I just installed the latest version of Texlive 2011 from the iso; everything is fine, even tlmgr it's ok except the fact that it can't install new packages from the repository.
root@tux-laptop:~# tlmgr update -list
tlmgr: package repository http://ftp.uniRoma2.it/TeX/systems/texlive/tlnet
tlmgr: saving backups to /usr/local/texlive/2011/tlpkg/backups
skipping forcibly removed package l3packages
tlmgr: no updates available
root@tux-laptop:~# tlmgr search fourier
engrec - Enumerate with lower- or uppercase Greek letters.
fourier - Using Utopia fonts in LaTeX documents.
fouriernc - Use New Century Schoolbook text with Fourier maths fonts.
pst-func - PSTricks package for plotting mathematical functions.
pxgreeks - Shape selection for PX fonts Greek letters.
trfsigns - Typeset transform signs.
txgreeks - Shape selection for TX fonts Greek letters.
utopia - Adobe Utopia fonts.
root@tux-laptop:~# tlmgr show fourier
package: fourier
category: Package
shortdesc: Using Utopia fonts in LaTeX documents.
longdesc: Fourier-GUTenberg is a LaTeX typesetting system which uses Adobe Utopia as its standard base font. Fourier-GUTenberg provides all complementary typefaces needed to allow Utopia based TeX typesetting, including an extensive mathematics set and several other symbols. The system is absolutely stand- alone: apart from Utopia and Fourier, no other typefaces are required. The fourier fonts will also work with Adobe Utopia Expert fonts, which are only available for purchase. Utopia is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated
installed: Yes
revision: 15878
cat-version: 1.3
cat-date: 2008-12-13 14:57:21 +0100
cat-license: lppl
collection: collection-fontsextra
root@tux-laptop:~# tlmgr install fourier
tlmgr: package repository http://ftp.uniRoma2.it/TeX/systems/texlive/tlnet
Ok, what's wrong with tlmgr? When i try to compile a new document which uses the newly installed package, pdflatex can't find it.
Best Answer
I solved this, it was tricky but i found out that some executable from the past installation of texlive were still installed on my system and this perl script, aka tlmgr, is probably not able to identify and make a distinction between executables that belongs to a texlive environment instead of another.
It's not my case but in another situation maybe the tool ldd could also be really helpful in a GNU/Linux environment, and remember that most of this "programs" that come with texlive are scripts and not executables.