Slackware installation with light windows manager

val3xiv · 06-28-2007, 05:17 AM

Hello! This is my 1st post on LinuxQuestion.
I have a laptop ASUS A6F, Intel Centrino duo, graphic Intel 945GM, widescreen, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB HDU, Lan card Realtek RTL8169/8110 Family Gigabit Ethernet Nic, Wireless card INTEL PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection, Realtek HD Audio.
I have Ubuntu 7.04 installed and everithing works fine (widescreen resolution, wireless, ecc.).
I tryied to install in another partition some "slackware-like" distros (vector linux, absolute linux) but I had problems with widescreen and with wireless card.
Today I take a decision: I wanna install Slackware for using as development environment (yes, I am a software writer).
I would like install Slackware without installing classic Window managers (no GNOME, no KDE, no XFCE), I'm thinking to use Fluxbox or IceWM or something like that.
Note that I would like NOT install GNOME, KDE or XFCE, not just don't using them
Is that possible?
Can someone suggest where can I find information about that?
Do you think that will be possible making an environment with widescreen resolution and wireless card working fine?

Thanks in advance.

V

b0uncer · 06-28-2007, 05:23 AM

Easily done. Just download the Slackware install disc (version 11 at the moment) and launch the installation, if you have free space or ready partition(s) for it. During the setup you can choose the software you want to install (there are several methods, but choosing sets of packages works, no need to go deeper than that). From the menus just drop off Gnome, KDE and anything you don't want to.

Note that probably you do have to install some Gnome/KDE libraries (gtk, qt) because if you use X, you are likely to use programs that use those libraries. You don't have to install the whole environments (you save space, for example), but parts of them you do; don't worry, those probably get installed automatically if you pick up programs that use gtk/qt/something else. Dropping Gnome and KDE off the menus means dropping off as much of them as possible.

EDIT: widescreen resolution is as easy as picking up a display driver that supports the resolution (nv, radeon, fglrx, nvidia, sis, depends on what chip you have, or you can even install proprietary drivers if available), then just setting the resolution in /etc/X11/xorg.conf (alter the resolution lines found in the file, adding the desired resolution to the beginning of the list). Wireless works too, just install the drivers if needed. If there are no working Linux native drivers, you may have to resort in using ndiswrapper + locating the Windows drivers (.inf, .sys files) to install with it. Nothing big, the web is full of howtos on installing and configuring ndiswrapper.

H_TeXMeX_H · 06-28-2007, 12:31 PM

Easily done, GNOME is not a part of Slackware anymore ... no need to worry about that one.

For KDE, don't install anything in the 'kde' or 'kdei' directories.

XFCE, and all other window managers are in the 'xap' directory. Pick and choose the ones you want.

Remember when you install to choose the 'menu' option when it asks for 'select prompting mode'. Also, see the slackbook, link in my sig.

allend · 06-28-2007, 10:02 PM

If you are looking to write software, then I suggest installing KDE. The KDevelop IDE is well worth a look.

val3xiv · 06-29-2007, 05:48 PM

Ok. Following your instruction I installed Slackware 11.0 from DVD without KDE nor XFCE.
Then I downloaded and installed from souce iceWM and trying to launch it following instruction in INSTALL file.
This is what happen (toronto is the hostname of my PC)

Code:

root@toronto:~# xset m 5 2
unable to open display ""

root@toronto:~# xterm &
xterm Xt error: Can't open display: %s
xterm: DISPLAY is not set

root@toronto:~# icewmtray &
Can't open display: <none>. X must be running and $DISPLAY set.

root@toronto:~# which icewm > /dev/null 2>&1 && exec icewm || exec xterm -bg red
IceWN: using /root/.icewm for private configuration files
IceWM: Can't open display: <none>. X must running and $DISPLAY set

Welcome to Linux 2.4.33.3 (tty1)

toronto login:

Someone can help me? What can I do to use my Window Manager and starting using my Slackware

Thanks again

V

dive · 06-29-2007, 05:50 PM

Do 'xwmconfig' and choose your desired window manager, then run 'startx'

val3xiv · 06-29-2007, 06:10 PM

Ty for answering. But there is a problem
When I launch 'xwmconfig', it appears a menu with only
'xinitrc.twm Tab Window Manager (very basic)'

Where ise "my" IceWM, I'm sure it is installed.

Ty

V

dive · 06-29-2007, 07:14 PM

I'm not sure about this since I've only used slackware versions of flux and kde.

It might be better to install one of the IceWM packages from linuxpackages.net. There are a few versions. They should put the files in the necesary places to be picked up by xwmconfig.

http://www.linuxpackages.net/search_...ame=icewm&ver=

*edit: I just installed 1.2.30 and it works ok.

onebuck · 07-02-2007, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by val3xiv

Ty for answering. But there is a problem
When I launch 'xwmconfig', it appears a menu with only
'xinitrc.twm Tab Window Manager (very basic)'

Where ise "my" IceWM, I'm sure it is installed.

Ty

V

Hi,

Run 'pkgtool' from console to view installed packages.

val3xiv · 07-02-2007, 04:47 PM

Hello.
Thanks to all. I have my Slakware 11.0 installed with IceWM working, keybord and mouse configured.
Now I wish to go ahead, so I have some question more.

1) Which control center for IceWM can I install?
2) I've installed kernel 2.4.33.3, is possible upgrading it to 2.6.x? May I make this upgrade from Slackware DVD?
3) IceWM haven't file browser nor text editor, which ones may I intall.

Stop for now, next time it will be next step.

Thanks a lot anyway

V.

