Slackware GUI Install

[soulestream]

I have been using Redhat products for the last few years and have really enjoyed them, but i'm about to start a new job which has a unix server. from everything i have read, slack is the closest thing to unix(solaris in my case). so in an attempt not to confuse myself to much, im gonna try slack for a while. im downloading it now, and i just read the install which seems easy, but is there a graphic install like with redhat or suse?


soule

[Arjay]

Probably not as graphical as what you are used to, basically it is just a coloured screen with text. When asked a question you just answer it by choosing one of the multiple choice answers, can't go far wrong really.

If you have to set up your partitions before you install you will need to use fdisk or cfdisk. After that you will get a menu system during the install.

I've only used Mandrake before so i'm not sure what RedHat and Suse are like.

Cheers

[JohnT]

IMHO it better than any so-called GUI installation. Hint:Use cfdisk to set up your partitions. It comes with your Slack installation and is available upon boot.

[serz]

Slackaware's install is really user-friendly... I'm sure you won't have any problems.

Agreed with JohnT, use cfdisk as it is much easier than fdisk.

Just in case, the Installation Help (http://www.slackware.com/install/) and the Slackware Guide (http://www.slackware.com/book/).

[CoffeeMan]

Slack boots as a livecd, first cfdisk (or fdisk), then type setup to go to the install screen, it is very similar to FreeBSD's installer, if you have used that.

[bosox79]

like everyone else has said the slack installer is very user friendly, but there are distro's based on slackware that may make the install processes a little easier. have a look at vector Linux http://www.vectorlinux.com/ or head over to http://distrowatch.com/ and have a look at the other slack based distro's there

HTH

Bosox

[psi42]

The slack installer simply rocks. It is of course not perfect, but it is quite good at what it does.

IMHO, just for the heck of it, here are some little changes I would think would make it better....

* Have an option to use DHCP for the NFS installation
* Have a "start over from the beginning" option :)

~psi42

[dboyer]

Originally posted by psi42

* Have a "start over from the beginning" option :)

There is.

Its a small button on the front of most common PC systems now-a-days...

Slack is easy to install once you've done it a couple times. Its "graphical" enough. I don't miss anything installer-wise from my redhat days

[aNoob]

I preffer fdisk. Don't know why.

[JohnT]

Originally posted by aNoob
I preffer fdisk. Don't know why.
That makes two of us.:p

[rbrimhall]

3 of us... I don't think I've ever even used cfdisk

[ph34r]

Make that 4 for fdisk.

But... if you are wanting something similar to Solaris, why not download Solaris itself for x86?

http://wwws.sun.com/software/solaris/binaries/get.html

[JohnT]

Originally posted by lupin_the_3rd
3 of us... I don't think I've ever even used cfdisk No...I meant that "that makes two of us , that don't know why?". I use cfdisk......I've had enough of fdisk with windows. ;)

[rbrimhall]

Well, you should be more specific JohnT;) ... but I don't know why they prefer fdisk either so technically the 3 of us still works...

[JohnT]

Originally posted by lupin_the_3rd
Well, you should be more specific JohnT;) ... but I don't know why they prefer fdisk either so technically the 3 of us still works...
I apologize profusely. I just lost my mind there for a split-second and forgot where I was. I'll honestly try to be even more vague in the future :D

[rbrimhall]

I'm holding you to that... set those vagueness limits to "off the charts":)

[ZenelithCalling]

Ok,
I've been convinced to try Slackware (all credit to JohnT). I've picked up a a p3 500Mhz box with a 13g hd and a 20g hd. I'm planning on using this box as a play server. Should I put /home on the 20g or should I just let /var have to 20g all to itself?

[JohnT]

Originally posted by ZenelithCalling
Ok,
I've been convinced to try Slackware (all credit to JohnT). I've picked up a a p3 500Mhz box with a 13g hd and a 20g hd. I'm planning on using this box as a play server. Should I put /home on the 20g or should I just let /var have to 20g all to itself?
So...I'm set-up to take the fall again. :D
Sounds like a nice set-up you've found. Depending on usage, which is different for everyone, I might just put everything on the 20 and use the 13 for storage and back-ups, or visa/versa.
I always like to make sure my /root and /home are on a good drive and make them separate partitions that never get formatted. That way my personal settings are there on a fresh install.

[ZenelithCalling]

Originally posted by JohnT
So...I'm set-up to take the fall again. :D
Sounds like a nice set-up you've found. Depending on usage, which is different for everyone, I might just put everything on the 20 and use the 13 for storage and back-ups, or visa/versa.
I always like to make sure my /root and /home are on a good drive and make them separate partitions that never get formatted. That way my personal settings are there on a fresh install. I would never blame you JohnT, ;) Not when I can blame others, lol.

[JohnT]

:D

[psi42]

hehe.... i just couldn't resist posting this:

From the fdisk manpage

BUGS
There are several *fdisk programs around. Each has its
problems and strengths. Try them in the order cfdisk,
fdisk, sfdisk. (Indeed, cfdisk is a beautiful program
that has strict requirements on the partition tables it
accepts, and produces high quality partition tables. Use
it if you can. fdisk is a buggy program that does fuzzy
things - usually it happens to produce reasonable results.
Its single advantage is that it has some support for BSD
disk labels and other non-DOS partition tables. Avoid it
if you can. sfdisk is for hackers only - the user inter_
face is terrible, but it is more correct than fdisk and
more powerful than both fdisk and cfdisk. Moreover, it
can be used noninteractively.)



:):D

~psi42

[bosox79]

your right psi42 that is pretty funny :D