Ideas for running Slackware

This is a little bit different type of post. Not really looking for assistance, per se, nor is this a guide.

I assume most everyone reading this forum runs Slackware. A question that might come up is, "What cool stuff can I do with Slackware?" Here's a list of some things (some I have done, some I haven't) that can make for a pretty cool setup.

Comment on these. Add new ideas. Flesh out the ideas that are presented (make them newbie friendly).

Hopefully with these ideas (and the ones that others are sure to add), anyone can have a "Super Slackware System"

Ideas

Lose un-needed packages (?)
Install custom kernel (2.6.x)
Install NVidia driver (or whatever you need)
Con Kolivas patch (?)
Set up caching-name-server
Set up NTP daemon (use daemon, not cron job)
Generate certificates (for use with Sendmail/Apache)
Set up Sendmail properly
Set up SAMBA
Set up Apache
Set up LDAP server (believe it needs to be installed first)
Install MPlayer (and all the codecs)
reset RTC (recommended by mplayer)
	/usr/bin/echo 1024 > /proc/sys/dev/rtc/max-user-freq
Install Dropline Gnome (gets me Gnome, PAM, hal, and dbus)
Install ddclient (or any program to track dynamic IP address changes)
Set up howl/mdns/whatever to work
Install Jinzora (?)
Install Squirrelmail (?)
Tweak ProDVD to ALWAYS work (key wrapper + permissions.  See website.)
Set up firewall
Install HylaFAX (?)
Install Asterix (?)
Tweak udev rules for optical devices (and iPod, while I'm at it)
	Add file /etc/udev/rules.d/local.rules
		# Optical Devices
		# Added by Shilo 09/12/2004
		#BUS="ide", KERNEL="hdc", NAME="%k", SYMLINK="dvd dvdrw cdroms/dvdrw cdroms/cdrom0", MODE="0660", GROUP="cdrom"
		#BUS="ide", KERNEL="hdd", NAME="%k", SYMLINK="cdrom dvdrom cdroms/dvdrom cdroms/cdrom1", MODE="0660", GROUP="cdrom"
		KERNEL="hdc", SYMLINK="dvd dvdrw cdroms/dvdrw cdroms/cdrom0"
		KERNEL="hdd", SYMLINK="cdrom dvdrom cdroms/dvdrom cdroms/cdrom1"

		# Windows formatted iPod mini support
		BUS="scsi", SYSFS{model}="iPod            ", KERNEL="sd?2", NAME="ipod", SYMLINK="%k", MODE="0777", GROUP="ipod"
	Edit out the optical device settings in /etc/udev/scripts/make_extra_nodes.sh
Number-lock tweak
	# Set console number lock on at boot.  Added by Shilo 7/11/2004
	for tty in /dev/tty[2-6]; do
	/usr/bin/setleds -D +num < $tty
	done
	#
edit /etc/hosts to get rid of some ads
Set up ALSA (the usual, plus dmix, etc.  Use /etc/asound.conf, /etc/modprobe.conf)
Set up IPv6 (?)
Use cron.daily and rsync to keep mirror of -current locally
Enable graphical lilo (no bootsplash required)
Disable system bell
Change to runlevel 4
Set up CUPS
Configure X (use ALL the autoconfiguration tools, compare results, manually edit config, remember new video drivers)
Configure lilo with "compact" and "quiet"

Run a distcc daemon at boot.
Install logitech_applet.
Create some ram folder: mount -t tmpfs -o size=810M,mode=777 tmpfs /mnt/ram/
Install submount.
Put alsactl restore in /etc/rc.d/rc.local
Add some graphics at lilo splash.
Deny all in /etc/hosts.deny
Create a pre-shared samba folder (why not /home/ftp ?).
INTENSIVE use of /etc/skel
Bind window$ keys with xbindkeys (left one to a terminal, and print screen to ksnapshot).
Tweak xinit.rc's.
Put a small video and a small mp3 in /home/ftp for testing purposes.
Put monafonts in /usr/local/share/fonts, in order to have japanese, chinese and many other fonts.
The KDE applet to mount .iso, .ccd and .bin/.cue is far from perfect, but it can do it.
Put 7za in /usr/bin
Some xmms skins in /usr/share/xmms/Skins
Numlockx, of course.
Etherwake is useful too.
Alltray can clear the workspace.
Ndiswrapper.
Bluetooth, bluez stuff.
Adobe reader.
Set up vsftpd.
Install timidity in order to listen midi music.
Install vnc.
Install rar and unrar.
Foobillard is a MUST.
Dillo is a light browser fine for pentium-1 class PC's.
RipperX since grip requires gnome.
For a gaming machine, enemy territory and the mod named true combat (free games(as in beer)).
Twinkle + zrtp for true SIP VOIP.
Open VPN.
TOS rulez in /etc/rc.d/rc.firewall:
iptables -A PREROUTING -t mangle -p tcp --dport ftp -j TOS --set-tos Minimize-Delay
iptables -A PREROUTING -t mangle -p tcp --sport ftp-data -j TOS --set-tos Maximize-Throughput
etc...

