once i've got a working slax install (on usb), how do i go about adding on all the bloatware i want? i mean, can i just start adding slackware packages, etc.?
my actual and initial aim behind using slax is to have a full slackware installation on USB. so would it make more sense to do a slackware install to USB and then follow the steps described on linux-live before i reboot?
Maybe you could explain why you wouldn't just do this directly with a Slackware 12.2 install disk? And given your stated goal, why do you need anything to do with linux-live?
Re your first question, you can use installpkg xxx.tgz on standard slax, but that's clunky; the slax way of doing that is to use installpkg to install the xxx.tgz to a temp directory, along with any missing dependencies, and make an xxx.lzm module of the temp directory. Then copy that to your /modules on whatever media, done.
yes, i did want to do that with the slack install cd (i have the first 3 iso's). however, i don't recall an option to 'install to usb'. and there was some mention of having to:
- modify shutdown scripts to not unmount usb's until the end since that's where the os is
- kernel to include autofs, squashfs, etc.
step 1 at linux-live says "Install your favourite distro to disk partition, or into a folder on your existing system." - i don't have a system that i can install slackware to (can't modify the existing system). so using linux booting off usb is my only real option and then use it as i would use any linux install (got myself a 32 GB pen drive for this purpose). so starting off with slax and adding more things/installing as required seemed one way to go.
noted, the tgz to lzm way would keep things lighter.
It is an interesting idea.
I use a module DVD and only load what I need to use.
I would like to see how big you could grow your Slackware kit.
Are you thinking of activating the modules on the fly from WWW and other sources or only your stored copies?
You can make modules for Slackware apps and seed them around the planet to go beyond your 32GB limit.
Or are you thinking to just be growing your build up to your 32 GB limit?
I have had problems with some brands of USB over 2GB in the past as I gather have others. You might do a forum search for yours and see if it has had problems. You might consider the flexibility of multiple partitions and file systems as well.
actually, i'm looking to use my pen drive up to 32 GB. well, maybe around 10-15 for the OS and applications, etc. regular 'data' is not so much an issue as i'll either have the system drive or external drive attached when required.
so at any point, my usb drive is fully operational standalone as far as apps are considered.
i've already got slax running on an 8 GB pen drive. so once i've figured out how to build a full slackware install on usb, i'll use the 32 GB. so already enjoying slax :-)
Hmmm I've got Ubuntu running as a full (not live) OS from a USB hard drive. I have no issues with the usb shutting down first with the OS there. The system, I believe, is intuitive enough to know it can't shut down the devices that are running the OS. Even if its shuts everything else down first, it will still keep the device running the OS up. The same should go for Slackware. So long as you identify the right /dev/xxx to install the root to and set it up right in lilo, you should be fine.
