[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:liveslak [2018/02/12 20:02 (UTC)] – Update URLs alienbobslackware:liveslak [2020/10/05 15:51 (UTC)] – Synced the content with the README of liveslak-1.3.7. alienbob
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 The "liveslak" scripts can generate a variety of Slackware flavors: The "liveslak" scripts can generate a variety of Slackware flavors:
-  - a complete 64bit Slackware-current Live Edition (in a 3.GB ISO);+  - a complete 64bit Slackware-current Live Edition (in a 4.GB ISO);
   - a slimmed-down XFCE ISO (700 MB) with XDM as the graphical login manager.  It fits on a CDROM medium or a 1 GB USB stick;   - a slimmed-down XFCE ISO (700 MB) with XDM as the graphical login manager.  It fits on a CDROM medium or a 1 GB USB stick;
-  -  a ISO image (4.GB) of Slackware64-current containing Plasma 5 instead of KDE 4, with an addition of several other packages from the alienBOB repositories: vlc, libreoffice, calibre, qbittorrent, ffmpeg, chromium, openjdkveracrypt+  - a ISO image (4.GB) of Slackware64-current containing Plasma 5 instead of KDE 4
-  - a Mate variant (2.2 GB) where KDE 4 has been replaced by Mate (a Gnome 2 fork);+  - a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) based on a custom Slackware package set plus Plasma5containing a rich software collection for musiciansproducers and live performance artists
 +  - a Mate variant (3.2 GB) where KDE 4 has been replaced by Mate (a Gnome 2 fork);
   - a Cinnamon flavour (a fork of the Gnome 3 Shell replacing Slackware's KDE 4).   - a Cinnamon flavour (a fork of the Gnome 3 Shell replacing Slackware's KDE 4).
   - a [[https://github.com/Dlackware/dlackware|Dlackware]] variant, which is Gnome3 + PAM + systemd on top of Slackware and stripped of KDE4.   - a [[https://github.com/Dlackware/dlackware|Dlackware]] variant, which is Gnome3 + PAM + systemd on top of Slackware and stripped of KDE4.
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 Common download locations are: Common download locations are:
-  * Primary site: http://slackware.nl/mirrors/slackware-live/ (%%rsync://slackware.nl/mirrors/slackware-live/%%)+  * Primary site: http://slackware.nl/slackware-live/ (%%rsync://slackware.nl/mirrors/slackware-live/%%) 
 +  * DAW site: https://martin.alienbase.nl/mirrors/slackware-live/pilot/ (%%rsync://martin.alienbase.nl/mirrors/slackware-live/pilot/%%)
   * Darren's http://slackware.uk/people/alien-slacklive/ (%%rsync://slackware.uk/people/alien-slacklive/%%)   * Darren's http://slackware.uk/people/alien-slacklive/ (%%rsync://slackware.uk/people/alien-slacklive/%%)
   * Willy's http://repo.ukdw.ac.id/slackware-live/   * Willy's http://repo.ukdw.ac.id/slackware-live/
-  * Ryan's https://seattleslack.ryanpcmcquen.org/mirrors/slackware-live/ 
   * Shasta's http://ftp.slackware.pl/pub/slackware-live/ (%%rsync://ftp.slackware.pl/slackware-live/%%)   * Shasta's http://ftp.slackware.pl/pub/slackware-live/ (%%rsync://ftp.slackware.pl/slackware-live/%%)
  