i noticed nobody had this on the list.. its the only one i could think of:

traffic shaping

if you use your slackware box at home as a NAT router for several computers, and have a low upload bandwidth cap (like most cable ISPs impose) then this is useful. it will prioritise your outgoing traffic into rule sets, which ensures the more important data gets uploaded in preference to other data. for example, the simple ACK/SYN packets part of TCP/IP communication can be given 1st preference, over something like bittorrent traffic. this ensures that the quality of your internet is maintained.

Love the unrar idea. Can't believe I forgot that.

Also forgot:

ClamAV
SpamAssasin

Get Slack to work as a fully qualified member workstation in a w2k3 ADS (Not hard, not easy - I've done this)

The idea of making Slackware a workstation in a w2k3 ADS makes me sick!

A kernel with support for a speedtouch usb modem, mainly because its so common as the free modem for new adsl connections in the UK. A couple of scripts to run with the firmware that would have to be downloaded before hand.

A mud client.

An option to install a very limited install with the option of adding kdrive and matchbox for X.

Just some things i would like

WINS Server (yes, I'm demented)
Folding at Home
Learn how to compile a kernel that works. (okay, so I'm a demented n00b )

for my server(headless)

do a base install
setup samba
setup cups/ipp
mount my shares
cron jobs for backup
tweak bash
webmin (swat/cups) for remote admin

setup serial conection to my test routers

for my desktop

install
build new kernel
install dropline gnome
setup tvtime
setup mplayer
setup azureus
mount external drives
setup ipp printing
program mulitmedia keys on keyboard
cron jobs for backup
tweak bash
start irssi

i dont really use my desktop much anymore other than for downloading and multimedia (got a laptop)

nothing fancy but it works well for me

soule

setup Xterminals of your main desktop
automount for the rest of my family
TiMidity server interface
Lilypond
Denemo
Vim!

Originally posted by Linux.tar.gz The idea of making Slackware a workstation in a w2k3 ADS makes me sick!

Makes me sick too.... but I gotta live in the real world.

Believe me, I would like nothing better that to dump ADS, and put up a Samba solution. I use linux wherever possible here at work, but the boss-man is married to Microsoft.

I'm conducting a "silent invasion" with "baby steps".

my post is going to be kind of a joke, but here it is anyway.

you could use your slackware box to burn copies of all those AOL cd's you get in the mail. Then you would have as many coasters as you need.

Originally posted by chrisortiz my post is going to be kind of a joke, but here it is anyway. you could use your slackware box to burn copies of all those AOL cd's you get in the mail. Then you would have as many coasters as you need.

"If you are intelligent enough to get Linux running on your computer,
why in the name of all that's holy would you want to use AOL?"
-- Cliff Robertson's reaction to AOL's offering for the Linux platform.

For a Super Slackware System it would be nice to also get things working as user and spend some time on security matters.

My experience is that once everything works in Slack as root, you have to decide for yourself how to bring it to your users (security?), this can be quite tricky. It would also be nice to have a guide on how to make/keep slack secure (updating patches, host.allow & deny, firewall(?), virus scan(?) etc...)

I recently had some fun making a media box using Slackware. It was a mini sized computer, and I set it up to be headless. Basically it logs in automatically on boot up, starts X then xmms, then a media control program that passes mouse clicks / scroll wheeling to cxmms-curses. Pretty neat to be able to shift songs, control the volume, stop and play with just a mouse. The media box now sits by my bed and I use it either with headphones or old cheap speakers. Pretty neat stuff.