[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.Plentyof Linux experiments have evolved in their first year to become mission-critical machinesserving many more users and purposes than originally intended.Slackware is one of themost widely used distributions of Linux.When it comes to finding the newest, easiest, ormost carefully planned distribution of Linux, Slackware may be none of the above .Somebackground on the life and times of Slackware put things into perspective.2.6.2 A quick history.In 1993, Soft Landing System created one of the first organized distributions of Linux.Although it was a great start, the SLS distribution had many shortcomings (it didn t exactlywork, for starters).Slackware, a godsend from Patrick Volkerding, solved most of theseissues, was mirrored via FTP and pressed onto CD-ROMs worldwide, and quickly becamethe most widely used flavor of Linux.For a while, Slackware was the only full featuredLinux solution. Other Linux distribution maintainers, both commercial and nonprofit,have gradually developed distributions that are also well worth your consideration.By January 1994, Slackware had achieved such widespread use that it earned a popularnotoriety normally reserved for rock stars and cult leaders.Gossip spread through theUsenet suggesting that the entire Slackware project was the work of witches and devil-worshippers! Linux, the free OS.except for your SOUL! MOUHAHAHAHA! From: cajho@uno.eduDate: 7 Jan 1994 15:48:07 GMTJokes alluding to RFC 666, demonic daemons, andspeculation that Pat Volkerding was actually L.RonHubbard in disguise were rampant in the threads thatfollowed.The whole amusing incident probably helpedSlackware gain some market share:I LOVE THIS!! Linux Slackware 89I was browsing here to figure which version of Linux toinstall, but after this, I think that I hve no choice butto install Slackware now.From: widsith@phantom.com (David Devejian)Date: 10 Jan 1994 04:57:41 GMTAll folklore and kidding aside, Slackware is a wise andpowerful choice for your adventures in Linux, whether youare a hobbyist, student, hacker, orsystem-administrator-in-the-making.2.6.3 Why, then?If you are a system administrator, you may already be dealing with one or more keyservers running Slackware.Unless you have time to experiment at work, sticking to thetried-and-true distribution may be the easiest way to go.If you expect to get help fromUNIX literate friends and colleagues, you had better make sure they re running somethingcompatible odds are they re running Slackware.Its shortcomings are widely acknowl-edged, for the most part discovered, documented, and patched whenever possible.You canput together a Slackware box, close the known security holes, and install some complemen-tary tools from the other Linux distributions to create an excellent UNIX server or desktopworkstation, all in about half a day.Have a look also at the Buyer s Guide published in the Linux Journal, which givesa thorough comparison and evaluation of each major distribution.For a straightforwardlisting of Linux flavors, have a look at the Linux Distribution HOWTO (see Appendix A).2.6.4 Upgrade? Think twice!24-Aug-95 NOTE: Trying to upgrade to ELF Slackware froma.out Slackware will undoubtedly cause you all kinds ofproblems.Don t do it.Patrick VolkerdingOne thing we don t hear too often with Slackware is the U-word.Slackware s setupprogram is designed to put a fresh operating system onto empty hard disks or empty diskpartitions.Installing on top of a previous Slackware installation can erase your custom ap-plications and cause compatibility problems between updated applications and older files 90 Obtaining and Installing Linuxon the same system.When Slackware was first put together, everyone was a first-timeLinux user, and the system was always experimental reinstalling the entire operating sys-tem and applications was the norm in a developmental system.Today, many institutionsand businesses run mission-critical applications on Slackware Linux.In such environment,a simple reboot is a planned activity and taking down the system and overwriting all theuser files or custom applications is absolutely unacceptable.Teaching you how to finagle a Slackware upgrade is beyond the scope of this chapter,but it is workable if you are an experienced UNIX administrator and you ve taken precau-tions to preserve your local modifications and user files.There is an Internet resource thatclaims to analyze your distribution and bring it up to date across the Internet.you mightwant to have a look at this URL if you re facing an upgrade situation:ftp://ftp.wsc.com/pub/freeware/linux/update.linux/Or read, weep, and learn from the upgrade expertise of Greg Louis in his mini HOWTOdocument: Upgrading Your Linux Distribution available where finer LDP publications aremirrored:http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/2.6.5 Select an installation method.Slackware can be installed from a variety of media and network sources to fit yourneeds and budget.Every installation method requires you to have at least three floppydiskettes available to get started.CD-ROM.Installation from CD-ROM is fast, popular, and convenient.Althoughsomeone has to break down and pay for the initial purchase of a CD-ROM, sharing CD s isencouraged.Because Linux and the Slackware distribution are copylefted, you may makeas many copies as you like.CD-ROM installation is also a bit better practice in terms ofnetiquette, since you re not hogging bandwidth for an all-day FTP transfer.Finally, youmay be grateful for the extra utilities and documentation that accompany the CD-ROM,especially if you run into installation hassles or need to add components in the future.Party! If you re a hobbyist (or want to watch a few dozen Slackware installs beforetaking on the task at work), see if there is a LUG (Linux User Group) in your area thatsponsors install parties.Imagine a roomful of generous and knowledgeable hackers unitingto share CD-ROMs and expertise with other enthusiasts. Linux Slackware 91FTP.Once you transfer Slackware from the closest possible FTP mirror, you ll stillneed to put the Slackware disk sets onto installation media such as a hard drive partitionor laboriously copy them onto 50-odd floppy diskettes.NFS.In a networked environment, it is possible to install Slackware on a shared filesystem and allow everyone on the Local net to attach to this shared location and install.If you have the technical know-how or a geeked out system administrator who is Linux-literate, this is a great way to go.The initial distribution of Slackware can be added to thenetwork via CD-ROM, FTP, Loading floppies, tape, or even via a remote NFS share acrossthe Internet! For details on such a remote share, see these URLs:http://sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk/sunsite/access/nfs.htmlftp://ftp.cdrom.com/pub/linux/slackware/MIRRORS.TXThttp://www.cs.us.es/archive/nfs.htmlFloppy.It s time consuming, but it works you can create the pile of floppies neededto install Slackware and then feed them into your box one-by-one when prompted.Slack-ware disk sets are actually designed and arranged to fit floppy diskettes.If you happento have a huge stack of recycled, high-density floppy diskettes at your disposal, this can bethe most economical way to go.Hard disk
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]