16:27 <irc> dpkg -i filename.deb
    16:29 <alexander> that unpacks only, right?
    16:30 <irc> alexander: dpkg's in-line help is pretty complete.
                The manpage and info page both include thorough
                information as well.
    16:30 <irc> alexander: dpkg -i unpacks and installs
    16:32 <irc> if you're looking to install a common
                application/package and you're not familiar with
                apt, aptitude, tasksel (more redhatish), or
                dselect, check those out.
    16:37 <alexander> ok i will - finding the relevant docs is
                      still seldom easy for me to do without
                      asking - all my searches were fruitless, so
                      thank you (i am going to try installing
                      openssl is why I was wanting to know)
    16:42 <irc> alexander: try and 'apt-get install openssl' before
                you mess with dpkg.
    16:42 <irc> if apt is set to go to an internet source, it will
                probably get newer stuff
    16:45 <alexander> oh, alright - i'll do that instead
    16:47 <alexander> the debian site says "libc6" and "libssl" are
                      possible dependancies (is the "6" in "libc6"
                      a version number? would i just want to say
                      'apt-get install libc'?)
    16:50 <irc> apt-get should try to get the dependencies that
                aren't already installed.
    16:50 <irc> but yes, libc6 is libc - version6.
    16:50 <irc> which is basically listed as /lib/libc-2.x.x.so or
                whatever.
    16:51 <alexander> oh alright - that certainly simplifies things
    16:51 <irc> check your /etc/apt/sources.list and see if it
                points to a CD-ROM source or an http/ftp source.
    16:51 <alexander> alright...
    16:53 <alexander> yes - it is set to ftp and http sources
    16:53 <irc> alexander: if you have extra time to waste, do a
                'apt-get update && apt-get dist-upgrade' to
                upgrade the whole box's complement of software.
    16:54 <irc> join the debian horde
    16:54 <alexander> oh.... how much "extra time" are you
                      talking about?
    16:55 <irc> it'll go out and download about 3MB of indicies
                and compare your versions to the current versions.
    16:55 <irc> depends on your connection :)
    16:55 <alexander> dsl fortunately
    16:56 <irc> if I take a stock box on my DSL and upgrade, it
                would take prolly 40 minutes.
    17:01 <alexander> thank you <irc> :-)
    17:01 <irc> np, have fun