[tex-live] tlmgr cannot install packages

[Reinhard Kotucha]

Karl Berry writes:
 >     I installed the minimal edition of TeXLive 2008 from the net in
 >     Ubuntu 8.10.
 > 
 > >From what you wrote, it seems you installed it as root.  I suggest
 > removing the present installation and redoing it, this time running as
 > yourself (no sudo or root).  Then you can also run tlmgr as yourself.

Spyros,
alternatively you can simply do:

  1. login as root

  2. run:  chown -R spyros:users /usr/local/texlive

Then you are the owner of the TeX Live tree.  There is no reason to
install software which you are going to maintain yourself as a
privileged user.

And please *****NEVER***** set $TEXMFCNF unless you are absolutely
sure that you understand how this extremely complex system works.

There is absolutely no reason to set $TEXMFCNF.  Setting $TEXMFCNF is
only good for headaches.  The default settings are fine.  You already
broke your system though you don't notice it at a first glance.

Please avoid the $TEXMFCNF environment variable.  It's not good for
anything but headaches.  I pray this for years without much success.

TEXMFCNF is by far the the most dangerous environment variable and I'm
wondering why it is so popular.  If it is recommended somewhere,
please let me know.

Regards,
  Reinhard

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Reinhard Kotucha			              Phone: +49-511-3373112
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