Linux Slackware From Internet

Getting Slackware from the Internet

The Slackware release of Linux may be found on any number of FTP sites worldwide. Appendix C lists several of the Linux FTP sites; we suggest that you try to find the software on the FTP site nearest you, to reduce net traffic. However, two of the major Linux FTP archives are sunsite.unc.edu and tsx-11.mit.edu.

The Slackware release may be found at least on the following sites:

• sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/distributions/slackware

• tsx-11.mit.edu:/pub/linux/packages/slackware

• ftp.cdrom.com:/pub/linux/slackware

  ftp.cdrom.com is Slackware’s home site.

Downloading the files You should download the following files using FTP. Be sure to use binary mode when transferring. Appendix C contains a complete tutorial on using FTP.

• The various README files, as well as SLACKWARE FAQ. Be sure to read these files before attempting to install the software, to get any updates or changes to this document.

• A bootdisk image. This is a file that you will write to a floppy to create the Slackware boot disk. If you have a 1.44 megabyte boot floppy (3.5"), look in the directory bootdsks.144. If you have a 1.2 megabyte boot floppy (5.25"), look in the directory bootdsks.12. You need one of the following bootdisk files.

You need one of the following bootdisk files.

– bare.gz. This is a boot floppy that has only IDE hard drive drivers. (No SCSI, CD-ROM, or

networking support.) Use this if you only have an IDE hard drive controller and aren’t going to

be installing over the network or from CD-ROM.

– cdu31a.gz. Contains IDE, SCSI, and the Sony CDU31A/33A driver.

– mitsumi.gz. Contains IDE, SCSI, and the Mitsumi CD-ROM driver.

– modern.gz. An experimental boot disk with a newer kernel, and all drivers except those for network cards and the Sony 535 CD-ROM.

– net.gz. Contains IDE and network drivers.

– sbpcd.gz. Contains IDE, SCSI, and SoundBlaster Pro/Panasonic CD-ROM drivers.

– scsi.gz. Contains IDE, SCSI, and SCSI CD-ROM drivers.

– scsinet.gz. Contains IDE, SCSI, SCSI CD-ROM, and network drivers.

– sony535.gz. Contains IDE, SCSI, and Sony 535/531 CD-ROM drivers.

– xt.gz. Contains IDE and XT hard drive drivers.

You need only one of the above bootdisk images, depending on the hardware that you have in your system.

The issue here is that some hardware drivers conflict with each other in strange ways, and instead of attempting to debug hardware problems on your system it’s easier to use a boot floppy image with only certain drivers enabled. Most users should try scsi.gz or bare.gz.