slackware installed packages

invader44 · 07-30-2009, 09:29 AM

hello,
I am trying to document one of the servers I work on that is running slackware 12.0. I didn't install it myself, I was wondering if there was a way to see what packages where selected or not selected when the installation was done. When you are at the setup program and choose install selected software. Is there any command or anything else that would let me see what packages where selected?
Thanks,
Vadder

Jeebizz · 07-30-2009, 09:31 AM

You can view what packages are installed on that particular system with pkgtool. Su to root, or login as root and then run pkgtool and choose the view packages option, and you will get a list of what is on the system.

GrapefruiTgirl · 07-30-2009, 09:36 AM

While this will also show you any packages that have been installed SINCE the installation, you can see ALL installed packages by looking in /var/log/packages (or giving a command ls /var/log/packages). If you want the listing in a text file, just redirect the output of the ls command into a file.

Does this help?

If I am not mistaken (from experience on my own Slack system) when you are at the setup screen (as if you were installing from CD) there is no way to see what is currently installed in the installed system on the HDD.

Sasha
EDIT - Pretty fast, Jeebizz!!

Yes, if you are actually running the system, doing as Jeebizz says will also give you the same listing.

invader44 · 07-30-2009, 10:38 AM

Hi Grapefruitgirl,
Thanks for the advice, that is exactly what I wanted and you are right about the slackware setup screen, not being able to see what exact packages are that are currently installed.
Thanks,
vadder

bilbod · 07-31-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrapefruiTgirl

While this will also show you any packages that have been installed SINCE the installation, you can see ALL installed packages by looking in /var/log/packages (or giving a command ls /var/log/packages). If you want the listing in a text file, just redirect the output of the ls command into a file.

Code:

ls /var/log/packages -l |sort --key 6

That will sort by Date and Time. It should be pretty obvious which ones were installed by the installer and which were added later.

Bruce Hill · 07-31-2009, 05:46 PM

bilbod,

What is the difference between "ls /var/log/packages -l |sort --key 6" and "ls -lrt /var/log/packages/" ?

invader44,

Don't really know what your goal is, but "slackpkg clean-system" will tell you everything
that has been installed that is NOT an official Slackware package according to the mirror
you setup in /etc/slackpkg/mirrors.

GrapefruiTgirl · 07-31-2009, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Hill

... but "slackpkg clean-system" will tell you everything
that has been installed that is NOT an official Slackware package according to the mirror
you setup in /etc/slackpkg/mirrors.

Hi Bruce,

I have never run this particular slackpkg command, for fear of instantly uninstalling everything that isn't from the official tree.

Does this bring up the selection 'GUI' to let the user pick and choose, or simply go ahead and clean the system?

If the latter, then if the OP does not want this, but merely wants to KNOW what's on the system, then this would be a non-good idea, yes?

Sasha

Bruce Hill · 07-31-2009, 06:07 PM

Hi Sasha,

Congrats on the Mod status, btw.

It brings up the ncurses dialog, and yes, you must choose to remove them.

Code:

man slackpkg
<snip>
       clean-system
            This action removes all of the packages that don't belong to a standard Slackware installation.  With this option, you can clean up  your  system,  removing  third-
            party packages as well as any packages that were removed from the official Slackware package set.
            If you have some third party (or custom built) packages that you would like to keep, you can temporarily add them to the list of blacklisted packages before you run
            the 'clean-system' action.

It's really a good man page.

stormtracknole · 07-31-2009, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrapefruiTgirl

Hi Bruce,

I have never run this particular slackpkg command, for fear of instantly uninstalling everything that isn't from the official tree.

Does this bring up the selection 'GUI' to let the user pick and choose, or simply go ahead and clean the system?

If the latter, then if the OP does not want this, but merely wants to KNOW what's on the system, then this would be a non-good idea, yes?

Sasha

Whether you are installing or removing packages, you will always get a dialog gui with the packages to remove/install. So, it is safe to run slackpkg clean-system.

GrapefruiTgirl · 07-31-2009, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Hill

Hi Sasha,

Congrats on the Mod status, btw.

It brings up the ncurses dialog, and yes, you must choose to remove them.

Code:

man slackpkg
<snip>
       clean-system
            This action removes all of the packages that don't belong to a standard Slackware installation.  With this option, you can clean up  your  system,  removing  third-
            party packages as well as any packages that were removed from the official Slackware package set.
            If you have some third party (or custom built) packages that you would like to keep, you can temporarily add them to the list of blacklisted packages before you run
            the 'clean-system' action.

It's really a good man page.

Hi Bruce, thanks,

I read the man page before I asked

but it doesn't really clearly state that a selection can be made, other than the mention of blacklisting items.

While it sort of seemed appropriate that the dialog would have presented, as with other commands, without being sure, I just haven't ever (ever!!) tried it out

Thanks to you both. Another day wherein I have learned something

Sasha

bilbod · 07-31-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Hill

bilbod,

What is the difference between "ls /var/log/packages -l |sort --key 6" and "ls -lrt /var/log/packages/" ?

The former sorts the packages alphabetically within the same time, the latter does not.

I did not know that apriori so i ran the following command

Code:

ls -lrt /var/log/packages/ >lslrt;ls -l /var/log/packages/ |sort --key 6 >lslsort; diff lslrt lslsort

After getting a non empty result, a closer examination revealed the above info.

invader44 · 08-03-2009, 02:38 PM

hello,
Thanks for all the replys, didn't know my question would get so many. I am just documenting how one of the servers is set up. The tech before me never documented how they did it. So I just wanted to know if I could see what packages where installed when slackware was installed, thats all. I just went to the /var/log/packages, using putty and copied the contents of the directory into notepad on a windows workstation. I just followed grapefruitgirls advice.
thanks,
vadder