What happened to 'swaret'

free_andrew · 12-11-2003, 07:33 AM

Just installed Slackware - 4th attempt. Doing a little reading in the forums I figured out startx to get to a more workable environment. Now I want to start using 'swaret' but it seems that no matter where I am (shell, command line), the feedback is that it's a bad command.

What am I doing wrong?

Also - is kpackage the only way to remove programs?

Red Hat had an Add/Remove program which let me see the original package install files. I would like to add programs from the original distribution. Is this possible within the KDE environment?

-Andrew

lumpfish · 12-11-2003, 07:56 AM

First... do you have swaret installed. It is on the second cd. If you do have it installed, are you trying to use the command as the SuperUser?

lumpfish · 12-11-2003, 08:19 AM

I forgot to answer the second part of your question. You can use pkgtool to remove packages. As well, you can try removepkg from the command line. For further info on removepkg, go to the following link: http://www.slackware.com/book/index....ce=x4000.html.

chris26 · 12-11-2003, 05:03 PM

Swaret didnt install for me autmatically when I did the full install of the cd's. I assumed it wasnt on the cd's so I just went to the swaret hompage and downloaded the lastest version. Install goes quickly and smoothly.

Swaret is pretty cool.

thegeekster · 12-11-2003, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by free_andrew
.....Red Hat had an Add/Remove program which let me see the original package install files. I would like to add programs from the original distribution. Is this possible within the KDE environment?

Go to Start Applications -> System -> KPackage (Packager Manager)

PS: This will let you see what's installed......Just use the Open button (the button in the top left) to browse the CD or installation directory.....

320mb · 12-11-2003, 08:03 PM

Swaret won't install automagically by default!!
it is in the Extra software packages directory on the 2nd CD.

Velvet Elvis · 12-11-2003, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by free_andrew
Just installed Slackware - 4th attempt. Doing a little reading in the forums I figured out

Red Hat had an Add/Remove program which let me see the original package install files. I would like to add programs from the original distribution. Is this possible within the KDE environment?

Sure you can do it from inside KDE, just start up Konsole and use installpkg. =)

If you are going to use Slackware, you're going to have to get used to using the command line. It doesn't have fancy GUI tools to set up your system for you. This is a good thing, because GUI sytem tools tend to trash your system. Slackware is all about being in controll. You know exactly what is going on with every aspect of your system, because you configured it that way yourself.

With that in mind, here is what you need to do to install more packages from the slack CD's.

1. Open a term window and su to root.
2. Put the CD you want to install packages from in the drive and mount it, using "mount /dev/cdrom"
3. cd to /mnt/cdrom.
4. Move to the directory housing the package you want to install. Try using mc to browse the packages on the cd. I usaly have two terminal windows open when I'm doing this, one to enter commands fromt the command line and one to browse with mc.
5. Install the package using "installpkg -i yourpackagehere.tgz"

poof, you're done

The location of the filles from the package you just installed can be seen in /var/log/packages.

free_andrew · 12-12-2003, 08:23 AM

I understand what you're saying - and I have no problem with the minimal GUI use. I'm comfortable working with the console when absolutely necessary.

Nevertheless, I'm still new to this environment and I still have more questions than answers. I don't want to put a strain on this forum, but if I post some of the concerns I've had thus far, perhaps you could send me in the right direction and I'll take it from there.

1. Where is the Slackware documentation?

2. Scroll mouse doesn't work. (worked in Red Hat)
3. SCSI Card (Adaptec UW2940) and devices (Zip Drive, Yamaha CD Burner) weren't detected. (worked in Red Hat)
4. Is there a log file of the startup? I would like to look at it closer and see if there is anything else that needs my attention.

There are other things I'm still working on. Lisa, Kiosk mode (for the kids) but that stuff I will try and figure out on my own.

BTW - noticeable improvement in speed with Slackware on my PII333, 384MB SDRAM. Kudos to this distro.

-Andrew

iaredam · 12-12-2003, 01:32 PM

1. Slackware documentation can be found at http://slackware.com/faq/

2. mouse - You need to edit the /etc/X11/XF86config file and under the mouse section add
Option "Buttons" "5"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"

Check for the proper syntax, my typing and memory suck.
3. I know that with my setup, I had to manually add my 2nd cdburner, if you look at the startup log you can find out what device it is /dev/??? and create a link in /dev/ for the device, add it to fstab then mount it

4. log file, I believe /var/log/messages will give you what you are looking for.

Velvet Elvis · 12-12-2003, 05:27 PM

Documentation is scattered around. As slackware is pretty barebones, most general linux documentation should work. I broke down and bought O'Reilly's Running Linux, by Matt Welsh, et al. It's pretty much all I needed.

Did you read your root email? If not, su to root, run pine, and read it. Pat puts some tips there. There is some documentation scattered throughout the various config files as comments. The rute online manual and tutorial kicks ass. It's at:

http://www.icon.co.za/~psheer/book/index.html

Here's some more links to slack specific info:
http://www.linuxpackages.net/
http://linuxtipps.sourceforge.net/index.php
http://slackbook.yoshiwara.org.uk/
http://www.userlocal.com