The second Slackware release of 2005, Slackware Linux 10.2
continues the long Slackware tradition of simplicity, stability,
and security.
Among the many program updates and distribution enhancements,
you’ll find two of the most advanced desktop environments available
today: Xfce 4.2.2, a fast and lightweight but visually appealing
and easy to use desktop environment, and KDE 3.4.2, the latest
version of the award-winning K Desktop Environment.
Slackware uses the 2.4.31 kernel bringing you advanced
performance features such as the ReiserFS journaling filesystem,
SCSI and ATA RAID volume support, SATA support, and kernel support
for X DRI (the Direct Rendering Interface) that brings high-speed
hardware accelerated 3D graphics to Linux. Additional kernels allow
installing Slackware using any of the journaling filesystems
available for Linux, including ext3, ReiserFS, IBM’s JFS, and SGI’s
XFS. For those Slackware users who are anxious to try the new 2.6.x
kernel series, it is fully supported by the system. A precompiled
Linux 2.6.13 kernel, modules, and source code are provided (along
with complete instructions on how to install the new kernel). A
bootable 2.6.13 kernel (“test26.s”) with support for most SCSI,
RAID, and SATA controllers is integrated into the installer.
From the beginning, Slackware has offered a stable and secure
Linux distribution for UNIX veterans as well as an easy-to-use
system for beginners. Slackware includes everything you’ll need to
run a powerful server or workstation. Each Slackware package
follows the setup and installation instructions from its author(s)
as closely as possible, offering you the most stable and easily
expandable setup.
Here are some of the advanced features of Slackware 10.2:
- Runs the 2.4.31 version of the Linux kernel from ftp.kernel.org/.
Special kernels were prepared to support hardware such as SCSI
controllers, SATA controllers, USB keyboards and mice,
parallel-port IDE devices, IBM PS/2 machines with the Microchannel
bus, and even speech synthesizers providing access to Linux for the
visually impaired community. The performance of the 2.4.x kernel
series along with Slackware’s track record of careful attention to
system security make it the perfect choice for running your
production servers. - As an alternate choice, Slackware 10.2 includes Linux 2.6.13
source, kernel modules, and binary packages, along with the
mkinitrd tool and instructions on using it to install the new
kernel (see /boot/README.initrd). When running a 2.6 kernel,
Slackware supports udev. This is a system for creating devices in
/dev dynamically, greatly reducing device clutter and making it
easy to see what devices are actually present in the system. - System binaries are linked with the GNU C Library, version
2.3.5.
This version of glibc also has excellent compatibility with
existing binaries. - X11R6.8.2
This is the current release of the X.Org Foundation’s X Window
System. The 6.8.2 version is a new release that includes additional
hardware support, functional enhancements and bug fixes. - Installs gcc-3.3.6 as the default C, C++, Objective-C,
Fortran-77, and Ada 95 compiler. gcc-3.4.4 is available as an
alternate choice. - Support for fully encrypted network connections with OpenSSL,
OpenSSH, and GnuPG. - Apache 1.3.33 web server with Dynamic Shared Object (DSO)
support, SSL, and PHP. - PCMCIA, CardBus, and APM support for laptops.
(pcmcia-cs-3.2.8).
