Wow- Portable-Slackware-12.2 will be released today at....
 

As soon as it uploads!
OK I actually got this sh*t working!
( Reply#15 for link)

I installed Slackware 12.2 to my e'special vhd and coupled it with my Qemu-DSL kit(portable qemu) and wala! zzziit bang!@

Portable-Slackware 12.2 is born!

Runs off a 4GB VHD- SECRET...the vhd compresses down from 4GB to like 850MB!
I don't know how?!

Known problems...

Known Issues;
upon starting KDE, error is "the process for the file protocol died unexpectedly"
and "error while starting the sound server "device /dev/dsp" can't be opened, no such device; using null device"

Also, desktop icons don't seem to appear unless you right-click the desktop and select "create new file/folder", name it something, click OK, then the icons appeared?!

So, it's still experimental, but it works! Persistent save just like an installed to HD slack!

The package contents are a "hda" folder, a "qemu" folder, a readme.txt and 2 scripts; "portaslk.sh" for Linux and "portaslk.bat" for Windows!

Yep, it works on Linux and on my XP too!

"Slackware-12.2-embedded"
From the readme;

INTRO-This is a fully portable version of Slackware-12.2 that runs just like a real installed-to-your-HD version!
This is an experimental, preliminary version, so there may be bugs,etc.

No installation of Qemu, or anything else should be necessary to run Portable-Slackware-12.2.
Simply extract the "Portable-Slackware-12.2.tar.bz2" to a folder or to your USB(8GB USB required!!)

After extracting, check that the Windows "portaslk.bat" and/or the Linux "portaslk.sh" are executable, and then double-click either one; .bat for windows/.sh for Linux, and choose "run"

Slackware 12.2 should start.
LOGIN is "root" and password is "77"

After logging in, enter "startx"(should be 800x600)
KDE should start and run as normal.

This is a fresh install, only the package database has been updated, and any pkg's needed update were updated.

REMEMBER; do not extract the porta-slack inside a usb smaller than 8GB!!

So, as soon as it uploads I will drop the link here...

Hopefully, some of you guys more knowledgeable than me can help figure out the bugs.
I ask one favor though; I don't know how to configure fluxbox, so if someone could take this "alpha" version, fix everything up and tell me how you did it, that would be cool.

OK here's the Link to "Portable-Slackware-12.2"!

LINK IS NOW AT MY SITE-see below

It's a 780MB download and will decompress to 4GB!!
Screenshot below; note the "save" folder on the desktop, that's just there to convince me it really saves each session, etc.

After downloading, extract the tar.bz2 to a folder, and invoke either "portaslk.sh" or "portaslk.bat" to start Slackware 12.2 on Portable Qemu!
Double-click either script and choose "run" or thru the terminal with
"./portaslk.sh" for Linux.

PLEASE tell me if it really works and saves like a real HD!
Is it just my imagination?

And I have figured out that KDE or slack itself is why I get the errors when slack X starts, as I was playing with Slax-6.1.1 and it also had the exaact errors, as above post.

I am sure all you Slacker's will probably be able to figure out the issues and fix them; me I'm still a newbie learning Slackware 12.2.

VERY IMPORTANT; I had issues when doing a restart compared to doing
"shutdown -h now" which works well.
So, do not reboot! Use shutdown instead or reboot at your own risk.

You coould just download another one...

One request; I really need someone's constructive criticism with this, and to help me improve it.

OK, I really enjoy these things... On my desktop I am currently running Slack/390 on Hercules emulating a IBM mainframe, ARMedslack running on Qemu and several other virtual machines under VirtualBox.
It is not rare for me to have several running at the same time and 'talking' to each other through the virtual network adapters (tun/tap).

So, why not? I'll try Portable Slack as well :)

It'll take a while to download so I won't be able to post any comments until tomorrow though...

Yeah, but this portable-slack can go anywhere, computer to computer, long as you have a 8GB USB, works on windows and linux.
It's self-contained!

ok, I don't have a 8GB USB stick (never needed one, mine is 4GB and large enough for daily use), but if it works well enough I might buy one for this purpose.

