[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

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision		Previous revision
Next revisionBoth sides next revision
slackware:faq [2012/09/01 03:07 (UTC)] – added a section on upgrade a Slackware installation vharishankarslackware:faq [2012/09/08 03:53 (UTC)] – [How do I upgrade an existing Slackware Linux installation without re-installing?] nocturnal.slacker
Line 20: Line 20:
 ==== Can I buy copies of Slackware Linux? ==== ==== Can I buy copies of Slackware Linux? ====
  
-Absolutely, just go here [[http://store.slackware.com/cgi-bin/store]]+Absolutely, just go to the [[http://store.slackware.com/cgi-bin/store|Slackware Store]].
  
 ==== Can I buy Slackware gear? ==== ==== Can I buy Slackware gear? ====
  
-You bet, just go here [[http://store.slackware.com/cgi-bin/store]]+You bet, just go to the [[http://store.slackware.com/cgi-bin/store|Slackware Store]].
  
 ==== Why spend money if I can download Slackware Linux for free? ==== ==== Why spend money if I can download Slackware Linux for free? ====
Line 30: Line 30:
 Indeed, Slackware Linux will forever be freely available for download, no strings attached. However, consider:\\ Slackware Linux is developed by Patrick Volkerding as a full-time job. The sale of Slackware Linux CD's, DVD's and paraphernalia is his only source of income. The core team of developers working with Patrick do not get paid, but should Patrick have to stop developing Slackware because he can no longer support himself enough to do so, the distribution will then have a very uncertain future. Indeed, Slackware Linux will forever be freely available for download, no strings attached. However, consider:\\ Slackware Linux is developed by Patrick Volkerding as a full-time job. The sale of Slackware Linux CD's, DVD's and paraphernalia is his only source of income. The core team of developers working with Patrick do not get paid, but should Patrick have to stop developing Slackware because he can no longer support himself enough to do so, the distribution will then have a very uncertain future.
  
 +==== Who are the people behind Slackware Linux? ====
 +
 +Patrick Volkerding is the founder, project co-ordinator and chief maintainer of Slackware Linux. He is also known as BDFL (Benevolent Dictator for Life). Several active contributors also help Patrick maintain the distribution. 
 +
 +LinuxQuestions.org did an [[http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/interviews-28/interview-with-patrick-volkerding-of-slackware-949029/|interview with Patrick Volkerding]] recently. That interview covers a lot of ground, including mentions of past and present contributors, their involvement, and a brief history of Slackware Linux. 
 +
 +Present contributors include [[wiki:user:alienbob|Eric Hameleers]] (aka AlienBOB), Robby Workman (aka rworkman), Stuart Winter (aka MoZes), Eric Jan Tromp (aka alphageek), Alan Hicks, Mark Post, Fred Emmott, Vincent Batts, Heinz Wiesinger (aka pprkut) and several more.
 ==== What are the different versions? ==== ==== What are the different versions? ====
  
Line 63: Line 70:
 Read the [[slackware:install|installation guide]]. Read the [[slackware:install|installation guide]].
  
-==== How do I upgrade an existing Slackware installation without re-installing? ====+==== How do I upgrade an existing Slackware Linux installation without re-installing? ====
  
 Read the page on [[slackware:slackpkg|Slackpkg]], particularly the [[slackware:slackpkg#full_system_upgrade|full system upgrade]] section. Read the page on [[slackware:slackpkg|Slackpkg]], particularly the [[slackware:slackpkg#full_system_upgrade|full system upgrade]] section.
Line 69: Line 76:
 To track the "Current" branch, read the page on [[slackware:current|Slackware-Current]]. To track the "Current" branch, read the page on [[slackware:current|Slackware-Current]].
  
