Optware

Using Optware

Preware has several of the most popular and useful Optware packages available in the Optware feed. If the Optware package you're looking for is available in Preware, just use Preware to install it.

At a minimum, please install the Optware Bootstrap using Preware. The instructions on this page assume that you have done so.

These instructions also assume you have command-line access to your Pre. Instructions for getting this access can be found at Access via SSH and Access via Novaterm.

"Raw" Optware packages vs. mobi.optware.* packages

As mentioned previously, the Optware feed from preware.org includes a selection of popular packages. These package file names follow the pattern mobi.optware.*.

There are hundreds of Optware packages that are not available from preware.org. These packages are hosted at nslu2-linux.org, and we will refer to these as "raw" Optware packages (or "the nslu2-linux.org Optware packages"). One other important distinction is that raw Optware packages are managed using the ipkg-opt command, while the all packages installed by Preware (including the mobi.optware.* packages) are managed under the covers using the stock ipkg command.

Let's re-state the advice that if there is a mobi.optware.* version of the package you are looking for you should use Preware to install it instead of using the "raw" Optware package.

Installing "raw" nslu2-linux.org Optware packages

Make your filesystem read-write

  mount -o rw,remount /

Then you need to download a fresh copy of the package list from nslu2-linux.org.

 ipkg-opt update

Then you can use the list, list_installed, info, and install commands as needed

 ipkg-opt install python25

Don't forget to make your filesystem read-only once you're done.

  mount -o ro,remount /