Slackware 12.2 installation issues [newbie]

jon80 · 05-06-2009, 02:35 PM

I'm installing Slackware 12.2 as a virtual machine within VirtualBox 2.2.2, and:

1. Is it possible to select the UK keyboard from the installation program? If yes, which option is it?

2. Any idea how to load a UI (something like Gnome or KDE) after the command line installation has finished?

MS3FGX · 05-06-2009, 02:39 PM

The installer asks you which keyboard map you want to use when it starts up.

As for a graphical login, Slackware defaults to a text login but you can change this behavior in /etc/inittab by modifying the top section:

Code:

# Default runlevel. (Do not set to 0 or 6)
id:3:initdefault:

"3" sets the system to boot into text mode, "4" would start KDM/XDM, depending on what is installed.

sycamorex · 05-06-2009, 02:46 PM

If you are happy to start in the command mode, what you need to do is type 'startx' to get you to GUI (KDE by default)

bgeddy · 05-06-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

1. Is it possible to select the UK keyboard from the installation program? If yes, which option is it?

As said - hit "1" to select a keyboard map. The UK one is right down the bottom of the screens. Hit "End" then "PgUp" twice and it's in the middle named "qwerty/uk.map".

The second question has been covered already. Be sure to read the SlackBook on the install disc(s) to give you a better idea of what's what - I'm assuming you're new to this.

jon80 · 05-07-2009, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS3FGX

The installer asks you which keyboard map you want to use when it starts up.

I know, but I'm not sure about which keyboard to choose.

As for a graphical login, Slackware defaults to a text login but you can change this behavior in /etc/inittab by modifying the top section:

Code:

# Default runlevel. (Do not set to 0 or 6)
id:3:initdefault:

"3" sets the system to boot into text mode, "4" would start KDM/XDM, depending on what is installed.

Jon

jon80 · 05-07-2009, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jon80

Jon

Well thanks for your help. I realized I hadn't run the setup program, which seems to require partitioning before:

1. Partition using fdisk
2. Setup program

3...we'll see

It would be helpful if some step by step guide was available, since I need to get a machine up and running

Anyway, while installing I noted that I could only install up to 3 partitions + 1 extended partition, because fdisk returned an error when trying to set. However I tried again and I successfully set the partitions:

/dev/hda1 / (Boot) 1Mb
/dev/hda2 /home 27Gb
/dev/hda3 /var 100Mb
/dev/hda4 (swap) 2Mb

Did not set a separate /boot partition, since I already have one.

I'm not sure how to create the swap partition that is required by the setup program (ADDSWAP). I've been through the menu options etc but nothing seemed to make sense in this regard

Any ideas?

brianL · 05-07-2009, 04:12 PM

As has been mentioned, read the SlackBook:
http://www.slackbook.org/html/index.html
3.3 covers partitioning, 3.4 setup.

onebuck · 05-07-2009, 06:03 PM

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by jon80

<snip>

Anyway, while installing I noted that I could only install up to 3 partitions + 1 extended partition, because fdisk returned an error when trying to set. However I tried again and I successfully set the partitions:

/dev/hda1 / (Boot) 1Mb
/dev/hda2 /home 27Gb
/dev/hda3 /var 100Mb
/dev/hda4 (swap) 2Mb

Did not set a separate /boot partition, since I already have one.

I'm not sure how to create the swap partition that is required by the setup program (ADDSWAP). I've been through the menu options etc but nothing seemed to make sense in this regard

Any ideas?

Your layout is not correct. If you are setting up '/dev/hda1' as '/' with just 1Mb then that certainly won't be sufficient. Even if it's 1 MB it would be too small for '/'. For '/' on Slackware you will net at least 4-5GB. That's 4-5 Giga Byte not 'bit'. Where's the extended partition? You are allowed 4 primary partitions. If you decide to use a extended then that will leave you 3 primary. I like to make my '4th' primary a extended to keep things clean. (see samples)

Your '/var' is much too small for a working system. A swap of 2Mb is way to small. Maybe 256MB, 512MB, 1024MB or whatever is reasonable for the system. If you need a swap at all.

Code:

sample fdisk;

~# fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xf5b5f5b5

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1        3824    30716248+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2            3825        4074     2008125   82  Linux swap
/dev/sda3            4075       10300    50010345   83  Linux
/dev/sda4           10301       60801   405649282+   5  Extended
/dev/sda5           10301       10425     1004031   83  Linux
/dev/sda6           10426       11671    10008463+  83  Linux
/dev/sda7           11672       12668     8008371   83  Linux
/dev/sda8           12669       12918     2008093+  83  Linux
/dev/sda9           12919       13915     8008371   83  Linux
/dev/sda10          13916       15161    10008463+  83  Linux
/dev/sda11          15162       16407    10008463+  83  Linux
/dev/sda12          16408       28856    99996561   83  Linux
/dev/sda13          28857       41305    99996561   83  Linux
/dev/sda14          41306       53754    99996561   83  Linux
/dev/sda15          53755       60801    56604996   83  Linux

Disk /dev/sdd: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xb2214719

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdd1   *           1        4981    40009851    7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdd2            4982        9962    40009882+  83  Linux

Code:

 sample cfdisk /dev/sda;

                    cfdisk (util-linux-ng 2.13.1)

