installing imagemagick

[nobaloney]

In general you're fairly safe with RPMs. An RPM install will fail before it does anything if it's not fully compatible with what's on your server.

Once it's installed you can remove all traces of it with a simple command.

You can find documentation for RPM on the 'net, or from a linux prompt just type "man rpm".

If I were you I'd try to get a test box in your budget; if nothing else you can rent one for one month at low cost at "http://www.tektonic.net".

I find test systems critical to keep my clients happy and my servers running.

Jeff

 

[TMC]

• Thank you for the constructive *nix newbie info, vandal & JL.
  
  Our possibly overcautious policy to NOT use a live production server for "target practice" comes from generic experience learned the hard way. On top of which, we're not averse to learning more about *nix servers but the whole point of paying extra for DA is to bypass as much of the *nix learning curve as possible. Keep in mind that not everyone NEEDS to learn a stick shift in order to learn how to drive!
  
  Once specific concern is that in the course of searching for ImageMagick installation advice, we've read various reports of RPM installations causing unexpected problems. What is the "yum" command? What is the "simple command" to remove all traces of an RPM installation? Better yet, what is the "simple command" to remove all traces of a FAILED installation which causes unexpected problems?
  
  Setting up a local RHL 9 DA box has been one of those often-postponed "round twits". In addition to development tasks, we'd really prefer such a box be LOCAL educational resource. However getting our production DA box configuration mirrored onto it is one of many concerns we just don't have an answer for yet.
  
  Thanks also for the tektonic suggestion, but a brief visit did not reveal any pre-configured DA virtual servers there. Also no price list, which isn't very reassuring where any on-line provider is concerned.
  
  We already have a suppler of small dedicated RHL 9 DA boxes with 2GB HDD and 1TB/month xfer for $29/month. These are generally used as DNS or IRC servers, but we've been thinking they might also be good for pre-production tinkering, again with minimal *nix learning curve.
  
  Thanks again guys.