Slackware Linux Essentials - Chapter 19 ZipSlack
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19.1 What is ZipSlack?
ZipSlack is a special version of Slackware Linux. It’s an already installed copy of Slackware that’s ready to run from your DOS or Windows partition. It’s a basic installation, you do not get everything that comes with Slackware.
ZipSlack gets its name from the form it’s distributed in, a big .ZIP file. Users of DOS and Windows will probably be familiar with these files. They are compressed archives. The ZipSlack archive contains everything you need to get up and running with Slackware.
It is important to note that ZipSlack is significantly different from a regular installation. Even though they function the same and contain the same programs, their intended audiences and functions differ. Several advantages and disadvantages of ZipSlack are discussed below.
One last thing, you should always review the documentation included in the actual ZipSlack directory. It contains the latest information regarding installation, booting, and general use of the product.
19.1.1 Advantages
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Does not require repartitioning of your hard disk.
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Great way to learn Slackware Linux without stumbling through the installation process.
19.1.2 Disadvantages
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Uses the DOS filesystem, which is slower than a native Linux filesystem.
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Will not work with Windows NT.
19.2 Getting ZipSlack
Obtaining ZipSlack is easy. If you have purchased the official Slackware Linux CD set, then you already have ZipSlack. Just find the CD that contains the zipslack directory and place it in your CD-ROM drive. It’s usually the third or fourth disc, but always trust the labels over this documentation as the disk it resides on is prone to change.
If you want to download ZipSlack, you should first visit our “Get Slack” web page for the latest download information:
http://www.slackware.com/getslack/
ZipSlack is part of each Slackware release. Locate the release you want, and go to that directory on the FTP site. The latest release directory can be found at this location:
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware/
You’ll find ZipSlack in the /zipslack subdirectory. ZipSlack is offered as one big .ZIP file or floppy-sized chunks. The chunks are in the /zipslack/split directory.
Don’t stop at just the .ZIP files. You should also download the documentation files and any boot images that appear in the directory.
19.2.1 Installation
Once you’ve downloaded the necessary components, you’ll need to extract the .ZIP file. Be sure to use a 32-bit unzipper. The size and filenames in the archive are too much for a 16-bit unzipper. Examples of 32-bit unzippers include WinZip and PKZIP for Windows.
ZipSlack is designed to be extracted directly to the root directory of a drive (such as C: or D:). A \LINUX directory will be created that contains the actual Slackware installation. You’ll also find the files necessary to booting the system in that directory as well.
After you’ve extracted the files, you should have a \LINUX directory on the drive of your choosing (we’ll use C: from here on).
19.3 Booting ZipSlack
There are several ways to boot ZipSlack. The most common is to use the included LINUX.BAT to boot the system from DOS (or from DOS mode under Windows 9x). This file must be edited to match your system before it will work.
Start by opening the C:\LINUX\LINUX.BAT file in your favorite text editor. At the top of the file you will notice a large comment. It explains what you need to edit in this file (and also what to do if you are booting from an external Zip drive). Don’t worry if you don’t understand the root= setting. There are several examples, so feel free to pick one and try it. If it doesn’t work, you can edit the file again, comment out the line you uncommented, and pick another one.
After you uncomment the line you want by removing the “rem” at the beginning of the line, save the file and exit the editor. Bring your machine into DOS mode.
A DOS prompt window in Windows 9x will NOT work.
Type C:\LINUX\LINUX.BAT to boot the system. If all goes well, you should be presented with a login prompt.
Log in as root, with no password. You’ll probably want to set a password for root, as well as adding an account for yourself. At this point you can refer to the other sections in this book for general system usage.
If using the LINUX.BAT file to boot the system didn’t work for you, you should refer to the included C:\LINUX\README.1ST file for other ways to boot.
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