Slackware is an operating system based on the Linux kernel. People often refer to Linux as an alternative to Microsoft Windows or Apple MacOSX. But in fact Linux is the kernel on top of which all the 'user space' software runs, and Slackware is just one example of a Linux based OS. There are ... Read review
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in general,The Linux Networkprovides all the information you need to get your Linux network up and running. The authors begin with an overview of networking th...
A review by simcox1 on Slackware Linux September 23rd, 2007
Author's product rating:
Instructions / Help
Good
Ease of use
Easy
Ease of Installation
Good - quick to install
Reliability
Excellent
Value For Money
Excellent
Advantages:
Everything
Disadvantages:
None really .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Slackware is an operating system based on the Linux kernel. People often refer to Linux as an alternative to Microsoft Windows or Apple MacOSX. But in fact Linux is the kernel on top of which all the 'user space' software runs, and Slackware is just one example of a Linux based OS. There are many, many more. The differences between the various distros, as they are known, largely boil down to how everything is put together. The actual software that they use is the same.
If I've so far blinded you with science, I'm sorry. It's not actually particularly complicated, which is one of the things which using a Linux based OS has taught me. Microsoft Windows, for example, tends to make people feel somewhat at a loss when things don't work. Using Linux, and particularly Slackware, has taught me how things actually work, and consequently I am much more at ease with working at my computer.
Linux based OSs (operating systems) are essentially very similar to any other OS. You can do all the things that you would expect, such as browsing the net, word-processing etc. The difference is that the software is open source (mostly). This means that the source code for everything on your system is publicly available, unlike Microsoft software which is closed source. This encourages a good community of users and developers, and you will find that there are many very good online forums, for example, where you can go for help.
I will now be more specific about Slackware, rather than Linux in general. Slackware is the longest running of all Linux distros (distributions). It was first released in 1993, and the latest version is Slackware 12.0. It is renowned for it's stability and reliability. It is also known as being a little tricky to begin with, particularly if you are unfamiliar with Linux. This may be true, and I had difficulty at first. Unlike many other distros, Slackware doesn't automatically set everything up for you. It does the basics, but a certain amount of manual configuration is left for the user. This means that what you end up with is something set up specifically for your own needs.
Having configured your system, you will have a good understanding of it, and be able to cope with problems. It will be secure, fast, and configured just the way you want it.
In terms of the software included with it, most of what would be considered standard software for all needs, is included. This includes software for use with a server or a desktop. Extra software can easily be downloaded and added.
It would be impossible for me to list all the included software, but Slackware comes as either a DVD or a 6 CD set. So about 3.9GB. It is free to download, or you can buy it for around US$50 (£25). The disks also include the source code.
As I mentioned before, Linux, and particularly Slackware, has an excellent online community, and you will find trying it out (for free) a very rewarding experience.
Advantages: No need to install new system Disadvantages: Limited features, no GUI
Most of you probably won't have heard of LOAF (Linux On A Floppy). It is one of many distributions of Linux which is minimalist enough (don't expect a GUI) to fit on a humble 3.5" floppy disk. You still get all the main utilities you would expect in a unix type environment, but the self contained little thing can be conveniently run (from boot-up) on a PC set up with Microsh*t type OS, without hassling over partition tables or completely overhauling ...
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Advantages: UNIX like, clean, stable, works well with kernel in terms of config. Good GUI for X11 and TERM control. Disadvantages: Bad as a server, but we're talking home computing here. Probably not great for first time users...more command line fiddling.
Having used BSD for years, I progressed to Linux. Having said progressed, I at first regressed through the early Red Hat systems, an example of jewry rigged systems, all put together in a spagetti of configuration files and utilities - ghastly to use!
However, BSD has its own downfalls. Whilst being great as the server, it cannot handle a great deal of the utilities designed for UN*X's - nowadays all designed for Linux -> JED is an example - the ... ...and when I tried to use GNU-ST with the front end for X11 - well, I was pushing my luck ;)
So, I went to Slackware, having heard it was one of the most UNIX like of the bunch. I love it; I've been using it for about 3 months, it works cleanly, it's stable, and modular kernel programming is not a hard task - it is quite easy to adapt to linux from BSD. I have the advantages of being compatible with almost all of the UNIX world, as most are now on ...
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Instructions / Help
Ease of use
Ease of Installation
Reliability
Value For Money
helpful
23.05.2001
A great dist Review ofSlackware Linuxby
sunstorm2k
Advantages: Speed, size Disadvantages: Poor help - your on your own
...mandrake or suse, slackware does not require tons of space to download the base installation files. So a 40 meg download later i had all the files needed for a basic installation. Also, as it does not use graphical installation tools, it works on older computers with slow graphic cards. ...
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Advantages: Easy to install Disadvantages: no x-windows
This operating system is great! I chose the option zipslack to run slackware. This option is ideal for first time Linux users as no partitioning is necessary and only a small amount of hard drive space is necessary. This distro is only command line with all the usual features of a Linux distro but an X windows interface is not difficult to add. Another version is available called bigslack, which is the same as zipslack but requires more hard drive ...
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Advantages: Quick clean fast to install and customise. Disadvantages: More aimed at the expert than the novice.
I first came across SlackWare some 5 or 6 years ago and used it to build my first Linux Server.
Since then I have used it to build servers for customers and as our in house proxy / mail server. As with any Linux it has always proved to be reliable. I like the SlackWare distro because it is unhindered by fancy install programs and un-necessary modules. However I don't think it is the best distro for a novice.
Whether you download it or buy one of ...
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...It's been over a year since I migrated to X from Linux (Slackware, for the curious), I would say that it's been one of the best decisions I've made.
Initially the decision was pushed by a failing PC, I'd had enough of bad hardware, and configuration headaches, and decided that the time was ripe to buy a whole machine, rather than continue replacing bits that were broken, or too slow. I figured that Linux would still run on it, even if X turned out to be horrible.
Fortunately, it wasn't.
The install process was simple, just a case of selecting which components you wanted to install and setting up the hard drive, though for many users it would be possible to avoid those steps and go with the defaults, I needed a custom setup so I could install Linux as well. After that the process could be left to itself, up until the end where it...
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Advantages: Stable, Cheap and Bundled with loads of Extras. Geared for networking and the Internet. Disadvantages: Doesn't fully support Windows Software. Only a few games.
...evolved from the early days of a DOS style console interface to the current X Server with a hoard of different User Interfaces. Programs that would cost the Windows user thousands of pounds cost the Linux user the cost of a download and this software is nothing short of professional.
Section 6 - What is Suse Linux
Many groups contribute to the creation of various Linux platforms. Redhat, Slackware, Denebian and Suse are just some of the big players. Anything that runs on a Red Hat Linux system will run on a Suse system and vice versa. Suse Linux is constructed by Suse GmgH, a German company and is a favourite of European users. Suse have created an installation system that comes very close to the ease that a Windows user has. The copy of Suse Linux I purchased is the Personal Edition and comes on three CDs. It contains the main OS...
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29.05.2003