-If you wish to perform a major upgrade, from an earlier release to the latest stable version, you should read the ''UPGRADE.TXT'' and ''CHANGES_AND_HINTS.TXT'' files provided in the official Slackware CD/DVD or internet mirror for the appropriate version (that is, the latest version). +If you wish to perform a major upgrade from an earlier release to the latest stable version, you should read and follow the instructions in ''UPGRADE.TXT'' and ''CHANGES_AND_HINTS.TXT'' files provided in the official Slackware CD/DVD or internet mirror for the appropriate version (that is, the latest version). 
-<note important>Before upgrading the system, it is recommended that you always take a complete backup of your data.</note>+<note important>Before upgrading the system, it is recommended that you always make a complete backup of your data.</note>
 ==== Where do I get more information on Slackware Linux online? ==== ==== Where do I get more information on Slackware Linux online? ====
  
Line 109: Line 116:
 Other sources for obtaining software not found in the Slackware CD/DVD (both in source and binary form):  <note warning>Note that the licensing of some software may only permit redistribution in source form. Please do not redistribute or make available online any binary packages of software you compile from source unless you are sure the license permits it. Also avoid packaging and redistributing proprietary software without the creator's permission.</note> Other sources for obtaining software not found in the Slackware CD/DVD (both in source and binary form):  <note warning>Note that the licensing of some software may only permit redistribution in source form. Please do not redistribute or make available online any binary packages of software you compile from source unless you are sure the license permits it. Also avoid packaging and redistributing proprietary software without the creator's permission.</note>
  
-  * There are quite a few trusted and well-respected individual Slackware contributors who make their SlackBuild scripts and binary packages available online. One source is http://slackware.com/~alien/ and another is http://rlworkman.net/pkgs/ +  * There are quite a few trusted and well-respected individual Slackware contributors who make their SlackBuild scripts and binary packages available online. One source is [[http://slackware.com/~alien/|AlienBOB's repository]] and another is [[http://rlworkman.net/pkgs/|Robby Workman's packages]]. 
-  * http://www.slackbuilds.org/ is a community source of high quality and tested build scripts that make it easy to install third-party software on Slackware, and sbopkg, from http://www.sbopkg.org, makes processing SlackBuilds easier.  +  * [[http://www.slackbuilds.org/|SlackBuilds.org]] is a community source of high quality and tested build scripts that make it easy to install third-party software on Slackware, and [[http://www.sbopkg.org|sbopkg]], makes processing SlackBuilds easier.  
-  * Another option is to use binary packages from http://slacky.eu or other binary Slackware package sources. Note that packages are contributed by the community and the quality of packaging may vary from person to person. +  * Another option is to use binary packages from [[http://slacky.eu|Slacky.eu]] or other binary Slackware package sources. Note that packages are contributed by the community and the quality of packaging may vary from person to person. 
   * Still another option is to convert rpm packages to Slackware packages by using the tool [[slackware:rpm2tgz|rpm2tgz]].    * Still another option is to convert rpm packages to Slackware packages by using the tool [[slackware:rpm2tgz|rpm2tgz]]. 
-  * src2pkg, from http://distro.ibiblio.org/amigolinux/download/src2pkg/, can be used to build packages from source, and to convert other package formats (.deb, .rpm) to Slackware packages. The [[http://software.jaos.org/#cpan2tgz|cpan2tgz]] program is able to build Perl modules into packages.+  * [[http://distro.ibiblio.org/amigolinux/download/src2pkg/|src2pkg]] can be used to build packages from source, and to convert other package formats (.deb, .rpm) to Slackware packages. The [[http://software.jaos.org/#cpan2tgz|cpan2tgz]] program is able to build Perl modules into packages.
   * Last but not the least, intermediate to advanced users generally prefer to compile from upstream sources or write their own [[slackware:SlackBuild_scripts|SlackBuild scripts]].   * Last but not the least, intermediate to advanced users generally prefer to compile from upstream sources or write their own [[slackware:SlackBuild_scripts|SlackBuild scripts]].
  