If it works on my (Slackware-) desktop, I'll copy the files to my Windows notebook at work to test it there.
I'll give you my constructive feedback ;)

Actually, I append that; if you re-compress it down to 780MB it will fit on a 1GB USB, and then decompress it on another computer's HD.

Also, is this new or something somebody's already done and I just can't find?

Yeah, I don't have a 8GB USB either, but as you said, I may go get one now.

Problems are with the errors and icons not showing up till you place/save something to the desktop?!

Oh, another "maybe" issue; it doesn't seem to auto mount "hda1" when booting.
At login, issue "mount /dev/hda1 /mnt/hda1" too. It works the same whether you mount or not, so ?

Is slackware supposed to mount it's root partition at boot or no?

Everything works though, so I'm unsure...?

Yes, Slackware is supposed to mount its root partition :)

Don't worry, I'm used to beta-testing... :D

The image is downloading but it won't arrive until tomorrow. And I do need to go to work to pay the bills, so it might take some time before I answer...

I was mistaken, maybe, as it does say while booting "remounting root fs /dev/hda1 read-write"
but if I do mount after login it says "/dev/root on / type ext3 etc/etc"

Also, this computer is an old E-machines test-bed 1.8Ghz/800?MB RAM with 170GB HD dual booting Ubuntu-SE and Win XP, so maybe qemu will run much faster on some of you guy's quad core mama-jama's!

I "don't have no quad-core mama-jama" (*), but do have some reasonable amount of memory (4GB) to play around with emulation and virtualization. ;)

(*) please explain... I used to work in Georgia, but I'm not *that* familiar with the southern dialects :D

Meaning my computer is old and maybe that's why it's having errors when loading KDE.
What is "file protocol died unexpectedly" mean? Is that why the icons don't show up till you place a folder/file on the desktop?

OK- No doubt; i just downloaded it, extracted it and ran it and it saves and everything!
Now, I'm gonna install sbopkg and src2pkg, and some sbo stuff too.

Alright, Portable-Slackware-12.2 ALPHA is officially born!
I'm going to get drunk!
Damn, 5 months in Linux and maybe I created a monster!?

I'm going to bed; anybody try it yet, I still can't believe it really saves, etc, so waiting to hear verification on that?

screenshot is the portable i just downloaded and fixed up the desktop.

OK gang. I moved the download link to my site, temporarily with Qemu-DSL.
( http://multidistro.com/downloads/dslqemu/dslqemu.html )
So-did anyone try Portable Slack yet?

ok, I tried it on my Linux desktop and it seemed to work ok :)
The only problem was the sound server, but that's no big deal for me.

I'll check later today on a Windows system...
For now I will copy the files to my hard drive, but if it works I'll be looking for a 8GB USB stick in the afternoon ;)

Awesome!
Yeah, I downloaded one for myself, set it up with sbopkg and a wallpaper; now gonna compress it back down to 780MB with bz2, put it on my 4GB Kingston, then plug it into my other 'puter, transfer it to that HD(desktop), decompress it and install some more stuff.

Today I'm gonna make a better version with xfce4 and a 3.6-7GB vhd so it'll fit on a 4GB usb, probably the most popular.

OH-also, VERY imortant;

Soon as you experienced Slacker's tell me it really works; saves back to it's vhd like an installed to hd system; operates just like an installed system.- I will release the complete secrets to it's creation(if you already haven't guessed it).

That way; you can make your own and make larger vhd's...

What's next...Portable-Debian?...Portable-Ubuntu?...Portable-Multidistro?

Good idea.

First because Xfce is my favorite desktop. :)
Second because Xfce is a bit lighter and since we're not using kqemu it should run smoother.
Third because 4GB USB sticks are indeed more common at the moment.

OH- also, I just found a "qemu-system-x86_64.exe" in the qemu pkg!
Wonder if there's one for Linux somewhere??

Portable-Slamd64?

Yes, there is. KVM-78, which includes that 64 bit version of qemu, is available in /extra on Slamd64's DVD. I've got it, but not got round to trying it yet.
For KVM (kernel virtual machine), see:
http://www.linux-kvm.org/page/Main_Page
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kernel-...irtual_Machine

To see if you can use KVM, look for svm (for AMD) or vmx (for Intel), in your processor flags.

