Rsync uses a quick and reliable algorithm to very quickly bring remote and host files into sync. Rsync is fast because it just sends the differences in the files over the network (instead of sending the complete files). Rsync is often used as a very powerful mirroring process or just as a more capable replacement for the rcp command. A technical report which describes the rsync algorithm is included in this package.
Install rsync if you need a powerful mirroring program.
SLRN is a powerful, easy to use, threaded Internet news reader. SLRN is highly customizable and allows you to design complex filters to sort or kill news articles. SLRN works well over slow network connections, and includes a utility for reading news off-line.
Install slrn if you need a full-featured news reader, if you have a slow network connection, or if you'd like to save on-line time by reading your news off-line.
This package provides slrnpull, which allows set up of a small news spool for offline news reading.
The ntalk package provides client and daemon programs for the Internet talk protocol, which allows you to chat with other users on different systems. Talk is a communication program which copies lines from one terminal to the terminal of another user.
Install ntalk if you'd like to use talk for chatting with users on different systems.
Tcpdump is a command-line tool for monitoring network traffic. Tcpdump can capture and display the packet headers on a particular network interface or on all interfaces. Tcpdump can display all of the packet headers, or just the ones that match particular criteria.
Install tcpdump if you need a program to monitor network traffic.
Telnet is a popular protocol for logging into remote systems over the Internet. The telnet package provides a command line telnet client as well as a telnet daemon, which will support remote logins into the host machine. The telnet daemon is enabled by default. You may disable the telnet daemon by editing /etc/inetd.conf.
Install the telnet package if you want to telnet to remote machines and/or support remote logins to your own machine.
Tin is a basic, easy to use Internet news reader. Tin can read news locally or remotely via an NNTP (Network News Transport Protocol) server.
Install tin if you need a basic news reader.
The traceroute utility displays the route used by IP packets on their way to a specified network (or Internet) host. Traceroute displays the IP number and host name (if possible) of the machines along the route taken by the packets. Traceroute is used as a network debugging tool. If you're having network connectivity problems, traceroute will show you where the trouble is coming from along the route.
Install traceroute if you need a tool for diagnosing network connectivity problems.
Trn is a basic news reader that supports threading. This version is configured to read news from an NNTP news server.
Install trn if you need a basic news reader that shows you newsgroup postings in threaded format.
urlview extracts URLs from a given text file, and presents a menu of URLs to view using a user specified command.
GNU Wget is a file retrieval utility which can use either the HTTP or FTP protocols. Wget features include the ability to work in the background while you're logged out, recursive retrieval of directories, file name wildcard matching, remote file timestamp storage and comparison, use of Rest with FTP servers and Range with HTTP servers to retrieve files over slow or unstable connections, support for Proxy servers, and configurability.
Install wget if you need to retrieve large numbers of files with HTTP or FTP, or if you need a utility for mirroring web sites or FTP directories.
X-Chat is yet another IRC client for the X Window System, using the Gtk+ toolkit. It is pretty easy to use compared to the other Gtk+ IRC clients and the interface is quite nicely designed.
The xmailbox program is an X Window System program which notifies you when mail arrives. Xmailbox is similar to the xbiff program, but it offers more features and notification options.
Install the xmailbox package if you'd like a graphical program for X which will notify you when new mail arrives.
A simple Usenet News reader for the X Window System. Xrn allows you to point and click your way through reading, replying and posting news messages.
Install the xrn package if you need a simple news reader for X.
The YTalk program is essentially a chat program for multiple users. YTalk works just like the UNIX talk program and even communicates with the same talk daemon(s), but YTalk allows for multiple connections (unlike UNIX talk). YTalk also supports redirection of program output to other users as well as an easy-to-use menu of commands.
Install the ytalk package if you need a chat program for multiple users.
This section contains packages that are associated with multimedia.
ImageMagick is a powerful image display, coversion and manipulation tool. It runs in an X session. With this tool, you can view, edit and display a variety of image formats.