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   -c|--crypt size|perc       Add a LUKS encrypted /home ; parameter is the   -c|--crypt size|perc       Add a LUKS encrypted /home ; parameter is the
                              requested size of the container in kB, MB, GB,                              requested size of the container in kB, MB, GB,
-                             or as a percentage of free space. +                             or as a percentage of free space 
-                             Examples: '-c 125M', '-c 1.3G', '-c 20%'.+                             (integer numbers only)
 +                             Examples: '-c 125M', '-c 2G', '-c 20%'.
   -d|--devices               List removable devices on this computer.   -d|--devices               List removable devices on this computer.
   -f|--force                 Ignore most warnings (except the back-out).   -f|--force                 Ignore most warnings (except the back-out).
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                              Use a LUKS-encrypted 'persistence' file instead                              Use a LUKS-encrypted 'persistence' file instead
                              of a directory (for use on FAT filesystem).                              of a directory (for use on FAT filesystem).
 +                             Format for size/percentage is the same
 +                             as for the '-c' parameter.
   -P|--persistfile           Use an unencrypted 'persistence' file instead   -P|--persistfile           Use an unencrypted 'persistence' file instead
                              of a directory (for use on FAT filesystem).                              of a directory (for use on FAT filesystem).
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 You might have noticed that the "-P" parameter does not accept a size parameter.  This is because the unencrypted container file is created as a 'sparse' file that starts at zero size and is allowed to grow dynmically to a maximum of 90% of the initial free space on the Linux partition of the USB stick. You might have noticed that the "-P" parameter does not accept a size parameter.  This is because the unencrypted container file is created as a 'sparse' file that starts at zero size and is allowed to grow dynmically to a maximum of 90% of the initial free space on the Linux partition of the USB stick.
 +
 +
 +==== Using the Live OS to install Slackware to hard disk ====
 +
 +All variants of Slackware Live Edition contain a script "setup2hd", a tweaked version of the regular Slackware setup program.
 +The "setup2hd" script supports regular Slackware network installations. In addition it allows you to install the Slackware release on which the Live OS is based, to the computer's local hard disk - with the exception of the XFCE variant which does not contain the required huge kernel.  You must boot the Live OS first, and then start ''setup2hd'' either in an X Terminal in your graphical Desktop Environment (aka Runlevel 4), or from the console in Runlevel 3.  The fact that you can start "setup2hd" from a graphical terminal means that during installation, you can continue browsing, listening to music, watching video, reading an e-book or whatever else makes you pass the time.
 +
  
 ==== Updating the kernel (and more) on a USB stick ==== ==== Updating the kernel (and more) on a USB stick ====
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     # ./upslak.sh -d     # ./upslak.sh -d
   * Updating kernel and modules, providing two packages as input and assuming the USB stick is known as /dev/sdX:   * Updating kernel and modules, providing two packages as input and assuming the USB stick is known as /dev/sdX:
-    # ./upslak.sh -o /dev/sdX -m kernel-modules-4.9.50-x86_64-1.txz -k kernel-generic-4.9.50-x86_64-1.txz+    # ./upslak.sh -o /dev/sdX -m kernel-modules-4.19.0-x86_64-1.txz -k kernel-generic-4.19.0-x86_64-1.txz
   * Restore the previous kernel and modules after a failed update, and let the script scan your computer for the insertion of your USB stick:   * Restore the previous kernel and modules after a failed update, and let the script scan your computer for the insertion of your USB stick:
     # ./upslak.sh -s -r     # ./upslak.sh -s -r
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 === Media tweaks === === Media tweaks ===
 +
 +cfg=[skip|write] =>
 +  Specify 'skip' to skip disk-based configuration file containing
 +  OS parameters; or specify 'write' to write current OS parameters
 +  to disk.
 +
 +domain=your_custom_domain =>
 +  Specify a custom domain name.  Defaults to 'example.net'.
  
 hostname=your_custom_hostname[,qualifier] => hostname=your_custom_hostname[,qualifier] =>
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 toram => toram =>
-  copy the OS from the media to to RAM before running it.+  Copy the OS from the media to to RAM before running it.
   You can remove the boot media after booting.   You can remove the boot media after booting.
 +
 +toram=all =>
 +  Prevent writes to disk since we are supposed to run from RAM;
 +  equivalent to parameter "toram".
 +
 +toram=os =>
 +  Load OS modules into RAM, but write persistent data to USB.
  