Line 122: Line 129:
   * Automatic dependency handling requires constant manual developer maintenance, and adds potential for dependency hell.   * Automatic dependency handling requires constant manual developer maintenance, and adds potential for dependency hell.
   * The official Slackware Linux distribution is anyway meant to act as a cohesive whole. Hence, dependency management is largely moot as installing the entire distribution (the recommended way) takes care of most dependency problems.   * The official Slackware Linux distribution is anyway meant to act as a cohesive whole. Hence, dependency management is largely moot as installing the entire distribution (the recommended way) takes care of most dependency problems.
-  * A significant number of Open Source software can be compiled with different dependencies based on compile-time configuration switches. This makes dependency handling harder and more error-prone for binary redistribution of third party software.   +  * Several popular Open Source applications can be compiled with different dependencies based on compile-time configuration switches. This makes dependency handling harder and more error-prone for binary redistribution of third party software.   
   * Slackware Linux official distribution does not have the resources or manpower to manage dependency handling for third party software, which is a complex undertaking, requiring a lot of testing and is prone to errors as already noted above.   * Slackware Linux official distribution does not have the resources or manpower to manage dependency handling for third party software, which is a complex undertaking, requiring a lot of testing and is prone to errors as already noted above.
  
-However, there are still solutions for third-party software automatic dependency handling for those who want it. [[slackware:slapt-get|slapt-get]] is a package manager that adds dependency handling for third party package sources like http://www.linuxpackages.net and http://www.slacky.eu.  +However, there are still solutions for third-party software automatic dependency handling for those who want it. [[slackware:slapt-get|slapt-get]] is a package manager that adds dependency handling for third party package sources like [[http://www.linuxpackages.net|LinuxPackages.net]] and [[http://www.slacky.eu|Slacky.eu]]. 
- +
-Salix OS is a Slackware derived distribution that incorporates dependency handling. Website can be found here: http://www.salixos.org/+
  
 +[[http://www.salixos.org/|Salix OS]] is a Slackware derived distribution that incorporates dependency handling.
 ==== Distro X and Y does package management with dependency handling and... ==== ==== Distro X and Y does package management with dependency handling and... ====
  
Line 152: Line 158:
 {{ :slackware:servises-2.png?nolink |}} {{ :slackware:servises-2.png?nolink |}}
 Finally, select ''Exit'' end press ''Enter''. Finally, select ''Exit'' end press ''Enter''.
 +
 +Additionally, if you use LILO, Slackware's default boot loader, you can add the ''compact'' option to ''/etc/lilo.conf'' to speed up the boot process by merging read requests from adjacent sectors:
 +
 +<code># LILO configuration file
 +# generated by 'liloconfig'
 +#
 +# Start LILO global section
 +# Append any additional kernel parameters:
 +append=" vt.default_utf8=1"
 +boot = /dev/sda
 +compact</code>
  
 Also, Slackware runs a bunch of X/GTK related scripts at startup for multiuser runlevels (''fc-cache'', ''update-mime-database'', ''gtk-update-icon-cache'', ''update-gtk-immodules'', ''update-gdk-pixbuf-loaders'' , ''update-pango-querymodules'' etc.). These may be disabled manually by commenting out those lines which refer to them in the file ''/etc/rc.M'' but don't disable anything unless you're absolutely sure you know what you are doing! These scripts are essential for GTK applications to render fonts and icons properly. Also, Slackware runs a bunch of X/GTK related scripts at startup for multiuser runlevels (''fc-cache'', ''update-mime-database'', ''gtk-update-icon-cache'', ''update-gtk-immodules'', ''update-gdk-pixbuf-loaders'' , ''update-pango-querymodules'' etc.). These may be disabled manually by commenting out those lines which refer to them in the file ''/etc/rc.M'' but don't disable anything unless you're absolutely sure you know what you are doing! These scripts are essential for GTK applications to render fonts and icons properly.

Trace:

slackware:faq ()