Can't plain, ordinary, everyday qemu emulate 64 bit?
Yes.

And KVM-85 is available from SlackBuilds:
http://slackbuilds.org/repository/12.2/misc/kvm/

OK all seems good!

I recompressed the Portable-Slackware-12.2 from 4GB to 790MB(it's a little bigger now that I've installed some stuff; as it compressed to 775MB before I added sbopkg, etc)

And then I put it on my 4GB USB and transferred from my test-bed computer to Ubuntu SE on my main 'puter.
Then, I decompressed it and invoked "portaslk.sh" and bam! it pops up and plays!

Cool screenshot too!

Now, gotta make version 2 with xfce and a smaller vhd....

Yes, there is a /usr/bin/qemu-system-x86_64 if you installed the package from www.slacky.eu :)

Yep! Thanks, i can add all that to portable qemu too(including qemu-img)

With all that, you can be completely self-contained on windows or linux;
qemu-img.exe can make the vhd on windows, qemu.exe can play it
qemu-img can make a vhd on linux, qemu can play it
you just "cd" into the qemu folder "qemu-img create ,etc"

So, the Portable-OS is kinda here!

Anybody made one yet?
anybody download and confirm it really saves yet?

Alright; I have now installed slack to a different vhd, this time with XFCE4 and it works great!
No errors or anything, and I made the vhd 3.2GB so it'll fit on a 4GB USB.

I downloaded and unzip it under my work's XP box.
It run very well but have not internet access, do you know how can I configure qemu to made a bridge or take an IP from the company's DHCP server?

Ummm.
Well, are you talking about portable-slackware-right?

If so, I set it up for DHCP when I installed Slack.

You can, thru the KDE menu configure the network.
The network runs fine on my computer via DHCP, I'm not sure why yours doesn't work....

I can suggest that you follow the instructions at the beginning of this post and build it yourself- The download now(KDE) has issues-get the new one 05/17/09 or build-
Download the portable-qemu, extract it.
Download Slackware-12.2-DVD.iso
Use the scripts in portable-qemu to install to vhd as in the instructions.

Note-I just completed doing the XFCE4 and will upload it tonight (3.2GB vhd, xfce4, dillo, firefox, and sbopkg-comes to 2.2GB of 3.2GB avail)

OK-new XFCE4 version is available- it runs great.
It has XFCE4, dillo, firefox, sbopkg and all updates.
It doesn't include SOUND cause that creates a big drag.
Download is a 725MB tar.gz that decompresses to 3.2GB(fits on a 4GB USB) which includes the vhd 3.2GB, a swap drive(hdb)(64MB), and portable-qemu with the run scripts, make vhd scripts, and install scripts and how to to make your own.
Space used is 2.3GB on the 3.2GB VHD.

( http://multidistro.com/downloads/dslqemu/dslqemu.html )

I installed the Portable Slackware.

It seems very good.

I have a problem with the network. From the DHCP it always get an IP address in the range 10.0.2.x, even though my real network is on the net 192.168.0.x

How can I do to make it see the real network and so be able to go to the internet?

Anyway, great job!

Ok, actually I've advanced it a bit and added KVM for linux portables
Problems- although the net settings work great for me
Maybe not so for others? I don't know why??

Answer, maybe installing slack from scratch so it's setup for your machine
OR re-run the slack setup by putting in a slack disk, booting into setup menu
mounting, but not partitioning or formatting installed partition and then
re-run the net setup etc

anyway, slack's kinda big to be a portable
I suggest you try browserpuppy 4.8 and do frugal install
to a qemu-img of about 200MB+ with a swap partition and it runs fast too

I remastered browserpuppy 4.8 and made it into a puppy rescue cd/usb
( http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...embers-737444/ )

rescuepuppy runs fast in portable-qemu too

Here's new portable-qemu for linux/windows with KVM for linux too
( http://multidistro.com/downloads/iso...le-Qemu.tar.gz )

also check out options for net for qemu here
( http://www.qemu.org/qemu-doc.html#SEC27 )

Thanks for your reply.