Slackware also now includes hotplug support. This locates and
configures most hardware automatically as it is added (or removed)
from the system. It also loads the kernel modules required by sound
cards and other hardware at boot time. - New development tools, including Perl 5.8.7, Python 2.4.1,
Subversion 1.2.3, and graphical tools like Qt designer and
KDevelop. - Updated versions of the Slackware package management tools make
it easy to add, remove, upgrade, and make your own Slackware
packages. Package tracking makes it easy to upgrade from Slackware
10.1 to Slackware 10.2 (see UPGRADE.TXT). The slackpkg tool in
/extra can also help update from an older version of Slackware to a
newer one, and keep your Slackware system up to date. In addition,
the new slacktrack utility (in extra/) will help you build and
maintain your own packages. - Web browsers galore! Includes KDE’s Konqueror 3.4.2, Mozilla
1.7.11, and the immensely popular new Firefox 1.0.6. (as well as
the Thunderbird 1.0.6 email and news client with advanced junk mail
filtering) - The complete K Desktop Environment (KDE) version 3.4.2,
including the KOffice productivity suite, networking tools, GUI
development with KDevelop, multimedia tools, the Konqueror web
browser and file manager, dozens of games and utilities,
international language support, and more. - A collection of GTK+ based applications, including
abiword-2.2.9 (upgraded from version 2.0.12 in Slackware 10.1),
gaim-1.5.0, gimp-2.2.8, gkrellm-2.2.7, gxine-0.4.8, and
pan-0.14.2.91. - Large repository of extra software packages compiled and ready
to run. This includes various window managers, support for 3Dfx
gaming cards, OpenMotif-2.2.2, the K3b CD burning application for
KDE, the Java(TM) 2 Software Development Kit Standard Edition,
libsafe (advanced buffer overflow protection for additional
security), ISDN support, additional 802.11 drivers, and much more
(see the /extra directory). - Many more improved and upgraded packages than we can list here.
For a complete list of core packages in Slackware 10.2, see this
file:
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-10.2/PACKAGES.TXT - Another Slackware exclusive: Slackware’s ZipSlack installation
option is the fastest, _easiest_ Linux installation ever. ZipSlack
provides a basic text-based Linux system as a 48 megabyte ZIP
archive. Simply unzip on any FAT or FAT32 partition, edit your boot
partition in the LINUX.BAT batch file, and you can be running Linux
in less than five minutes. The ZipSlack installation includes
everything you need to network with Linux (including Ethernet,
token ring, and PPP), and extend the system with additional
software packages such as X. A ZipSlack system will even fit on a
Zip(TM) disk, so you can carry a personal Linux system with you to
run on any PC with a Zip(TM) drive.
Downloading Slackware 10.2:
The full version of Slackware Linux 10.2 is available for
download from the central Slackware FTP site hosted by our friends
at www.cwo.com/:
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-10.2/
The ZipSlack version of Slackware can be downloaded from:
ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-10.2/zipslack/
If this site is busy, see the list of official mirror sites
here:
http://slackware.com/getslack/
Thanks to the generosity of the Open Source Lab at Oregon State
University we also have a new high-speed primary mirror site:
ftp://slackware.osuosl.org/pub/slackware/slackware-10.2/
We will be setting up BitTorrent downloads for the official ISO
images. Stay tuned to http://slackware.com for the latest
updates.
Purchasing Slackware on CD-ROM:
Or, purchase the Slackware Linux 10.2 four CD-ROM set directly
from Slackware Linux, and you’ll be helping to support the
continued development of Slackware Linux! 🙂
This is the official release of Slackware on CD-ROM, and has
many enhanced features, including:
- Easy bootable CD-ROM installation. If your machine can boot a
CD-ROM, just boot the first disc to begin the installation
process. - The ZipSlack edition of Slackware Linux 10.2.
- The source code used to build Slackware Linux 10.2.
The price for the Slackware Linux CD-ROM set is $39.95 plus
shipping.
Slackware Linux is also available by subscription. When we
release a new version of Slackware (which is typically once or
twice a year) we ship it to you and bill your credit card $24.95
plus shipping. Shipping is $5 in the USA, Canada, and Mexico for
First Class. Overseas is $9 PER ORDER. There is an additional $3
COD charge (USA Only). UPS Blue Label (2nd day) [USA Only] is $10
PER ORDER, UPS Red Label (next day) [USA Only] is $15 PER
ORDER.
Ordering Information:
You can order online at the Slackware Linux store: http://store.slackware.com
Order inquiries (including questions about becoming a Slackware
reseller) may be directed to this address: info@slackware.com
Or, send a check or money order to:
Slackware Linux, Inc.
1164 Claremont Drive
Brentwood, CA 94513
USA
Have fun! :^)
—
Patrick J. Volkerding <volkerdi@slackware.com>
Visit us on the web at: http://slackware.com