[2024-feb-29] Sad news: Eric Layton aka Nocturnal Slacker aka vtel57 passed away on Feb 26th, shortly after hospitalization. He was one of our Wiki's most prominent admins. He will be missed.

Welcome to the Slackware Documentation Project

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slackware:beginners_guide [2012/09/21 10:53 (UTC)] – Update Kernel Version to match Slackware 14.0's default kernel willysrslackware:beginners_guide [2017/10/15 10:08 (UTC)] (current) – How to update your packages using slackpkg alienbob
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 ====== Configure your new Slackware System ====== ====== Configure your new Slackware System ======
  
-We'll assume that you've read [[slackware:install|the Installation Guide]] and that you have a clean install of Slackware on your machine and that you're happy with that.+We'll assume you've read [[slackware:install|the Installation Guide]]and you have a clean install of Slackware on your machine that you're happy with.
  
 This beginner's guide is meant to put you firmly on the Slackware path. If you installed Slackware for the first time, you may be daunted by the sight of the blinking cursor at a console login. Let this page guide you through the initial configuration of a freshly installed Slackware system. This beginner's guide is meant to put you firmly on the Slackware path. If you installed Slackware for the first time, you may be daunted by the sight of the blinking cursor at a console login. Let this page guide you through the initial configuration of a freshly installed Slackware system.
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 The installation did not offer to create a user account. At this stage, there is only the "''root''" account. You should remember the root password, which you set at the very end of the installation procedure. Login as "root" now - you will find yourself at a "**#**" console root-prompt. The installation did not offer to create a user account. At this stage, there is only the "''root''" account. You should remember the root password, which you set at the very end of the installation procedure. Login as "root" now - you will find yourself at a "**#**" console root-prompt.
  
-So now what? The "''root''" user is not the account which you are going to use as a matter of routine. Root is meant for system maintenance and configuration, software upgrades and the like. \\ The first thing to do is create a fresh user account for yourself, without the root privileges. After that, it is time to start considering the installation of [[slackware:amd_nvidia|non-free graphical drivers]] (if you own a Nvidia or Ati card), setting up a wireless network connection or starting a graphical desktop environment. There is a lot that you can do with Slackware! Let's start with the basics.+So now what? The "''root''" user is not the account which you are going to use as a matter of routine. Root is meant for system maintenance and configuration, software upgrades and the like. \\ The first thing to do is create a fresh user account for yourself, without the root privileges. After that, it is time to start considering the installation of "[[howtos:hardware:proprietary_graphics_drivers|Proprietary Graphics Drivers]](if you own a Nvidia or Ati card), setting up a wireless network connection or starting a graphical desktop environment. There is a lot that you can do with Slackware! Let's start with the basics.
  
  
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 # useradd -m -g users -G wheel,floppy,audio,video,cdrom,plugdev,power,netdev,lp,scanner -s /bin/bash slacker # useradd -m -g users -G wheel,floppy,audio,video,cdrom,plugdev,power,netdev,lp,scanner -s /bin/bash slacker
 </code> Once that’s done you can log in to your user account. \\ Log out of the root account (type ''logout'' at the root prompt) and then login using the new account you just created. Now come the really interesting adventures! </code> Once that’s done you can log in to your user account. \\ Log out of the root account (type ''logout'' at the root prompt) and then login using the new account you just created. Now come the really interesting adventures!
 +
 +
 +===== Make Slackware Speak your Language =====
 +
 +Slackware's installer is English-only and it will also assume that English is the language in which you want to be addressed by the programs on your computer. If you are a non-English speaker and want your Slackware system to "talk" to you in your own language, you should check out our instruction article "[[slackware:localization|Localization: Adapt Slackware to your own Language]]"
  
  
 ===== Configure a Package Manager ===== ===== Configure a Package Manager =====
  
-Now that you have Slackware running, you should consider spending a bit of time caring for your computer's good health. The software which was installed as part of the Slackware release you are running, may develop [[wp>Vulnerability_%28computing%29|vulnerabilities]] over time. When those vulnerabilities are critical to the health of your computer, then Slackware will usually publish a patched version of the software package. These patched packages are made available online (in the ''/patches'' directory of the release) and announced on the [[security:start|Slackware Security mailing list]].+Now that you have Slackware running, you should consider spending a bit of time caring for your computer's good health. The software which was installed as part of the Slackware release you are running, may develop [[wp>Vulnerability_%28computing%29|vulnerabilities]] over time. When those vulnerabilities are critical to the health of your computer, then Slackware will usually publish a patched version of the software package. These patched packages are made available online (in the ''/patches'' directory of the release) and announced on the [[howtos:security:start|Slackware Security mailing list]].
  
 You have various options in order to keep your Slackware installation up-to-date. It's not advised to make the process of applying security updates fully automatic, but it is possible to do so using a cron job. You have various options in order to keep your Slackware installation up-to-date. It's not advised to make the process of applying security updates fully automatic, but it is possible to do so using a cron job.
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 You will need to update the ''slackpkg'' database from time to time, when you learn about the availability of new patches for your distribution. After updating the database you can let it download and install the updates. Again, see the [[slackware:slackpkg|slackpkg]] page for guidelines about the use of this tool. You will need to update the ''slackpkg'' database from time to time, when you learn about the availability of new patches for your distribution. After updating the database you can let it download and install the updates. Again, see the [[slackware:slackpkg|slackpkg]] page for guidelines about the use of this tool.
 +
 +==== Installing updates using slackpkg ====
 +
 +The ''slackpkg update'' command will connect to a Slackware mirror and update the local package information database on your computer. This command does not actually //install// any package!\\ The usual routine for upgrading your Slackware to the latest patches is as follows: <code>
 +# slackpkg update
 +# slackpkg install-new
 +# slackpkg upgrade-all
 +# slackpkg clean-system
 +</code> The "install-new", "upgrade-all" and "clean-system" commands will always show you a list of candidate packages to act on before excecuting anything. This allows you to review the suggested package alterations and select/deselect anything you do not agree with.\\ The "clean-system" is technically only needed after you upgrade from one Slackware release to the next (say, from  14.1 to 14.2) and it is meant to remove any Slackware package which is not (or no longer) part of the core distribution.
 +
 +<note important>The ''slackpkg clean-system'' command regards any 3rd package as a candidate for removal! Therefore, be smart with your blacklist (''/etc/slackpkg/blacklist'')</note>
  