I didn't solve the network problem yet.

Here I found some more information:

http://alien.slackbook.org/dokuwiki/...=slackware:vde

http://alien.slackbook.org/dokuwiki/...slackware:qemu

but no success yet.

And did you do a complete reinstall on your PC(s) or what?
It worked fine after installing on all of mine
portable-tinycore or portable-puppy are the best at snagging auto-dhcp , etc

Actually I found that I can browse the web from Portable Slackware.
It works out of the box.

What I cannot configure is a bridged network, so I can access my Portable Slackware box from other computers (including the host computer).

Do you have any how-to about it?

Oh, dude that's not my area there
I'm actually pretty ignorant on the bash/programming side
I can barely do "Hello World" in cursive:)

Did you do a full install of all the networking stuff in slack?
what wm are you using?
you must have a fast processor if your running kde etc:)

I would really like to know also, as I don't know much about networking.

network
 

Couldn't you just "netconfig" and reconfigure the network? Chances are the package is configured to the specification of the computer it was built on :??: Perhaps you should try building a script that forces a rerun of "netconfig" . http://www.slackbook.org/html/networ...TION-NETCONFIG ... anyway just my two cents.

That was my thought also, to Re-run the slack network setup using a iso, etc

would that work?

you shouldn't need to rerun it from an iso. It is built into the core utilities of Slackware. If the network.tgz packages are installed you should just be able to shell-out and sudo root then type "netconfig" and it will walk through the initial network configuration screens that were presented during installation (or just like).

How can I use the KQEMU accelerator?

Is the QEMU included in Portable Slackware compiled for using the kqemu kernel module? If so, what version?

eeee...I've had problems trying to get kqemu into it:(

kvm seems to work, and I can get portable-kqemu.exe for you...

Being that I'm not a coder of any sort, my ignorance of such things is high.
I can barely do "Hello World" in cursive, much less any kind of programming lang.

I originally got the qemu from billix-0.18, then found the qemu in tinycore-2.0
and stole it, which is probably what you have, maybe 9+ or 10?

I read somewhere that kqemu works best with qemu-8+, but not sure...

Also, there seems to be something in slackware that really slows it down?
even running fluxbox was about the same speed as kde, which means there's something in the background straining qemu.

for reference, a full hd install of dsl-4.4.10 boots in an amazing 35 sec
on portable-qemu! that's from boot to desktop.
it is the fastest, with dsl frugal 2nd at about 55sec.

tinycore and puppy each about 1min 10-20sec.

How long does your portable-slack take?

I think you should try to build slack specifically for emulation
remove any unnecessary items/apps and turn off most services too.

Here I found some info about enabling networking between host and guest OS using QEMU:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/...nternet_HOW_TO

kqemu don't work very well for me on latest kernels :(
I just use kvm-qemu and it behaves well :)

Yep, that's why I added kvm to it.
safer too I think?

Not all processors are kvm capable. Run cat /proc/cpuinfo, and look at the flags section, if you see svm for AMD, or vmx for Intel - then you can use kvm.

I made a new Portable Slackware 12.2 (Xfce) using the new version of QEMU (0.10.5) for GNU/Linux.

I also tested this new Portable Slackware 12.2 with kqemu on my Slackware 12.2 host and it works well and very fast.

:)

Awesome, glad you got it going.

Does it run any faster?
Wonder if there is a way to configure a version of 12.2 solely for emulation?

Oh, anyway I can get the portable-qemu you made up or directions?
kqemu too
did you integrate kqemu into portable-qemu?

I am still making some tests.

kqemu is a kernel module, so I cannot make it start from USB, unless it is installed on the GNU/Linux host computer.

In the next few days, I will upload this new version to my web space and give you the link, so you can download it.

Hey guys was wonderin if anyone was still interested int the "portable" OS?

As of now I am running ArchBang off my 4GB usb via portable-qemu

as in only thing on usb is qemu folder and qemu-img of 2GB and script to run it

pic below is installing arch into qemu-img on my deb system
note that this plays on windows or linux
off cd/usb/hdd