H_TeXMeX_H · 07-02-2007, 05:18 PM

1) ??? control center ... that would be the command line

2) Yes, you can 'installpkg' the following:

Code:

kernel-generic-2.6.17.13-i486-1.tgz
kernel-modules-2.6.17.13-i486-1.tgz
kernel-source-2.6.17.13-noarch-1.tgz

from the 'extra/linux-2.6.17.13' directory of the DVD. You should then fix up your '/etc/lilo.conf' and run '/sbin/lilo'. Also note that this kernel does not have built-in support for filesystems other than ext2, so I recommend you just compile your own, it's pretty quick if you start out with the previous .config. Try to keep a good kernel to boot in lilo.conf just in case it panics ...

3) For file manager, I strongly recommend ROX-Filer, and other things from here:
http://rox.sourceforge.net/desktop/software?

For text editor, I prefer nedit, just install the binary package:
http://www.nedit.org/

I recently added a list of programs that I like to my web page:
http://draconishinobi.50webs.com/sla.../programs.html

val3xiv · 07-03-2007, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H_TeXMeX_H

1) ??? control center ... that would be the command line

Ok... I agree with you, I have to use command line and configuratione files, this is Slackware not Windows

Quote:

Originally Posted by H_TeXMeX_H

2) Yes, you can 'installpkg' the following:

Code:

kernel-generic-2.6.17.13-i486-1.tgz
kernel-modules-2.6.17.13-i486-1.tgz
kernel-source-2.6.17.13-noarch-1.tgz

from the 'extra/linux-2.6.17.13' directory of the DVD. You should then fix up your '/etc/lilo.conf' and run '/sbin/lilo'. Also note that this kernel does not have built-in support for filesystems other than ext2, so I recommend you just compile your own, it's pretty quick if you start out with the previous .config. Try to keep a good kernel to boot in lilo.conf just in case it panics ...

I need more information about this.
I have reiserFS file system, so what have I to do?
I'm not usign LILO but GRUB because I have other partitions with Windows and Ubuntu, but I don't think it can be a problem, true?
I read somewhere that my Realtek HD Audio needs kernel 2.6.14, someone know something about thet?
I never compiled a kernel, which steps must I do?

Quote:

Originally Posted by H_TeXMeX_H

3) For file manager, I strongly recommend ROX-Filer, and other things from here:
http://rox.sourceforge.net/desktop/software?

For text editor, I prefer nedit, just install the binary package:
http://www.nedit.org/

I recently added a list of programs that I like to my web page:
http://draconishinobi.50webs.com/sla.../programs.html

Thanks a lot

I'm waiting...

V

randomsel · 07-03-2007, 04:04 PM

as H_TeXMeX_H said, install the kernel-generic-2.6.17.13-i486-1.tgz, kernel-modules-2.6.17.13-i486-1.tgz, kernel-source-2.6.17.13-noarch-1.tgz from 'extra/linux-2.6.17.13' in the Slackware DVD using installpkg. That'll change your current kernel. Then you'll need to edit /boot/grub/grub.conf in your ubuntu partition to point at your new kernel in the Slackware partition.

if you use those packages, you don't need to recompile the kernel

using ReiserFS should be no problem

geek745 · 07-04-2007, 12:25 AM

installing a new kernel is best done by rebuilding it. Download the full version (the 'F' link) for the latest stable release on http://www.kernel.org/ then extract it with this command:

[root@Slackware:~]# tar -xjf linux-2.6.21.x.tar.bz2 /usr/src/

Then re-link the linux source directory:

[root@Slackware:~]# cd /usr/src
[root@Slackware:/usr/src]# rm linux
[root@Slackware:/usr/src]# ln -s linux-2.6.21.x linux

Then you need to configure the kernel:
[root@Slackware:/usr/src]# cd linux
[root@Slackware:/usr/src/linux]# make menuconfig OR make xconfig if you have graphical interface up.

From there, select only what matches your hardware. You can use lspci on another virtual terminal (CTRL+ALT+F1-6) if you are unsure of something; you can also use the dmesg command and /var/log/messages to determine what hardware you need support for. Follow all instructions carefully and don't be afraid to read the associated help blurb for a given kernel component; when you are done, exit that configuration interface. Then you must build the kernel:

[root@Slackware:/usr/src/linux]# make

Now you need to install it. If you flagged anything as modular <M>, then you need to install modules too:

[root@Slackware:/usr/src/linux]# make modules_install

Now you need to install the kernel itself. 2 files need to be copied to the /boot directory.

[root@Slackware:/usr/src/linux]# cp System.map /boot/System.map-2.6.21.x
[root@Slackware:/usr/src/linux]# cp arch/i386/boot/bzImage /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.21.x

And then you will need to fix up your GRUB loader; you could use LILO as well; it can chain-load other operating systems, and boot all of your Linux distros.

Hope all goes well! Again, this is Linux, not Windows! And you should be comfortable enough building your own kernel to not worry about adding hardware in the future - simply rebuild your kernel again with support for that device!

val3xiv · 07-29-2007, 11:45 AM

Hello.
Sorry for not writing since weeks, but I had lot of works to do.
Well, thanks to your suggestions I rebuilt my kernel, now my Salckware 11 is working with kernel 2.6.22.1.
Now I'm trying setting other things (wireless, sounds, widescreen, ecc.). I'll ask for your help if I'll need it

Just a question: kernel that I rebuilt is bigger than the kernel I had befor rebuilding, can anyone help me for configuring it better?
Which file(s) or shell results have I to post for this.
Thanks again.

V