quote:
And RPMs for Slackware suck, use RPM2TGZ if you can only find an RPM for a program. Anytime i tried isntalling an RPM in slackware it would have a huge list of failed dependencies (because it checks the rpm databse for dependenciesm, i think)
I agree. I am a die hard slack fan (after trying M/9 and it was SLOW as HELL). But I am also a former-DOS-command line jockie, assembler programmer, and tinkerer. You might consider it too difficult. I currently do NOT recommend slackware to new linux users.
My probs with slackware:
no default firewall. You have to set up your own; that requires a learning curve for iptables (or ipchains for the older 2.2.x kernels). For decent stock firewalls, see
the Netfilter Guruz Page. They all have good commenting to assist learning iptables.
RPM support is, at best, a joke. After getting the hang of source-tarballs, i avoid RPMs whever possible. If I have to use an RPM, I always select a version or two behind the latest, and install it with "rpm --no-deps -i {pkg}.rpm". This gets around failed dependancies checks. If it still won't work, throw in the "--force" and grabg a drink
. If the package doesn't work right, "rpm -U --no-deps [--force] {pkg}.rpm" results in "{pkg} not installed." and "rpm --no-deps {pkg}.rpm" results in "{pkg} already installed.". I then try to configure the next version of the rpm and hope it works. The only way I have gotten rpm's off my pute is by hunting down the files and deleting them. Even the [re]build database options fail to correct the problem.
Slack isn't really difficult to install (especially the newbie of full options), but the package descriptions for the expert modes don't list all the necessary dependancies. Installation configuration is via a color-console menu. Might be a breath of fresh air for those dependant on GUIs. Maybe not.
Tweeking slack consists of reading man pages and doing text edits (except of course for the window managers). I prefer it this way, but those dependent on LinuxConf or drakeconfig (whatever it's called) will have another learning curve to surmount. If that is the case, I suggest the book "Linux Complete". It makes ample use of LinuxConf, but also tells you what it modifies and where. Nice and newbie-friendly.
Advice for the brave: maintain a ROOT LOG; a simple booklet where you write down EVERYTHING you do as root. This will enable you to keep track of problems, and backtrack out of something that might have broken your system.
-- segfault article follows --
If Linux Distributions Were AirlinesIf Linux Distributions Were Airlines
Red Hat Airlines:
The standard in air travel. Most people have flown Red Hat Air at one point or other. Some people like it and some people hate it and move on to one of the other airlines. Passengers are all treated the same; they get stuck in their seats and told not to ask questions -- everything will be taken care of for them. They should just sit back, relax, and not touch of the fancy controls under any circumstances, lest they send the plane into a tailspin. Red Hat Airlines is fabulously rich.
Mandrake Airlines:
Mandrake bought a truckload of planes from Red Hat, put new engines in them, re-painted them, and now run their own airline. Considered by many to be the most friendly airline for first-time flyers.
Corel Airlines:
A new player on the scene, Corel Air thinks it can be the airline of choice for a new generation of first-time pleasure flyers, and maybe even lure in some business travelers too. Their planes are big, brightly painted, and like Red Hat's they protect the innocent, clueless passengers from the dangerous buttons, switches and blinkenlights of the cockpit.
SuSe Airlines:
An airline out of Europe that tries to be everything for everyone and succeeds -- to a degree. Recently paid a huge sum of money to use a comic strip in its promotional material. (And after they finally named the lizard...)
Caldera OpenAirlines:
These guys go out of their way to make things comfortable for the business user. They've got a pretty terminal, pretty planes, really good in-flight movies, etc. But I had a bad experience with these guys once. They lost my luggage. Quite a mess, really. Ah well, such is life. I never flew with them again.
SlackAIR:
From a distance, their planes look just like everyone elses. But up close you can tell that they haven't been painted and little bits of wire stick out here and there. But onboard, the seats are comfortable enough and there are plenty of stewardesses available to help you readjust your seat if you manage to break it. There is no in-flight movie but if you get bored you are always welcome up in the cockpit. The pilots will be glad to let you try and fly the plane and are happy to let you push whatever buttons you want, even if you don't know what you're doing. Generally, novice flyers avoid SlackAIR as they've heard horror stories about newbies pressing the wrong button and causing the plane to explode.
Debian Airlines:
They have a single type of airplane; a huge sucker weighing 2400 tons and carrying just about everything you can imagine. They've got kitchen sinks, massage parlors, a paintball arena, and 294 types of cheese for sale in the onboard, 24-hour supermarket. You can see from the terminal they have a huge team of technicians working on their fleet, poking and prodding. Debian Air is the only choice for some: everything onboard is built 100% by union workers -- no shoddy, possibly dangerous, imports here.
For completeness, let's throw in some BSD...
NetAIR:
Pretty standard fare, with one primary selling point: they'll fly anywhere. There isn't anywhere they won't go. War zones, political hotbeds, Canada -- all fair game. Of course, they keep their planes in good condition and up to date.
FreeAIR:
Probably the most popular of the alternative airlines, FreeAIR is a favorite of business travelers and, well, pretty much everyone. They offer the same services as everyone else and have the same devoted following as the other airlines. Purportedly a good choice for first time BSD flyers.
OpenAIR:
SecureAIR really would be more appropriate. They've got armed guards at every door, armed guards on the plane -- even a fighter escort. Passengers are treated pretty respectably as long as they are willing to go through the security checkpoints.
Posted on Wed 15 Mar 09:33:56 2000 PST
Written by tpck
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see also
If OSs were Airelines-t.
