Slackware is one of the older flavors of Linux. It is the Linux that is most comparable to real Unix systems.
Slackware prefers the user to be in charge via the command line. Also, it favors a reliable kernel that is
slightly older, over the latest one with a possible security leak in it. You can read more about it on the
official site at
http://www.slackware.com
where you can also find a shop to buy some of the Slackware articles. I go there yearly and buy something,
just to support Patrick Volkerding (the maintainer of Slackware) and as a sign of my appreciation.
Installing is easy, but you need to know your computer. It comes down to:
- put a bootable Slackware disk in your CD-ROM drive
- boot from it
- choose a kernel to boot
- if not using a US keyboard, select it
- log on as root
- (re)partition your hard disk with 'cfdisk'
- run 'setup', starting with 'Add swapspace'
- do some post instaling if required
Do not forget to make some user accounts. Always run as a normal user. Only when installing software or doing
something dangerous, run as root. Also see the following sections for more data on Slackware, see
../AP400/index.html
and
../HPepc/index.html.
In the older days, you just selected the 'bare.i' kernel and everything was in cans and crotches (dutch
proverb). Nowadays, things are a bit more complicated. So here's a small table to get you some advance
information.
| kernel |
for |
| bare.i |
'Normal' computers with IDE disks and no ATX features like software power down. CD readers and writers
allowed.
|
| bareacpi.i |
Normal computers with IDE disks and power management features (like software power down). Also, not so
recent laptops should should be started with this one.
|
| scsi.s |
Computers that use SCSI disks (hard disk, CD-ROM) as storage devices. Not very common anymore. If you have
a system with an IOmega ZIPdrive, choose the bare.i kernel.
|
| sata.i |
For recent equipment with SATA disk drives. Will also support an IDE disk |
At the 'boot' prompt you can also choose a kernel by pressing F2 or F3.
The fairest method of getting a copy of Slackware Linux is buying one from Patrick Volkerdings website:
http://www.slackware.com.
Patrick is 'Mr Slackware' himself and he needs some way of earning his living as well.
If you are a hardcore Slackware user, who already has bought several copies, or who ruined one of the disks
(s)he paid for, there are the mirror sites to frequent:
http://www.slackware.com/getslack/.
Still, don't forget to supply Patrick with some money. We need him to survive in this business. Slackware is
too precious.
Page created on 14 February 2007 and
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