 ==== Watching for Updated Packages ==== ==== Watching for Updated Packages ====
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 [rsync_slackware_patches.sh:] Please create it first, and then re-run this script.                             [rsync_slackware_patches.sh:] Please create it first, and then re-run this script.                            
 </code> \\ You notice that you will have to edit the script and define a local directory (//and create that directory too!//) for the script to use. When that is done, you should run the script once - for a first-time download of patches. \\ Then you can use cron to run the script once a day. For instance, schedule the script to run at 05:33 every day, and let it check for updates to the 64-bit version of Slackware-13.37. Open the crontab editor by typing <code>crontab -e</code> and then you add the following line to your cron table: <code> </code> \\ You notice that you will have to edit the script and define a local directory (//and create that directory too!//) for the script to use. When that is done, you should run the script once - for a first-time download of patches. \\ Then you can use cron to run the script once a day. For instance, schedule the script to run at 05:33 every day, and let it check for updates to the 64-bit version of Slackware-13.37. Open the crontab editor by typing <code>crontab -e</code> and then you add the following line to your cron table: <code>
-33 5 * * *      /usr/local/sbin/rsync_slackware_patches.sh -q -r 13.37 -a x86_64+33 5 * * *      /usr/local/bin/rsync_slackware_patches.sh -q -r 13.37 -a x86_64
 </code> This command will be executed silently (meaning you will not get emailed) if no new patches are found. However when the script finds updates it will download them and email you the script's output. You will get an email like this: <code> </code> This command will be executed silently (meaning you will not get emailed) if no new patches are found. However when the script finds updates it will download them and email you the script's output. You will get an email like this: <code>
 [rsync_slackware_patches.sh:] New patches have arrived for Slackware 13.37 (x86_64)! [rsync_slackware_patches.sh:] New patches have arrived for Slackware 13.37 (x86_64)!
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 </code> Note that it is recommended to //add a new section// instead of editing the existing kernel image section. Assign a unique label to your new section. After reboot, LILO will give you two options: to boot into your freshly added generic kernel, or to boot into the failsafe huge kernel (of which you are certain that it will work). </code> Note that it is recommended to //add a new section// instead of editing the existing kernel image section. Assign a unique label to your new section. After reboot, LILO will give you two options: to boot into your freshly added generic kernel, or to boot into the failsafe huge kernel (of which you are certain that it will work).
   * After making the changes to ''/etc/lilo.conf'' you have to save the file and then run <code>    * After making the changes to ''/etc/lilo.conf'' you have to save the file and then run <code> 
-# lilo+# lilo -v
 </code> to make your change permanent. Then, reboot. </code> to make your change permanent. Then, reboot.
  
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 Note the difference from other Linux distributions; many of those use runlevel 5 for their graphical login. In Slackware, runlevel 5 is identical to runlevel 3 (console boot). Note the difference from other Linux distributions; many of those use runlevel 5 for their graphical login. In Slackware, runlevel 5 is identical to runlevel 3 (console boot).
          
-In the graphical runlevel, you will be greeted by one of the available display (login session) managers. Slackware will by default look for the availability of GDM (Gnome Display Manager), KDM (KDE Display Manager) and XDM (X Display Manager) - in that order. You can also install a third-party login manager like [[howtos:slim|SliM]] but you will have to edit ''/etc/rc.d/rc.4'' and add a call to your new session manager all the way at the top.+In the graphical runlevel, you will be greeted by one of the available display (login session) managers. Slackware will by default look for the availability of GDM (Gnome Display Manager), KDM (KDE Display Manager) and XDM (X Display Manager) - in that order. You can also install a third-party login manager like [[howtos:window_managers:slim|SliM]] but you will have to edit ''/etc/rc.d/rc.4'' and add a call to your new session manager all the way at the top.
  
 ===== Further Exploration ===== ===== Further Exploration =====
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 ===== Upgrading the System ===== ===== Upgrading the System =====
  
-If you have been using Slackware for a while and want to upgrade to the next release once that becomes available, we have a nice [[howtos:start|HOWTO]] available here: [[howtos:systemupgrade|Upgrading Slackware to a New Release]]+If you have been using Slackware for a while and want to upgrade to the next release once that becomes available, we have a nice [[howtos:start|HOWTO]] available here: [[howtos:slackware_admin:systemupgrade|Upgrading Slackware to a New Release]]
  
 When tracking [[slackware:current|current]], you should always read the latest ChangeLog.txt before upgrading the system, to see whether any additional steps are required to be performed before or after upgrading. For upgrades to a stable release, it is a good idea to read the ''UPGRADE.TXT'' and ''CHANGES_AND_HINTS.TXT'' files located on the CD/DVD or the official mirror. When tracking [[slackware:current|current]], you should always read the latest ChangeLog.txt before upgrading the system, to see whether any additional steps are required to be performed before or after upgrading. For upgrades to a stable release, it is a good idea to read the ''UPGRADE.TXT'' and ''CHANGES_AND_HINTS.TXT'' files located on the CD/DVD or the official mirror.
 slackware:beginners_guide ()