 === Troubleshooting === === Troubleshooting ===
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   * The script reads a package sequence for the Live variant and installs all packages in this sequence to subdirectories of a temporary directory tree.   * The script reads a package sequence for the Live variant and installs all packages in this sequence to subdirectories of a temporary directory tree.
-  * Every Slackware package set (a, ap, d, ... , y) or package list (min, xbase, xapbase, ...) is installed into a separate 'root' directory.+  * Every Slackware package set (a, ap, d, ... , y) or package list (min, noxbase, x_base, xapbase, ...) is installed into a separate 'root' directory.
   * Each of those root directories is "squashed" (using squashfs) into a separate squashfs module.  Such a module is a single archive file containing the compressed directory structure of the installed packages.   * Each of those root directories is "squashed" (using squashfs) into a separate squashfs module.  Such a module is a single archive file containing the compressed directory structure of the installed packages.
   * These module files are subsequently loop-mounted and then combined together into a single read-only directory structure using an "overlay mount" The overlayfs is relatively new; earlier Live distros have been using aufs and unionfs to achieve similar functionality, but those were not part of any stock kernel source and therefore custom kernels had to be compiled for such a Live distro.   * These module files are subsequently loop-mounted and then combined together into a single read-only directory structure using an "overlay mount" The overlayfs is relatively new; earlier Live distros have been using aufs and unionfs to achieve similar functionality, but those were not part of any stock kernel source and therefore custom kernels had to be compiled for such a Live distro.
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     * the desktop environment is pre-configured for first use,     * the desktop environment is pre-configured for first use,
     * the liveslak scripts "makemod", "iso2usb.sh" and "upslak.sh" are copied to "/usr/local/sbin/" in the ISO for your convenience,     * the liveslak scripts "makemod", "iso2usb.sh" and "upslak.sh" are copied to "/usr/local/sbin/" in the ISO for your convenience,
-    * if the Live system contains a huge kernel (all ISO variants except XFCE) then the "setup2hd" script and the Slackware installer files are copied to "/usr/local/sbin" and "/usr/share/liveslak" respectively,+    * the "setup2hd" script and the Slackware installer files are copied to "/usr/local/sbin" and "/usr/share/liveslak" respectively.
     * slackpkg is configured,     * slackpkg is configured,
     * a locate database is created,     * a locate database is created,
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 This section explains how the script modifies the ISO for the enhanced USB functionality. This section explains how the script modifies the ISO for the enhanced USB functionality.
 +
 +== Layout of the USB stick ==
 +
 +The "iso2usb.sh" script wipes and re-partitions the USB stick unless the "-r" or //refresh// parameter is used.  See section "[[#transfering_iso_content_to_usb_stick|Transfering ISO content to USB stick]]" for an explanation of all commandline switches. \\ The script will create 3 partitions:
 +
 +  * First partition: a small (1 MB in size) FAT partition which  is not used for Slackware Live Edition.  It can be used by an alternative bootloader if needed.  You can also store your LUKS keyfile on it to unlock a LUKS-encrypted Slackware Linux computer (see the [[http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/slackware/slackware64-current/README_CRYPT.TXT|README_CRYPT.TXT]] file on your Slackware DVD for more information on LUKS keyfiles).
 +  * Second partition: a 100 MB VFAT partition containing the kernel, initrd and all the other stuff required by syslinux and grub2 to boot Slackware Live Edition.
 +  * Third partition: a Linux partition taking up all of the remaining space. It contains the actual liveslak modules, the persistent live storage and optionally your encrypted homedirectory. You can use the remainder of this Linux //ext4// filesystem's free space to store anything you like.
 +
 +Note that this script is the only supported method of transfering the liveslak ISO content to a USB stick and make that USB stick into a persistent live OS.  Several 3rd party tools (like multibootusb, rufus, unetbootin) that claim to be able to mix several Live OS'es on a single USB stick and make them all work in a multi-boot setup, are not currently supporting liveslak.
  