                              Disk Drive: /dev/sda
                       Size: 500107862016 bytes, 500.1 GB
             Heads: 255   Sectors per Track: 63   Cylinders: 60801

    Name        Flags      Part Type  FS Type          [Label]        Size (MB)
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    sda1        Boot        Primary   NTFS             [^C]            31453.48
    sda2                    Primary   Linux swap                        2056.32
    sda3                    Primary   Linux ext3       [/spare1]       51210.60
    sda5                    Logical   Linux ext3       [/]              1028.16
    sda6                    Logical   Linux ext3       [/home]         10248.70
    sda7                    Logical   Linux ext3       [/usr]           8200.61
    sda8                    Logical   Linux ext3       [/var]           2056.32
    sda9                    Logical   Linux ext3       [/tmp]           8200.61
    sda10                   Logical   Linux ext3                       10248.70
    sda11                   Logical   Linux ext3                       10248.70
    sda12                   Logical   Linux ext3                      102396.52
    sda13                   Logical   Linux ext3                      102396.52

Code:

sample '/etc/fstab';
~# cat /etc/fstab
/dev/sda2        swap             swap        defaults         0   0
/dev/sda5        /                ext3        defaults         1   1
/dev/sda6        /home            ext3        defaults         1   2
/dev/sda7        /usr             ext3        defaults         1   2
/dev/sda8        /var             ext3        defaults         1   2
/dev/sda9        /tmp             ext3        defaults         1   2
/dev/sda1        /mnt/winxp       ntfs-3g     umask=000        1   0
#/dev/cdrom      /mnt/cdrom       auto        noauto,owner,ro  0   0
/dev/fd0         /mnt/floppy      auto        noauto,owner     0   0
devpts           /dev/pts         devpts      gid=5,mode=620   0   0
proc             /proc            proc        defaults         0   0
tmpfs            /dev/shm         tmpfs       defaults         0   0

Partition schemes are very personal but at least setup yours for a workable machine.

BTW, There is a difference between Mb and MB, the lower case 'b' signifies 'bit' while uppercase 'B' designates 'Byte'.

Hope this helps.

Woodsman · 05-07-2009, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Any idea how to load a UI (something like Gnome or KDE) after the command line installation has finished?

Perhaps the following might help:

Configuring Slackware for a GUI and a Command Line Startup

jon80 · 05-08-2009, 09:04 AM

Thanks. It's noted that there seems to be an issue when I'm trying to create the swap partition, so I skipped that one for the time being.

The problem seems to be that although I allocated the following using fdisk, when I ran the command using parted, an error message was displayed that indicated that the starting partition was not the same as that I had allocated, and, it seemed strange because then I checked the partition table again using fdisk. Seems like some sort of bounds error to me.

partition 4 28676 30724 /swap 2048

Screenshots at
http://cid-b712073b3513eb8e.skydrive...ackware|_1.png
http://cid-b712073b3513eb8e.skydrive...ackware|_2.png

Related links (more URLs

http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/l...ap-adding.html

Otherwise I'm just starting my 2nd attempt at installing slackware which I realized required more than the 5GB that I initially allocated.

bgeddy · 05-08-2009, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Thanks. It's noted that there seems to be an issue when I'm trying to create the swap partition, so I skipped that one for the time being.

I wouldn't do that. Try using cfdisk for your partitioning - I find it much more useful than fdisk or parted. You only need to create the partition for the swap at first as the installer should make the swap disk itself by detecting the swap space.

jon80 · 05-08-2009, 03:45 PM

Thanks, well I can try that out later. I've noted that after watching an 8 hour installation as a virtual machine within VirtualBox 2.2.2, and, having reset the machine, the OS simply does not boot up.

Screenshot at http://cid-b712073b3513eb8e.skydrive...ackware|_3.png.

Anyone encountered this issue? Any ideas??

Bubba- · 05-13-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgeddy

I wouldn't do that. Try using cfdisk for your partitioning - I find it much more useful than fdisk or parted. You only need to create the partition for the swap at first as the installer should make the swap disk itself by detecting the swap space.

I agree. I use cfdisk. Its much easier and a little more user friendly than fdisk. You can get away with simply 2 partitions.
swap and /
If you want you can break things out like /home /var /usr /tmp into their own partitions, this is useful if you are concerned about a logfile or user filling up a partition (i.e. /) and essentially bringing you machine to its knees. For home use though simply using a swap partition and a / partition works just fine.

bgeddy · 05-13-2009, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Anyone encountered this issue? Any ideas??

It looks like lilo has not installed for some reason. You may test this by setting the VM to boot from the install disk (or image) and following the instructions for booting an existing Slackware installation - i.e.

Code:

at the boot: prompt type - 
hugesmp.s root=/dev/hda2 rdinit= ro

You will have to change /dev/hda2 to the partition where you installed Slackware - possibly /dev/sda2 if you have picked a SATA disk controller or /dev/hda1 for the first partition etc.

If this works you will be in your Slackware install. As root run:

Code:

liloconfig

to re install lilo. I find "expert" mode more reliable but you will have to fill in some things. Booting should then work.

All this assumes the actual install has worked - if not you may well have to start over !

ranko_6 · 05-13-2009, 02:51 PM

I'm not sure about it, but in this picture
http://cid-b712073b3513eb8e.skydrive...ackware|_1.png
all id's are 83, shouldn't it be 82 for swap partition?
Or it can be 83 if you chose it later in setup as swap partition?