This package installs the necessary files to run ImageMagick.
Movie player for the K Desktop Environment. Requires 'xanim' to function.
Aumix is a tty based, interactive method of controlling a sound card mixer. It lets you adjust the input levels from the CD, microphone, and on board synthesizers, as well as the output volume. Aumix can adjust audio mixers from the command line, from a script, or interactively at the console or terminal with a full-screen ncurses-based interface.
Install aumix if you need to control an audio mixer. If you install aumix, you will also need to install ncurses (since aumix's interface is based on ncurses) and gpm (for mouse support).
The awesfx package contains necessary utilities for the AWE32 sound driver.
If you must use an AWE32 sound driver, you should install this package.
The cdp program plays audio CDs in your computer's CD-ROM drive. Cdp includes a full-screen interface version and a command line version.
Install cdp to play audio CDs on your system.
If you use a desktop environment like GNOME you can use these images to spruce up your background.
The ee package contains the Electric Eyes image viewer for the GNOME desktop environment. Electric Eyes is primary an image viewer, but it also allows many types of image manipulations. Electric Eyes can handle almost any type of image.
Install the ee package if you need an image viewer.
Giftrans will convert an existing GIF87 file to GIF89 format. In other words, Giftrans can make one color in a .gif image (normally the background) transparent.
Install the giftrans package if you need a quick, small, one-purpose graphics program to make transparent .gifs out of existing .gifs.
The GIMP is an image manipulation program suitable for photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. Many people find it extremely useful in creating logos and other graphics for web pages. The GIMP has many of the tools and filters you would expect to find in similar commercial offerings, and some interesting extras as well.
The GIMP provides a large image manipulation toolbox, including channel operations and layers, effects, sub-pixel imaging and anti-aliasing, and conversions, all with multi-level undo.
This version of The GIMP includes a scripting facility, but many of the included scripts rely on fonts that we cannot distribute. The GIMP ftp site has a package of fonts that you can install by yourself, which includes all the fonts needed to run the included scripts. Some of the fonts have unusual licensing requirements; all the licenses are documented in the package. Get ftp://ftp.gimp.org/pub/gimp/fonts/freefonts-0.10.tar.gz and ftp://ftp.gimp.org/pub/gimp/fonts/sharefonts-0.10.tar.gz if you are so inclined. Alternatively, choose fonts which exist on your system before running the scripts.
Patterns, gradients etc. for gimp. This package isn't required, but contains lots of goodies for gimp.
If you use the GNOME desktop environment, you may want to install this package of complementary sounds.
GNOME (GNU Network Object Model Environment) is a user-friendly set of applications and desktop tools to be used in conjunction with a window manager for the X Window System. GNOME is similar in purpose and scope to CDE and KDE, but GNOME is based completely on Open Source software.
GNOME's powerful environment is pleasing on the eye, easy to configure and use.
This package will install such media features as the GNOME CD player.
Graphics applications for the K Desktop Environment.
Includes: kdvi (displays TeX .dvi files); kfax (displays fax files); kfract (a fractal generator); kghostview (displays postscript files); kiconedit (icon editor); kpaint (a simple drawing program); ksnapshot (screen capture utility); kview (image viewer for GIF, JPEG, TIFF, etc.).
Multimedia applications for the K Desktop Environment. Included: kmedia (media player); kmid (midi/karaoke player); kmidi (midi-to-wav player/converter); kmix (mixer); kscd (CD audio player)
The libgr-progs package contains a group of scripts for manipulating the graphics files in formats which are supported by the libgr library. For example, libgr-progs includes the rasttopnm script, which will convert a Sun rasterfile into a portable anymap. Libgr-progs contains many other scripts for converting from one graphics file format to another.
If you need to use these conversion scripts, you should install libgr-progs. You'll also need to install the libgr package.
The libungif-progs package contains various programs for manipulating GIF format image files.
Install this package if you need to manipulate GIF format image files. You'll also need to install the libungif package.
