COMP 3000 2011 Report: Slackware 13.37

Background

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The Slackware linux project was founded and is coordinated by Patrick Volkerding with the aim to be the most UNIX-like linux distrobution available. In its creation two key tenant are followed, ease of use and stability, resulting in a very flexable and easily maintainable OS. Slackware is based on the 2.6 linux kernel series and uses the GNU C library version 2.7. For more information or to obtain slackware visit www.slackware.com to order a dvd or download the iso<ref name="slack">Patrick Volkerding. "." The Slackware Linux Project. 2011-04-27. . 16 October 2011. <http://www.slackware.com>.</ref>.

Installation/Startup

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Setup Utility

Services to load on startup

Installation of slackware linux was fairly straitfoward with complete and clear directions to getting up and running. Intalling it through Virtualbox with ubuntu 11.04 as a host os presented no particular problems though may have caused some operational issues that i'll adress later. loading up the slackware.iso brought up a prompt screen that allowed for additional commands to be entered prior to boot though not required. then logging in as root and after being prompted to create a partition with fdisk or cfdisk slackware provided guideance though its setup utility (called through 'setup') alllowing for highly customizeable package installation for various different uses, here the default installation was used. after installation, a short configuaration and restart was able to login as root but encountered a problem starting the kde x server, Some reserched provided a fix<ref name="fix">disturbed1. "KDE crashes in Slackware 13.37" 06-08-2011. LinuxQuestions.org. 16 October 2011. http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/slackware-14/kde-crashes-in-slackware-13-37-a-885306/</ref> of disabling composites after wich was able to startx without it crashing. though current setup does not startx on boot.

Fix to get X Server running

Basic Operation

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Desktop widgets

Slackware Linux is a general distrobution optimised for ease of use and stability allowing it to be customized for many diferent possible roles with the default installation providing a fairly standard OS with a mix of pre-loaded preloaded programs from compilers to games. Shell operation was much the same as other distrobutions, OPeration in x windows became a bit sluggish but that could have been acounted for from the virtualization settings. Kde allowed for widgets to beloaded on the destop and allowed for multible toolbars or 'panels'. Never got a netork connection running and not sure if that was the result of virtualization or not digging hard enough into network settings.

Usage Evaluation

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Slackware Attempts to be easy to use and stable. For ease of use Slackware provided ample guidance during setup and installation and the GUI environment was fairly easy to navigate and use though there were instances where it was unclear what an icon would do when clicked as there was no label or tooltip. As for stability there where some initial issues with kde crashing and some other services that did not startup properly. though some were solved with a bit of research and quite possibly the others just required a bit of missing configuration to work properly. So there was some issues but they were easily solvable. Though stability most likely refers more to following linux standards and conventions then how often it crashes. Definitely Felt like a true linux experience though. Overall its strength is not in its default form but in it flexibility to perform many different roles, weather as a terminal or server and in that it seems to excel though further evaluation may be required to state definitively. Overall though is fairly easy to use is more suited to a more adventurous and technically inclined person than the average user.

References

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