How many Slackware iso discs are necessary for installation?

[Abos]

I'm going to be installing Slackware 9.1 alongside XP and I need to know which iso's I should download. I'm assuming that only the first iso is necessary, but I can't find anything that says which images contain certain packages.

I'm really trying to learn *nix, so my intent is start with just a basic installation (no X). All I need is enough to connect to the internet via command line so I can download the packages I need.

Thanks.

 

[n0cmonkey]

1

 

[Abos]

I'm assuming it's the first one... seeing as 1 comes before 2 and 3...

Thanks.

 

[drag]

You only NEED the first one. However the second disk contains extra packages you may need if you choose to install KDE. It also contains extra packages you may want.

So get the first 2 disks to be safe.

One thing to keep in mind is that as a novice Linux user Slackware is going to require a very steep learning curve. It will require some time and effort to aclimate yourself and it may be a couple weeks before it becomes usefull for you.

If you want something to play around with right away check out Fedora Linux. (which is the free public version of Redhat's workstation OSes)

Then if you like it check out Slackware, but if your use to dos and the command line then Slackware isn't half bad.

 

[Abos]

Well, I've used Linux before, I am familiar with DOS, and I already know a bunch of basic Unix commands. I chose Slackware because it seems to be the simplest (ie, not a lot of user-friendly BS). If I need to really get something done, Windows is right there.

As for the extra packages, I figured my first project will be to download and install the ones I want through the command line. I might also try to set up a web server or something like that.

 

[drag]

Originally posted by: Abos
Well, I've used Linux before, I am familiar with DOS, and I already know a bunch of basic Unix commands. I chose Slackware because it seems to be the simplest (ie, not a lot of user-friendly BS). If I need to really get something done, Windows is right there.

As for the extra packages, I figured my first project will be to download and install the ones I want through the command line. I might also try to set up a web server or something like that.

Cool. then you'll probably like Slackware.

I do.

For a package manager for Slackware check out Swaret, you can use it to update your OS and it does rudementary dependancy checking, but it's not perfect.

Here's a tip, if you install a package and the binary won't run try checking it's dependances:

which command

will give you the absolute path to a command.

ldd /path/to/bin/command

Will give you the libraries (if it's C program) that it needs to run, if one is missing then it will tell you. You find that package for that library file and install it then it should run. If you already installed the library package and something still can't find it make sure that it's in location is indicated in the /etc/ld.so.conf. Then rerun ldconfig command.

 

[Abos]

Thanks for the replies...

 

[n0cmonkey]

Swaret rocks.

 

[drag]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Swaret rocks.

Definately.

Also it's REALY easy to make good packages using Slackware package manager. Not like RPM's or Deb's. It's easy enough that you can build packages for casual use.

I did it for all my Alsa stuff when I was using 2.4. I wanted the latest versions so I built packages for myself, when a new version of Alsa came out I'd just rebuild the package for the new version. But my system wasn't "clean" enough to put out for public consumption.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: drag

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Swaret rocks.

Definately.

Also it's REALY easy to make good packages using Slackware package manager. Not like RPM's or Deb's. It's easy enough that you can build packages for casual use.

I did it for all my Alsa stuff when I was using 2.4. I wanted the latest versions so I built packages for myself, when a new version of Alsa came out I'd just rebuild the package for the new version. But my system wasn't "clean" enough to put out for public consumption.

I'm going to keep dangerous stuff (OPENSSL) up to date using swaret, and build everything else outside of the package manager.

I was half tempted to use pkgsrc on my slackware box though. Still considering it.

 

[unixfool]

View http://voidmain.is-a-geek.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=5969 for the latest info on what has become of swaret's author.

I do know that swaret was pulled from Slackware (for awhile, swaret was distributed on the .iso files on the extras CD) because of what's discussed in the above link.

To some people, it won't matter but to many people it surely will. Xbone has visited #slackware on irc.freenode.net in the past, until he started causing problems with his anti-americanism and disrupting the channel. As someone who's observed xbone on IRC (aside from being a channel oper), the above URL fits his character. While I was surprised he'd stoop that low to promote his product, the things he was quoted saying doesn't in the least surprise me.

Just my .02.

 

[n0cmonkey]

AntiAmericanism is expected. Childishness isn't a surprise. Have a link to a better tool?

 

[pitupepito2000]

I have never used slackware, but I will do some reading on swaret, it looks interesting. For most linux distros you only need the first iso disc and sometimes you need just a few floppies . You can always get all the packages fromt the internet which is actually better than getting them from an iso image because they are more up-to-date and you can even compile them yourself to optimize them.

I hope this helps,
pitupepito

 

[unixfool]

This is who I think it is, right?

Yeah, a better tool would be slaptget

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: unixfool
This is who I think it is, right?

Yep.

Yeah, a better tool would be slaptget

I'll try it out. I load most things by hand, but for keeping openssl and other troublesome pieces of software current enough to sleep, a nice little tool comes in handy.

 

[drag]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: unixfool
This is who I think it is, right?

Yep.

Yeah, a better tool would be slaptget

I'll try it out. I load most things by hand, but for keeping openssl and other troublesome pieces of software current enough to sleep, a nice little tool comes in handy.

Slapt-get is next on my list of things to try out, then. Weird crap.