MikMod is one of the best and most well known MOD music file players for UNIX-like systems. This particular distribution is intended to compile fairly painlessly in a Linux environment. MikMod uses the OSS /dev/dsp driver including all recent kernels for output, and will also write .wav files. Supported file formats include MOD, STM, S3M, MTM, XM, ULT, and IT. The player uses ncurses for console output and supports transparent loading from gzip/pkzip/zoo archives and the loading/saving of playlists.
Install the mikmod package if you need a MOD music file player.
Mpg123 is a fast, free and portable MPEG audio player for Unix. It supports MPEG 1.0/2.0 layers 1, 2 and 3 ("mp3" files). For full CD quality playback (44 kHz, 16 bit, stereo) a Pentium CPU is required. Mono and/or reduced quality playback (22 kHz or 11 kHz) is possible on 486 CPUs.
For information on the MP3 License, please visit: http://www.mpeg.org/
The multimedia package contains several X Window System utilities for handling multimedia files: xplaycd, xmixer and xgetfile. Xplaycd is a CD player for playing audio CDs on your machine's CD-ROM drive. Xmixer controls the volume settings on your machine's sound card. Xgetfile is a versatile file browser, intended for use in shell scripts.
Install the multimedia package if you need an audio CD player, a sound card volume controller, or a file browser for use in shell scripts.
Playmidi plays MIDI (Musicial Instrument Digital Interface) sound files through a sound card synthesizer. This package includes basic drum samples for use with simple FM synthesizers.
Install playmidi if you want to play MIDI files using your computer's sound card.
Playmidi-X11 provides an X Window System interface for playing MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) sound files through a sound card synthesizer. This package includes basic drum samples for use with simple FM synthesizers.
Install playmidi-X11 if you want to use an X interface to play MIDI sound files using your computer's sound card.
The rhsound package provides a script which can save and restore the mixer settings and volume level of the standard kernel sound drivers. These mixer settings are preserved through shutdowns and restarts.
Install the rhsound package if you need to preserve the kernel sound driver module's mixer settings through shutdowns and reboots.
Sndconfig is a text based tool which sets up the configuration files you'll need to use a sound card with a Red Hat Linux system. Sndconfig can be used to set the proper sound type for programs which use the /dev/dsp, /dev/audio and /dev/mixer devices. The sound settings are saved by the aumix and sysV runlevel scripts.
Install sndconfig if you need to configure your sound card.
SoX (Sound eXchange) is a sound file format converter for Linux, UNIX and DOS PCs. The self-described 'Swiss Army knife of sound tools,' SoX can convert between many different digitized sound formats and perform simple sound manipulation functions, including sound effects.
Install the sox package if you'd like to convert sound file formats or manipulate some sounds.
The transfig utility creates a makefile which translates FIG (created by xfig) or PIC figures into a specified LaTeX graphics language (for example, PostScript(TM)). Transfig is used to create TeX documents which are portable (i.e., they can be printed in a wide variety of environments).
X11amp is a X Windows based mp3 player with a nice interface borrowed from WinAMP.
For information on the MP3 License, please visit: http://www.mpeg.org/
The XAnim program is an animation/video/audio viewer for the X Window System. XAnim can display a large variety of animation, audio and video formats.
Install the xanim package if you need a viewer for an animation, video or audio file.
Xfig is an X Window System tool for creating basic vector graphics, including bezier curves, lines, rulers and more. The resulting graphics can be saved, printed on PostScript printers or converted to a variety of other formats (e.g., X11 bitmaps, Encapsulated PostScript, LaTeX).
You should install xfig if you need a simple program to create vector graphics.
XPaint is an X Window System color image editing program which supports most standard paint program options. XPaint also supports advanced features like image processing algorithms. XPaint allows you to edit multiple images simultaneously and supports a variety of image formats, including PPM, XBM, TIFF, JPEG, etc.
Install the xpaint package if you need a paint program for X.