 == Mounting a filesystem in an encrypted container == == Mounting a filesystem in an encrypted container ==
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 The fourth script: The fourth script:
  
-The "setup2hd" script enables you to install the running Live OS to the computer's local hard disk.  The "setup2hd" is a modified Slackware installer, so you will be comfortable with the process.  There is no 'SOURCE' selection because the script knows where to find the squashfs modules.  After you select the target partition(s), every active module of the Live OS variant (SLACKWARE, PLASMA5, MATE, ...) is extracted to the hard drive.  After extraction has completed, the script summarizes how many modules have been extracted.  It will also show an example command to extract any remaining inactive or disabled modules manually.  The final step in the installation is again the stock Slackware installer which kicks off the Slackware configuration scripts.+The "setup2hd" script is a modified Slackware installer, so you will be comfortable with the process.  The 'SOURCE' section offers two types of choices:  a regular Slackware network installation using a NFS, HTTP, FTP or Samba server, as well as a choice of installing the Live OS which you are running. The script knows where to find the squashfs modules, so the "Install Live OS" selection will not prompt further inputs. 
 +  * The Slackware network installation is identical to that of the official Slackware installation medium. 
 +  * If you chose to install the Live OS, then after you select the target partition(s), every active module of the Live OS variant (SLACKWARE, PLASMA5, MATE, ...) is extracted to the hard drive.  After extraction has completed, the script summarizes how many modules have been extracted.  It will also show an example command to extract any remaining inactive or disabled modules manually.  The final step in the installation is again the stock Slackware installer which kicks off the Slackware configuration scripts.
  
  
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   * README.txt - this documentation.   * README.txt - this documentation.
   * addons/ - squashfs modules placed in this directory will be loaded into the Live filesystem when the OS boots.   * addons/ - squashfs modules placed in this directory will be loaded into the Live filesystem when the OS boots.
 +  * contrib/ - contributed scripts that are not used directly for the creation and usage of a Live ISO.
   * graphics/ - squashfs modules for proprietary GPU support (Nvidia) can be placed here. The module(s) will be copied to addons/ by the "make_slackware_live.sh" script for any Live Desktop Environment (except pure Slackware) that might profit from proprietary driver support.   * graphics/ - squashfs modules for proprietary GPU support (Nvidia) can be placed here. The module(s) will be copied to addons/ by the "make_slackware_live.sh" script for any Live Desktop Environment (except pure Slackware) that might profit from proprietary driver support.
   * local64/ , local/ - these directories can contain Slackware packages considered 'local' i.e. not belonging to any repository.  The package(s) will be converted to squashfs module(s) by the "make_slackware_live.sh" script, copied to the "addons/" subdirectory in the ISO and loaded into the Live filesystem when the OS boots.   * local64/ , local/ - these directories can contain Slackware packages considered 'local' i.e. not belonging to any repository.  The package(s) will be converted to squashfs module(s) by the "make_slackware_live.sh" script, copied to the "addons/" subdirectory in the ISO and loaded into the Live filesystem when the OS boots.
 +  * media/ - scripts and images that are specific to a Live variant.
   * optional/ - squashfs modules placed in this directory will not automatically be loaded into the Live filesystem when the OS boots.  You need to pass "load=[mod]" boot parameter to load any of these.   * optional/ - squashfs modules placed in this directory will not automatically be loaded into the Live filesystem when the OS boots.  You need to pass "load=[mod]" boot parameter to load any of these.
 +  * patches/ - patches for Slackware scripts that need modifications to run inside a Live OS.
   * pkglists/ - definition files of 3rd party repositories (*.conf) and the package lists to be used from those repositories (*.lst) must be placed in this directory.   * pkglists/ - definition files of 3rd party repositories (*.conf) and the package lists to be used from those repositories (*.lst) must be placed in this directory.
 +  * setup2hd/ - script templates used by the ''setup2hd'' disk installer.
   * skel/ - contains compressed tarballs (whose filenames must match wildcard "skel*.txz"). These files will be extracted to the "/etc/skel" directory in the Live filesystem.   * skel/ - contains compressed tarballs (whose filenames must match wildcard "skel*.txz"). These files will be extracted to the "/etc/skel" directory in the Live filesystem.
   * syslinux/  - contains the skeleton for boot support on BIOS computers.  Some of its files are dynamically generated by the "make_slackware_live.sh" script.   * syslinux/  - contains the skeleton for boot support on BIOS computers.  Some of its files are dynamically generated by the "make_slackware_live.sh" script.
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   * pxeserver.tpl - template to generate the script that starts a PXE server allowing other computers to boot Slackware Live over the network.   * pxeserver.tpl - template to generate the script that starts a PXE server allowing other computers to boot Slackware Live over the network.
   * setup2hd.tpl  - template to generate the script you use to install your Slackware Live to a harddisk.   * setup2hd.tpl  - template to generate the script you use to install your Slackware Live to a harddisk.
-  * setup2hd.local - here a developer of a custom Live OS can override the default post-installation routine by (re-)defining the function "live_post_install()" in the ''setup2hd'' script.+  * setup2hd.local.tpl - here a developer of a custom Live OS can override the default post-installation routine by (re-)defining the function "live_post_install()" in the ''setup2hd'' script
 +  * upslak.sh - a script which allows you to tweak the content of a USB Live stick.
  
