A question for people who have used both Slackware and Arch.

bgeddy · 07-16-2009, 06:55 PM

Quote:

figured Slackware sounded like it had a little of both.

Yes - exactly - Slackware does. It's BSD style init system is well documented and all tools are already there for building applications (no "development" versions of packages). The community also adds a lot to the value of the distribution and the amount of documentation. Then there's the SlackBuild methodolgy for building things. I would definitely recommend trying Slackware - you'll learn a lot about Linux.

linus72 · 07-16-2009, 07:05 PM

Slack rocks and iff you wanna put many distros' on cd/dvd look here
( http://multicd.tuxfamily.org/ )

that's where I got my idea for multidistro.com
1 cd, many distro's

now i usb, many distro's too

that way I don't burn 5 cd's of 100+mb each, just 1 with all on board

here's my current ext3 usb 4gb now

Code:

title Super Grub Disk\nEasily restore the grub bootloader.
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/syslinux/memdisk
initrd /boot/sgd/sgd.gz

title Grub bootloader - USB-Menu
root (hd0,0)
configfile /boot/grub/usb/grub-menu.lst

title Grub4DOS USB-Menu
root (hd0,0)
configfile /boot/grub/usb/usb-menu.lst

title PLOP Bootmanager USB
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/plpbt

title Sidux-2009-02 USB-Menu
root (hd0,0)
configfile /boot/grub/sidux-menu.lst

title PartedMagic - USB-Menu
root (hd0,0)
configfile /boot/grub/usb/pmagic-menu.lst

title ClamAV Anti-Virus LiveUSB
root (hd0,0)
configfile /boot/grub/usb/clamusb-menu.lst

title TinyCore_2.1 with JWM USB-Menu
root (hd0,0)
configfile /boot/grub/usb/tc-menu.lst

title RescuePuppy49 USB-Menu
root (hd0,0)
configfile /boot/grub/usb/pupusb-menu.lst

title NetbootCD 3.1.1 USB Net-install a Major Distro
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/kexec.bzI quiet base norestore nolocal
initrd /boot/nbinit3.gz

so, with that dude I can do almost anything

including net-installing any major distro via netbootcd-3.1.1
made by same guy who made the multicd.sh
( http://netbootcd.tuxfamily.org/ )

here's some of my bigger stuff and newest rescue-install kit for cd/usb/hd
( http://multidistro.com/tinycore-shots/tc-scrnshots.html ) download link there too

( http://multidistro.proboards.com/ind...splay&thread=7 )

chigurh8 · 07-16-2009, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixellany

I don't get the part about "only 2 CDs to spare" Blank CDs are dirt cheap---less than US$.50 each.

Are you in an area where such things are hard to get?

For some reason I overlooked this post for a second ...

I sort of don't want to use a stack of CDs on one distribution ... I knew it was real customizeable and good for learning and tinkering with. I really felt like having something I could start off simple and build up, and thought Slackware was more of this type of distribution.
Also, I'll have to look for those next time, these are a dollar a piece.

GazL · 07-16-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chigurh8

I sort of don't want to use a stack of CDs on one distribution ...

Actually, if you don't mind putting a little manual effort in (and if you're going to like Slackware then that is pretty much a given), you only need to download the 1st cd, then ftp and install the rest of the packages manually from the command line.

The way the Slackware installer works is incredibly flexible, which is one of the things I like about Slackware.

linus72 · 07-16-2009, 07:38 PM

Yes, I also recommend using the tag-file option, thus you will be able to repeat the install proces, if necessary,
and just install the pkg's you want "automagically"

chigurh8 · 07-16-2009, 08:28 PM

Great, thanks for letting me know. I just didn't know enough about it. I'm definitely going to try it soon.

onebuck · 07-16-2009, 08:40 PM

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by chigurh8

I've only read up a little on Slackware, but I only have 2 CDs to spare ... The only reason I haven't downloaded it. The only package management I've had experience with is using apt-get/synaptics, rpm using Fedora and OpenSUSE/YaST, and portage (which I like a lot.) I really like Gentoo, but I haven't used a distribution like Slackware or Arch yet ... I've been thinking about something do-it-yourself besides Gentoo. I'm surprised, since I registered here, how many people are in the Slackware forum. I've read it's a very good distribution and widely used, but I didn't expect it to be nearly as popular as it is in these forums. Also surprised by how few are in the Arch forum. I under-over-estimated.

'Slackware® 12.2 USB_Install' & 'Slackware®12_Janux_NET_NoBurn_Install' are just two methods that come to mind to aid you in installing without burning the image.

The 'Slackware' forum is the unofficial moderated forum. I prefer this forum format over a open type forum. You tend to have people who respond professionally. Don't misunderstand me we all have been spanked at least one time.

The above links and others available from 'Slackware-Links'. More than just Slackware® links!

BTW, Welcome to Slackware.

linus72 · 07-16-2009, 08:42 PM

Awesome
your the man Onebuck
That's more info for me

Quote:

Slackware®12_Janux_NET_NoBurn_Install'

didn't know about that 1

Bruce Hill · 07-16-2009, 08:43 PM

And if you have one and desire, you can use a CD/DVD-RW.

onebuck · 07-16-2009, 08:52 PM

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by linus72

Awesome
your the man Onebuck
That's more info for me

didn't know about that 1

You should look at 'Slackware-Links'. More than just Slackware® links!

You will find a lot to help with your GNU/Linux endeavors.

chigurh8 · 07-16-2009, 09:27 PM

I just burned it.

linus72 · 07-16-2009, 09:34 PM

ah
slackers
( http://linux.softpedia.com/get/Syste...OS-46457.shtml )

yep, usb too

chigurh8 · 07-16-2009, 11:03 PM

I just posted that I was having problems, but I made a mistake ... so I edited.

daniel-slack · 07-17-2009, 05:20 AM

I agree to some of the stuff that's already been posted in this thread: Arch and Gentoo are rolling releases, so they tend to break often.

Moreover, Gentoo compiles everything from source, which can be a pain. (They are great learning experiences, nonetheless - even more so than Slackware.) Someone said Arch is similar to Debian - maybe you could elaborate.

What Debian has in common with Slackware is stability, which is not a priority in Arch. On the other hand, Debian can be used as a stable release or as a rolling release (by modifying /etc/apt/sources.list). Debian is too big of a project to be compared with anything - in my opinion, it is THE Linux Distro: it supports more processor architectures than any other, has a great package manager, great software control, a great team of developers etc. And yet I'm using Slackware right now.

But that's just me. Slack is a very specific answer to very specific needs. Debian can cover a much greater area. (It's probably the only non-profit Linux project that has been taken seriously by big companies - they don't have a choice!

IMHO, it's way better than SUSE or RedHat, but those have the advantage of offering some commercial support - which is pretty much all they have to offer :P) So anyway, going back to Arch and Slack.

You find a neat comparison on their own WikiPage:

wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Arch_Compared_To_Other_Distros#Arch_vs_Slackware

I would say it's pretty accurate, not biased.

sahko · 07-17-2009, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daniel-slack

Someone said Arch is similar to Debian - maybe you could elaborate.

What Debian has in common with Slackware is stability, which is not a priority in Arch. On the other hand, Debian can be used as a stable release or as a rolling release (by modifying /etc/apt/sources.list).

Arch is very similar to the Unstable branch of Debian if you do a net install, leaving out the policies and concerns about being "free".
I wasn't talking about the Stable branch.