Very Computer

I'm confused about these two "easy" distributions of Linux.  Both
claim easy setup, but they specify very different disks in their
packages.  I have some questions:

When SLS says it has disks An - Am and Slackware says they have disks
Ai - Aj, are they referring to the same disks?

Is it rude to ask which one is easier for installation and
understanding, if you are new to Unix?  If not, what do you think?

I wrote to the automated mail response server, as indicated, and
Slackware had a nice sheet that included exactly what each disk
came with.  SLS did not...so I can't tell if I want one or the
other...help?

So far, I like the way the Slackware distribution is organized.  It
seems extremely newbie-friendly.  But I'm worried about missing out on
certain things...I can't imagine what right now...how do I get
extensions, etc., once I've installed a base system?  

Actually, I understand that adding a new piece is rather easy (like if
you didn't have trn, just copy it over etc. etc.).  I mean, what
happens if you have to *replace* parts of a standard distribution with
parts of another to get what you want?  That's possible, isn't it?

Well, I guess this is all for right now.  My intention is to assess
the workability of installing Linux on a portable.  I would add
network connections gradually later, like PLIP or maybe even Ethernet
on a PCMCIA adapter (if it's supported).  Linux looks like a very good
product, and I know that my next computer is coming with me.  I'd like
to do both.

Thanks,

Mike
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Quote:>I'm confused about these two "easy" distributions of Linux.  Both
>claim easy setup, but they specify very different disks in their
>packages.  I have some questions:
>When SLS says it has disks An - Am and Slackware says they have disks
>Ai - Aj, are they referring to the same disks?

No, because they are different distributions. Although it looks
similar, the contents and the quality of the packages are very
different !

Quote:>Is it rude to ask which one is easier for installation and
>understanding, if you are new to Unix?  If not, what do you think?

I only know SLS and Slackware. But there are more distributions
out there. From what I know and hear and see, Slackware ist
currently _the_ distribution.

Easy installation, robust/stable ext2 filesystems since
bootutils are part of the distribution (really check your
filsystems during booting if needed) and lot's of well
portet "fun stuff".

Quote:>I wrote to the automated mail response server, as indicated, and
>Slackware had a nice sheet that included exactly what each disk
>came with.  SLS did not...so I can't tell if I want one or the
>other...help?

Currently Slackware 1.0.4 offers more stuff and more up to date stuff
than SLS 1.0.3. The only thing which is missing in Slackware is TeX.
But those three disks you can easily take from the SLS distribution.
It's no problem to install TeX from SLS with Slackware's pkgtool.

Quote:>So far, I like the way the Slackware distribution is organized.  It
>seems extremely newbie-friendly.  But I'm worried about missing out on
>certain things...I can't imagine what right now...how do I get
>extensions, etc., once I've installed a base system?  

Count the disks, Slackware offers more disks without TeX
than SLS with TeX included. And look, that the 3.5" disks
are nearly full in Slackware !

Or are you still unsure to deceide for Slackware because SLS
was Months ago _the_ distribution ?

Give Slackware a try, it's more stable, better organized
and contains everything you need, really !

A new goody in Slackware is the commercial GUI builder from
Parcplace which is free in Linux for non profit use.

Quote:>Actually, I understand that adding a new piece is rather easy (like if
>you didn't have trn, just copy it over etc. etc.).  I mean, what
>happens if you have to *replace* parts of a standard distribution with
>parts of another to get what you want?  That's possible, isn't it?

pkgtool.  There are two possibilities: to add and to remove a package.
SLS isn't better in this case ....

Here two examples (pkgtool | tee -a /tmp/xxx) (Slackware 1.0.3)

Welcome to the Slackware package tool (pkgtool).

Would you like to [i]nstall or [r]emove packages?
You have installed these packages:
base bc bin bin4 binutils bsdgames butils10 comms cpio22a cprints devs
diff20a doc31 dos049 dvi2pcls dvi2xxs dvipss e2fsbn e2fssrc elfabi elm2421
english etc f2c gcc245 gchess gdb getty gettys ghostscr gp9600 groff gsfonts1
gsfonts2 gxx245 gzip124 hpdj500 idraw inc441 infos joe jove4147 keytbls ksh
lib441 libgr12 lilo lpr lx99p13 mailx make362 man man2 manyfaqs modegen mount
mt national ncurses nethack nn6418 nn6418m p2c perl pmake44b pmake44s ps
rcs56a rpcfix sc scsikern select15 shadow shlibs svgalib7 syslogd sysvinit
tamux tar1112 tcltkdis tcpip tcsh604 term107s term107x texbin texlibm texlibt
texman tracrout usrbin4 vgaset winapi02 xbase13 xcolor xextra13 xfonts1
xfonts2 xlink13 xman1 xman3 xprog13 xrest xv300 xvinc3a xvlib3 xvman3 xvmenus
xvow3 xvrest3 xvslibs3 zoneinfo

Remove which packages?
Welcome to the Slackware package tool (pkgtool).

Would you like to [i]nstall or [r]emove packages?
Install from [c]urrent directory or [f]loppy?
Install from:

  1 -- /dev/fd0 (drive 1)
  2 -- /dev/fd1 (drive 2)

Source drive?
Enter the letters of any disk sets you would like to install
or just hit enter to install from only the current disk:

Disk sets ==>
Please insert disk to install packages from and press <enter>, or
type <q> to quit installing software:
Aborting...

Hope it helps

        Andreas ///
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Andreas Klemm                 /\/\____ Wiechers & Partner Datentechnik GmbH

I know this must be a dumb question, but where is the Slackware  
distribution available? I could not find a reference in the FAQ's.
Thanks

Keith Hollister

: I know this must be a dumb question, but where is the Slackware  
: distribution available? I could not find a reference in the FAQ's.
: Thanks

: Keith Hollister

ftp.cdrom.com: pub/linux/zooed_slackware
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: When SLS says it has disks An - Am and Slackware says they have disks
: Ai - Aj, are they referring to the same disks?

They are both the basic system, but are organized differently

: Is it rude to ask which one is easier for installation and
: understanding, if you are new to Unix?  If not, what do you think?

There is not much difference.  SLS has utils on their boot disk which id
very helpfull in case of a crash. Slackware does not, so you have to
manually make your own.  Slackware offers more flexibility  when deciding
what to install. SLS comes with lots of example files. Slackware did not
have these, but did have a good compilation of FAQ's missing in SLS.

: seems extremely newbie-friendly.  But I'm worried about missing out on
: certain things...I can't imagine what right now...how do I get

Slack has everything SLS does plus more AND it is better organized/setup/etc
and it is much easier to add the other stuff at a later date

: happens if you have to *replace* parts of a standard distribution with
: parts of another to get what you want?  That's possible, isn't it?

these cases, you're on your own.

: Well, I guess this is all for right now.  My intention is to assess
: the workability of installing Linux on a portable.  I would add
: network connections gradually later, like PLIP or maybe even Ethernet

I personally like Slack NET stuff better
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