  
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  -a arch            Machine architecture (default: x86_64).  -a arch            Machine architecture (default: x86_64).
                     Use i586 for a 32bit ISO, x86_64 for 64bit.                     Use i586 for a 32bit ISO, x86_64 for 64bit.
 + -c comp            Squashfs compression (default: xz).
 +                    Can be any of 'gzip lzma lzo xz zstd'.
  -d desktoptype     SLACKWARE (full Slack), KDE4 (basic KDE4),  -d desktoptype     SLACKWARE (full Slack), KDE4 (basic KDE4),
                     XFCE (basic XFCE), PLASMA5 (KDE Plasma5 replaces KDE4),                     XFCE (basic XFCE), PLASMA5 (KDE Plasma5 replaces KDE4),
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  -f                 Forced re-generation of all squashfs modules,  -f                 Forced re-generation of all squashfs modules,
                     custom configurations and new initrd.img.                     custom configurations and new initrd.img.
 + -l <localization>  Enable a different default localization
 +                    (script-default is 'us').
  -m pkglst[,pkglst] Add modules defined by pkglists/<pkglst>,...  -m pkglst[,pkglst] Add modules defined by pkglists/<pkglst>,...
  -r series[,series] Refresh only one or a few package series.  -r series[,series] Refresh only one or a few package series.
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-==== Using the Customization Feature of the Live OS ====+==== Using the Customization Features of the Live OS ====
  
 +
 +=== Master configuration file ===
  
 You can create your own custom Live OS by changing its characteristics in the configuration file "''make_slackware_live.conf''". You can create your own custom Live OS by changing its characteristics in the configuration file "''make_slackware_live.conf''".
 Among the things you can change are: Among the things you can change are:
-  * The name of the Desktop variant (the script itself knows "//SLACKWARE//", "//PLASMA5//", "//XFCE//", "//MATE//", "//CINNAMON//", "//STUDIOWARE//" and  "//DLACK//"),+  * The name of the Desktop variant (the script itself knows "//SLACKWARE//", "//PLASMA5//", "//DAW//", "//XFCE//", "//MATE//", "//CINNAMON//", "//STUDIOWARE//" and  "//DLACK//"),
   * The list(s) of packages used for your custom distribution,   * The list(s) of packages used for your custom distribution,
   * The name of the useraccount (by default that is "//live//"),   * The name of the useraccount (by default that is "//live//"),
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 # and "pkglists/cinelerra.lst" defining the package location and package list # and "pkglists/cinelerra.lst" defining the package location and package list
 # respectively): # respectively):
-#SEQ_CUSTOM="min,xbase,xapbase,xfcebase,cinelerra"+#SEQ_CUSTOM="min,noxbase,x_base,xapbase,xfcebase,cinelerra"
  
