>I'm pretty new to Linux so I've got what could be a pretty simple question.
>I've installed ruby 1.68 with no problem.  Now I want to install the dbi
>package.
>I've retrieved the package. I've gunzipped it. I've tar xvf ed the tar
>package.
>I see a file setup.rb but when I run it I get see help.
>I've read the help file but can't make any sense out of it.
>There are options for config  but no config script.
>There's an opttio for install but no install script.
>
>What should I do next?
>
>Ernie

See:

http://www.kitebird.com/articles/

The DBI article there might help.