Arch Linux Vs Crux Vs Slackware

Rukiri · 09-23-2012, 05:41 PM

For the last 5 years I've been using Gentoo as my main OS, however recently portage doesn't seem to want to install anything.. major issues with installing libreoffice (libreoffice-bin installs fine) I'm not the only one with issues and I loved gentoo because of the Cflags and Useflags.. But it's unusable at the moment and I can't just wait for it to be fixed.

So, I basically have it narrowed down to Arch, Crux, and Slackware linux. Crux and Slackware install software from source but don't know if they contain Cflags and Useflags..

I like arch as it's easy to install, an LVM+Luks setup takes about 10 minutes to install along with base and grub2 using pacstrap. I have never installed slack or crux,
I'm leaning towards crux because it's like arch just a bit more stable but I believe I can still get the same package version. I like slackware because of it's age, I don't like that it's a 2GB download, slack needs a minimal or net install...

Now I've been using Linux since the early 2000s and never had issues with installing, but crux really doesn't have a decent wiki to go by unless there's an install.txt file with the iso.

onebuck · 09-24-2012, 07:39 AM

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rukiri

For the last 5 years I've been using Gentoo as my main OS, however recently portage doesn't seem to want to install anything.. major issues with installing libreoffice (libreoffice-bin installs fine) I'm not the only one with issues and I loved gentoo because of the Cflags and Useflags.. But it's unusable at the moment and I can't just wait for it to be fixed.

So, I basically have it narrowed down to Arch, Crux, and Slackware linux. Crux and Slackware install software from source but don't know if they contain Cflags and Useflags..

I like arch as it's easy to install, an LVM+Luks setup takes about 10 minutes to install along with base and grub2 using pacstrap. I have never installed slack or crux,
I'm leaning towards crux because it's like arch just a bit more stable but I believe I can still get the same package version. I like slackware because of it's age, I don't like that it's a 2GB download, slack needs a minimal or net install...

Now I've been using Linux since the early 2000s and never had issues with installing, but crux really doesn't have a decent wiki to go by unless there's an install.txt file with the iso.

You can get;

Quote:

Slackware-Current Trimmed
The ISO below are <2.3GB + 'ISO images are automatically re-generated within a day if there is an update to the ChangeLog.txt' + These ISOs are created using Alien_Bob's script 'mirror-slackware-current.sh' + Source is not provided on the ISO images below
Slackware-current DVD ISO image <- 'x86' for 32bit
Slackware64-current DVD ISO image <- 'x86_64' for 64bit

You could use;

Quote:

Slackware®: -current <- 'You can use Alien_Bob's-script -mirror-slackware-current.sh <- To download -current, create cdrom/dvd Or Alien_Bob's-script -mirror-slackware-current.sh <- UK backup of script script to download the '-current' of choice ( 'x86' meaning 32bit or 'x86_64' meaning 64bit). + You can either pass parameters or edit the script to create the 'ISO' medium of choice. + Plus select a mirror to use. The script is well documented to allow you choices. + Alien_Bob is a Slackware® contributor and has graciously provided the scripts/tools. So an ata-boy and a big Thank You to Alien_Bob.

To create the full ISO DVD or local tree to use for a install with use of;

Quote:

-- Minimal System Install:
Minimal System <- SlackWiki method as to what packages you should install to have a base system.
HOWTO make your own custom Slackware install disk <- Samac's LQ technique, some cautions but good. 'Here is a method of cutting your Slackware to fit you by using Alien_Bob's mirror-slackware-current.sh script.'
mini ISO image <- 'CDROM to boot, and install packages from an NFS server or local hard disk'

Another install method would be: usb-and-pxe-installers/

Plus look at: http://docs.slackware.com/ for good install instructions.

Your kernel compile methods are doable with Slackware: Compile source code - and solve problems | TuxRadar Linux

or use;

Quote:

Compiling:
Kernel-HOWTO <- Intro & Compile
Compiling the Linux Kernel
Building a Linux Kernel from source <- Eric Hameleers (Alien)’s Wiki pages
Building a new 2.6.x kernel with Slackware® 12.0
'make' Commands Defined evilDagmar's Great definition + 'here's what the commands you need to know about actually do and when you should use them.' + LQ Post
Simple 2.6 Kernel Build Guide <- 'Fast and easy kernel rebuild guide for a 2.6 Linux kernel the right way in Slackware (a few of the last bits are Slackware Linux specific).'
10-Step Kernel Compile Guide <- Aimed at Slackware users, but applicable to anyone.
How to compile Slackware Kernel <- 'There are many reasons to build a new kernel in a distro like Slackware.' + Another good guide.

The above links and others can be found at 'Slackware-Links'. More than just Slackware® links!
HTH!

linux_BSD · 09-25-2012, 04:02 PM

@ Rukiri

I tried crux awhile ago. The base install is from the iso. The only thing you need to build is the kernel. Since you're a gentoo user you probably already know how to build a kernel. Crux uses a package system similar to bsd to compile software for installation.

I used crux in a vm for about three weeks. Some ports had trouble fetching other ports and I had to manually get them myself. I thought it was a network issue or busy sites but I tried again later and some ports just wouldn't get downloaded.

Crux was short live for me.

Slack is a different story. It is solid and has a big community that supports the distro. You won't go wrong with slackware.

Arch Compared to Other Distributions
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php..._Distributions