 # OPTIONAL: # OPTIONAL:
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 #} #}
 </code> </code>
 +
 +=== Custom background images ===
 +
 +The Plasma5 based Live variants allow customization of the background image used for the login greeter, the desktop wallpaper and the lock screen. The image you want to use for this purpose, must have a 16:9 aspect ratio and its dimensions should at least be 1920x1080 pixels. You  must store the custom image inside the liveslak source tree: in the subdirectory ''./media/<variant>/bg/'' where "<variant>" is the lower-case name of the Live variant (variant 'PLASMA5' equals directory 'plasma5', 'DAW' becomes 'daw', etc).
 +
 +The "make_slackware_live.sh" script will look there for a file named either "background.jpg" or "background.png". If you want, that file can be a symlink to the actual bitmap file. The image will be converted into a set of wallpaper images of different aspect ratios and sizes. The different aspect ratios like 16:9, 16:10 and 4:3 will be achieved by cropping the images if needed, to avoid distortion. The image set will be installed as a Plasma5 wallpaper called "Slackware Live", and configured to be the default Live OS background.
 +
 +
 ==== Internals of Slackware Live Edition ==== ==== Internals of Slackware Live Edition ====
  
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     0000 = contains the Slackware /boot directory     0000 = contains the Slackware /boot directory
     0010-0019 = packages installed from a Slackware tagfile (a,ap,d, ... , y series)     0010-0019 = packages installed from a Slackware tagfile (a,ap,d, ... , y series)
-    0020-0029 = packages installed from a package list as found in the ./pkglists subdirectory of the liveslak sources (min, xbase, xapbase, xfcebase etc)+    0020-0029 = packages installed from a package list as found in the ./pkglists subdirectory of the liveslak sources (min, noxbase, x_base, xapbase, xfcebase etc)
     0030-0039 = a 'local' package, i.e. a package found in subdirectory ./local or ./local64 (depending on architecture)     0030-0039 = a 'local' package, i.e. a package found in subdirectory ./local or ./local64 (depending on architecture)
     0099 = liveslak configuration module (contaning all the customizations that change the installed packages into a usable Live OS) </code>     0099 = liveslak configuration module (contaning all the customizations that change the installed packages into a usable Live OS) </code>
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 Website: http://slackex.exton.net/ Website: http://slackex.exton.net/
  
-A website offering Live versions based on many regular Linux distributions.  The SlackEX version is loosely based on Slackware with a custom kernel and some tools that are not part of Slackware itself.  I was unable to find the sources for this live distro.+A website offering Live versions based on many regular Linux distributions.  The SlackEX version is loosely based on Slackware with a custom kernel and some tools that are not part of Slackware itself.  I was unable to find the sources for this live distro. Its creator stopped SlackEX development in December 2017.
  
  
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 ====== Sources ====== ====== Sources ======
 <!-- If you copy information from another source, then specify that source --> <!-- If you copy information from another source, then specify that source -->
-  * Original source: [[http://bear.alienbase.nl/cgit/liveslak/tree/README.txt]]+  * Original source: [[https://git.slackware.nl/liveslak/tree/README.txt]] 
 +  * Project landing page: [[https://alien.slackbook.org/blog/slackware-live-edition/]]
 <!-- Authors are allowed to give credit to themselves! --> <!-- Authors are allowed to give credit to themselves! -->
   * Originally written by [[wiki:user:alienbob | Eric Hameleers]]   * Originally written by [[wiki:user:alienbob | Eric Hameleers]]
-<!-- * Contrbutions by [[wiki:user:yyy | User Y]] -->+<!-- * Contributions by [[wiki:user:yyy | User Y]] -->
  
 <!-- Please do not modify anything below, except adding new tags.--> <!-- Please do not modify anything below, except adding new tags.-->
 <!-- You must also remove the tag-word "template" below. Otherwise your page will not show up in the Table of Contents --> <!-- You must also remove the tag-word "template" below. Otherwise your page will not show up in the Table of Contents -->
 {{tag>slackware live author_alienbob}} {{tag>slackware live author_alienbob}}
 slackware:liveslak ()