SlackwareThis Forum is for the discussion of Slackware Linux.
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Distribution: Slackware, no more RH or Mandrake for me
Posts: 122
Original Poster
Rep:
I'm about to make the switch from Red Hat now Fedora Core and I'm looking at Slackware and Debian. Have you used Debian? I'm up in the air as to which to go with. Although I am kind of scared to do this since it really doesn't have a gui type installer like mandrake or Red Hat. Is Slack easy to install, are the instructions when installing easy to follow and not misleading?
Distribution: Slackware, no more RH or Mandrake for me
Posts: 122
Original Poster
Rep:
I think I'm going with slackware then, thanks for pointing me in the right direction, now what disks should I download. Just the 2 main disks or should I download the source as well???
You'll really only need the first two disks for a complete Slackware installation, unless you plan to do development for Slackware.
Speaking of the Slackware installation, it's very easy. Probably the hardest thing to deal with is the partitioning with fdisk. If you're just doing a clean, non-dual-boot install, then fdisk-ing is very easy. If you have any trouble, I believe the Slackware website has some instructions.
Good luck, and welcome to the great world of Slackware!
Don't know much about Debian, but I used RH for years and went to Slackware with 8.1 to see what all the noise was about. Wasn't nothing like what I heard. Picked up my network on both desktop cable and laptop wireless. Working on first boot. Printer through cups (9.1) worked perfect. You will first login as root,use the kuser in the menu to add yourself.
I suggest you make a complete backup of your /etc and all subs. While Slack configured my Dell with Vesa graphic, it was a little (very) slow. I used the settings for the RH /etc/X11/XF86config and set my video back to ATI. No problem if you have any Linux understanding. If not, bunch of folks to help.
While I liked RH, lots of gui configuration tools or CLI, something about Slack just hooked me. You get more into the workings of Linux, which I already knew pretty well. By the 2nd/3rd install, it is easy as RH. I'm so impressed, I'm past the review stage and into the contribution stage.
Just go slow, go to the Slack forum and it will all come together.
Distribution: Slackware, no more RH or Mandrake for me
Posts: 122
Original Poster
Rep:
Thanks for all the great advice and help. I get the feeling that there is a much better support group for slack than RH judging by the quick responses I've gotten.
One more thing, cfdisk is pretty easy and if you installing on a existing Linux box, the setup will reconize your existing Linux partitions. All you need to do is format it (them) and follow the instructions where to install.
I had been using FreeBSD and Libranet, a Debian based package, for a while and decided to try Slack 9.1 after reading a couple reviews. I thought I'd try pure Debian as well. See where I ended up? In the Slack forum. Libranet is a great distro, and it handles all the hard parts of Debian for you. Trouble is it handled all of it so there wasn't much to do except use it. I got Debian loaded but I didn't know enough to keep plugging away to get it all set up. Slackware seems to be the perfect one for me. It loaded easily, but I did have to do some minor tweaking. What I'm trying to say is Slack got me up and running and also allows me the chance to tinker a little and learn alot more. Good luck on whatever path you choose.
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