How do I "open" an.rpm file?

[bongski55]

There are a lot of *.rpm files corresponding to applications,patches,etc. for linux.
I want to know how to install them in knoppix. Since there is this "read only error" whenever I try to install these files. I do not have access to a linux pc(even if I have I would not know where the files are installed anyway.)

[rickenbacherus]

An .rpm is Redhat Package Manager. While it is certainly possible to install an rpm on Debian it is not possible to install anything to a read only file system. I assume you are booting the Knoppix cd and have not installed it to your hard drive. If you want to use a packaging system on a hard drive installation you should try .debs They are not as common as rpm true but they work very well. IMO much better than rpm. Go to Debian and have a look at the Debian packages.

[probono]

You can use the shell script from http://www.linuxfaq.de/f/Files/unp to unpack .rpm files in your home directory.