I searched the package list from Slackware's site and it seems (like I thought) there is 2.6 version of the kernel and Grub available. I'm in the impression that by default Slackware installs 2.4 kernel and uses lilo -- is this correct? I might be installing Slackware in the near future, so my question is: can I choose, during the setup, to install kernel 2.6 rather than 2.4 and use grub instead of lilo? I've found lilo a bit difficult to use as it tends to install every second time and after that I'm usually not able to alter it's config anymore, running "lilo" produces warnings and refuses to reinstall it.

The answer might be obvious, but because I'm not completely sure, I prefer asking. Zenwalk has proved great and if Slackware is indeed as good as it claims to be, we're going to be friends. As long as I don't have to install lilo and 2.4 kernel just to be able to update to 2.6 and switch to grub.

Also, as an additional question (not so important): what other means, if any, are there to install Slackware (in addition to the regular cd-install)? Is there a "base system" (hopefully with pppoe stuff) that one can install and then fetch the rest from the net, is network install/choosing the installation media from another source than cd-rom or something else possible?

Thank you very much for answers.

You can do the installation with a 2.6 kernel and install that kernel. The only complication is that you then have to install the lib-modules afterwards.

I found it worked better for me to to install the standard 2.4 kernel and then install the 2.6 kernel, modules and kernel-headers from the /extras directory on the installation cd. This is a simple matter of doing

installpkg whatever.tgz as root

As far a grub is concerned you pick up a grub**.tgz from http://www.linuxpackages.net, install th package by installpkg grub*.tgz, edit the file menu.lst and run grub-install hd0 to put it on the MBR of your first hard drive.

I don't see a problem in installing lilo when you do your initial installation and then installing grub.

That's odd...I find lilo the best out there...I hate all distro's that come out with grub only cause I hate grub
In my oppinion lilo is mouch more simple than grub...If u get errors it's because you do something wrong in the lilo.conf file...cheers

slackware is meant for advanced users,(you cant tweek into the installation, i know) there are choices for 2.6 kernels and grub, slack does give 2.4 and 2.6 kernels. it is a matter of fact to choose a kernel you need. like scsi sata etc. infact this time there is a full support of 2.6 kernels. i found that slackware installation is more "user friendly" than others,- u know what u r doing.

for lilo. dont install lilo. complete the setup, without lilo, install package grub from /extra do a grub install, for that you need to run "grubconfig" as u do for lilo, it iwll automatically install grub. chooose expert mode

in my webpage i had given, how to install packages without reboot. check the signature

do a minimal install, install "slackpkg" and keep uptodate with slack. slackpkg is in /extra, it will automatically download and install patches, standard slack packages

Well I used to be in that impression long ago, before I was introduced to grub. Back then lilo was "the only choise". Nowadays all I encounter with lilo is problems, so it's not an option for me anymore. If you consider the two, you should find Grub more simple since it doesn't need to be reinstalled every time something changes, it's configuration syntax is more clear (after you learn it, of course) and it's easier to work with shall there be a problem in booting a kernel (it has a small "built-in command environment"). Therefore I'll be using only Grub. And no, I didn't do any mistakes with my last Lilo configuration since first of all the installer created the configuration (asked questions like "which partitions do you wish to boot from" etc.) which I then checked before installing it and it was perfectly ok -- I should know after using it for so long. Installing lilo with the same configuration afterwards worked only occasionally -- but it did work sometimes, so it's not the configuration.

Thanks for the information, I read the part of your website describing the package installation. Actually I should have known this, as I've done that with another distribution a few times well, it didn't hurt to re-study that.

Wow, does the installer warn about this? Why doesn't it install lib-modules during the installation, then, if it's possible to install using 2.6 kernel? Sounds like a deathtrap for those who don't know about it

Well I've got a lot better picture about this now. When I'll get the hardware I'll try out the installation picking up a 2.6 kernel -- I'll also try installing grub, hopefully I'll remember to run grubconfig before rebooting (can't remember if I've ever used that before)..

If Slackware's installer is even close to what I imagine, it's going to be a good friend of mine. The problem in installers nowadays is often that you're forced to install something you don't want to (instead of something else) and in the worst case you'll have to reboot into that environment before it's possible to switch back. I really appreciate the possibility of picking up at least a kernel version and a bootloader of the user's choice. It would of course be extra if one could pick up one by one the packages that are to be installed, and the installer then could resolve dependencies and install them too, but not every distribution's installer offers this.

Thanks for help, everyone. I know there are lilo-oriented people that are mad at grub-oriented and vice versa, but don't take my words about lilo personal -- I used to love it too, and in certain places I'd pick it up rather than grub, maybe.

I find the need to reinstall lilo after making changes to be a bonus. If there is a problem you know it right then and not when you reboot and find that it won't boot. But to each his own, some prefer one, some prefer the other.

As mentioned, you can select a 2.6 kernel during install, just be aware that it won't install the kernel modules. You'll have to do that manually. You can opt to install lilo and change it to grub afterwards, or not install lilo and install grub manually.

The easiest way to do it is to install a 2.4 kernel and lilo, then make your changes after the system is installed.

thank you, with taht we can do more configurations. infact i havnt finished it, i have to add much more - my own way stuffs, like updating, mounting..
you dont need to install lilo, just hack the installation, isntall grub and run grubconfig(ofcourse you need to edit the grub and confirm it)
http://rkrishna.tp.googlepages.com/slackerbasics#reeb

Hello I tried wat u all said that's get into extras directory and then

"installpkg linux-2.*.tgz" but none worked.

my kernel is not 2.6 now it's still the same 2.4

Are you doing this as root?

Yes I Have Only A Root Account Cos I Am Using It At My Home. Can U Explain Me Precisely The Steps To Install 2.6 KERNEL.

mount your 2nd slackware installation cd then, in the console go to the cdrom

for example

cd /mnt/cdrom
cd extra/linux-2.6.17.13/

su to root then

installpkg kernel-generic-2.6.17.13-i486-1.tgz
installpkg kernel-headers-2.6.17.13-i386-1.tgz
installpkg kernel-modules-2.6.17.13-i486-1.tgz
installlpkg kernel-source-2.6.17.13-noarch-1.tgz

You will then have to rerun lilo

Also read the file /boot/readmeinitrd. You might have to follow instructions in there

Arubin thanks A lot I have Done Everything what you have said. the thing as i am newbie what do u mean by the term "RERUN THE LILO". And One More Thing I am using GRUB not LILO. And I am Sorry Sir For Disturbin You A Lot. Well I want to try out these things thats why i am gettin all sorts of Silly Doubts. Pls Help Me out!!!!!!

If you are using grub you just might have to edit the file /boot/grub/menu.1st to make sure that there is an option pointing to your new kernel. You might want to check out what you now have in the /boot directory and make sure that you have a grub option pointing to your new 2.6 kernel and one pointing to the old 2.4 kernel in case the new kernel fails for some reason, for instance


title SlackwareLinux-11.0 2.6
root (hd1,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-generic-2.6.17.13 root=/dev/sdb3 ro
initrd /boot/initrd.gz
savedefault
boot

title SlackwareLinux-11.0 2.4
root (hd1,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-ide-2.4.33.3 root=/dev/sdb3 ro
savedefault
boot

rerun lilo means whenever you edit lilo, we need to run lilo, (type lilo or /sbin/lilo as root)inorder to make the changes to work.

if you are using grub(keep in mind tht slack's default loader is lilo), edit the menu list as suggested, take care about the initrd line..!!