Introduction

Slackware Linux is the granddaddy of many modern distributions, known for its simplicity, stability, and design philosophy that follows the “keep it simple, you’ll learn more” mantra. If you’ve ever wanted to get your hands dirty with a distribution that expects you to know what you’re doing (or learn fast), Slackware is your ticket. This tutorial walks you through every step of installing Slackware, from downloading the ISO to bootloader configuration and first user setup. We’ll sprinkle in a bit of humor to keep your mind off the occasional cryptic installer prompt.

Prerequisites

• A computer (virtual or physical) with at least 1GB of RAM (2GB recommended).
• 20GB of free disk space (adjust to taste).
• A USB flash drive (4GB minimum) or DVD burner.
• Internet connection (for updates and mirrors).
• Basic comfort with a command-line interface (this is Slackware, after all!).

1. Downloading the ISO

Head over to the official Slackware site and pick a mirror:

• http://www.slackware.com/getslack/

Choose slackware64-current-iso if you have a 64-bit machine. Verify the checksum:

md5sum slackware64-current.iso

Compare with the .md5 file on the mirror. If they match, you’re golden if not, try another mirror or check your download manager’s sanity.

2. Preparing Installation Media

Use dd (or Rufus on Windows) to write the ISO to a USB stick:

dd if=slackware64-current.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress  sync

Replace /dev/sdX with your USB device. No worries if you get the drive wrong once or twice—we’re all learners here.

3. Booting the Installer

1. Insert the USB stick and reboot.
2. Select it in your BIOS/UEFI boot menu.
3. At the lilo: prompt, just press Enter.

You should land at a login prompt. Log in as:

• User: root
• Password: (none, just hit Enter)

4. Disk Partitioning

Slackware doesn’t shy away from letting you pick your partitioning tool. We’ll use cfdisk here:

cfdisk /dev/sda

Suggested layout:

After writing the table, format:

mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda1
mkswap /dev/sda2
mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda3

5. Mounting and Launching Setup

Mount the partitions:

mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
mkdir /mnt/home
mount /dev/sda3 /mnt/home
swapon /dev/sda2

Run the installer:

setup

6. The Slackware Installer Steps

6.1 Select Target

Choose /mnt as the target. Slackware is polite but expects you to know where you’re going.

6.2 Source Media

Pick Install from USB or wherever you put the ISO. The installer will scan and list available packages.

6.3 Series Selection

Slackware divides packages into series: A, AP, D, E, F, KDE, XFCE, etc.

Recommendation: Select A, AP, D, E for a minimal CLI development environment. Add XFCE or KDE if you crave a desktop.

6.4 Custom Install Choices

• Tagfile: Accept the default. Keep it simple.
• Install Kernel: Use the “huge” kernel for broad hardware support. Optionally build your own later.
• Extensions: Always handy to have multimedia codecs if you plan to jam out.

6.5 LILO Configuration

Slackware uses LILO by default. You’ll be asked:

• Install LILO to MBR? – Yes, if this is your only OS.
• Root Partition: /dev/sda1.
• Additional Options: Add vga=789 or similar if you need framebuffer console.

6.6 Clock and Timezone

Choose your hardware clock preference (UTC is recommended). Then pick your continent and city in the timezone list.

6.7 Network Configuration

Slackware loves /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1.conf. Edit it with vi (or nano if you installed it):

IPADDR=192.168.1.10
NETMASK=255.255.255.0
GATEWAY=192.168.1.1
USE_DHCP=’no’

Enable the script:

chmod  x /mnt/etc/rc.d/rc.inet1
chmod  x /mnt/etc/rc.d/rc.inet2

7. First Boot

Reboot, remove the USB stick, and let LILO do its magic. If you see the Slackware banner, pat yourself on the back—installation was a success!

8. Post-Install Configuration

8.1 Set Root Password

passwd

8.2 Create a Regular User

adduser

Follow prompts. Make yourself a sudoer if you like:

echo ’%wheel ALL=(ALL) ALL’ >> /etc/sudoers

Add your user to the wheel group:

usermod -a -G wheel yourusername

8.3 Networking Package Updates

Slackware’s native updater is slackpkg. Edit /etc/slackpkg/mirrors and uncomment a mirror:

#http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/slackware/slackware64-14.2/

Then:

slackpkg update
slackpkg install-new
slackpkg upgrade-all

8.4 Graphical Desktop (Optional)

If you installed XFCE:

echo ’exec startxfce4’ >> /home/yourusername/.xinitrc

Login as your user and type startx. Voila, graphical bliss!

9. Tips Tricks

• Custom Kernel: Grab https://www.kernel.org and build one. Slackware’s handbook has a chapter on it.
• Software: Try SlackBuilds.org for community scripts to compile popular apps.
• Documentation: docs.slackware.com is your best friend.

Conclusion

Installing Slackware is an invitation to learn by doing. You’ll see raw configuration files, meet LILO face-to-face, and truly understand what’s under the hood of your Linux box. Keep this guide handy, and don’t be afraid to dive into man pages. Remember: if it doesn’t break, you’re not trying hard enough—just kidding! Happy Slackware-ing!