08

November
2012

Slax RC1 updates

I'd like to thank you all for your feedback regarding the latest Slax release. I received a lot of suggestions and bug reports. I've updated Slax now and you can download todays build from the links below.

Download current Slax release:

  • Slax 7 - KDE 4 - 32bit ISO - 184MB (for CD/DVD)
  • Slax 7 - KDE 4 - 32bit ZIP - 184MB (for USB)
  • Slax 7 - KDE 4 - 64bit ISO - 189MB (for CD/DVD)
  • Slax 7 - KDE 4 - 64bit ZIP - 189MB (for USB)

  • Changelog includes:

    - fixed bootinst.sh (typo in realpath call)
    - added ModemManager
    - updated KDE and all apps to version 4.9.3
    - added support for mounting Windows shares (samba) in KDE

    I've also updated links in the previous RC1 post in order to let people download this new release since there are lots of websites linking to that older post. Furthermore I've replaced TAR by ZIP, since that's probably easier for some people to extract. In Linux, simply use unzip.

    User comments
    wpa2 2012-11-08 02:53

    when will the development tools? very much needed!

    Tomas M 2012-11-08 02:56

    I'm not yet decided what to include to the devel module. It's probably too big... I guess I should put there at least make and gcc for the RC2 release (which will be next week).

    In the mean time, feel free to simply install packages from Slackware 14

    Ste73 2012-11-08 03:12

    Thank's!!! Great work!!!

    Slaxeee 2012-11-08 03:46

    Samba support works perfectly !

    Notes:
    First start gave me a black screen [blue one is copyrighted]
    Second start auto-solved the problem.

    Does anybody experimented such situation ?
    Maybe the key ...

    I'm using 64 bit usb version.

    4hmad 2012-11-08 03:49

    how to upgrade from slax 7 iso 2012-11-06 to slax 7 iso 2012-11-08 without download new iso (2012-11-08)

    Akshay 2012-11-08 04:15

    @tomas

    Great job dude
    testing will tell you in a couple of days
    Great to see you listening
    to the community
    Kudos

    Tomas M 2012-11-08 04:16

    Since these are just for testing purpose, there is no differential update at the moment. You'll have to redownload the whole iso, I am sorry.

    4hmad 2012-11-08 04:28

    okay i download begin. in slax 7 iso rc1 i not found the desktop session blackbox in menu session kdm. how to fixed it?

    sonnydonk 2012-11-08 04:32

    @Tomas
    can you add ATI Radeon 6250 driver? coz slax 7 can not diplay in graphic mode, it's only display white screen (testes in acer aspire one 522 with AMD APU c-50 )
    thank you

    berry 2012-11-08 04:37

    It's great! Is it possible to include icon task manager for plasma panel? I'm used to use it and I guess it may be useful for old machines with low resolution monitor :)

    softy 2012-11-08 04:42

    can i get help on installing Slackware 14 packages

    severedfragil 2012-11-08 04:43

    why not update firefox & Thunderbird to beta versions?
    Also add uget download manger

    P.S- LXDE addition would be welcome(just 9 or so mb but boon for older pc's)

    kaiomatico 2012-11-08 04:48

    You did an awesome job! Hopefully there will be the iso remaster tools aviable that I loved so much in slax 6 ;)

    Thank you for the great news :)

    tonio 2012-11-08 04:55

    @Tomas

    Did you update firefox to 16.0.2?, in the other release it was 16.0.1 and the update icon showed up :(

    Mostly everything works great! Have to test some more and send more feedback upon trying out newer iso! Thanks Tomas.

    Tomas M 2012-11-08 05:07

    Yes firefox was updated to 16.0.2. I should disable updates though, else it will start complaining each week or so

    Akshay 2012-11-08 05:15

    @Tomas M

    Why not use vanilla Firefox which can directly update from
    Mozilla

    YAFU 2012-11-08 05:30

    I still have the same problems as I had mentioned in the other entry with the 64-bit version.
    bootinst.sh still does not work in Kubuntu 12.04 64bits:
    # /bin/bash bootinst.sh
    bootinst.sh: line 9: 8258 Segmentation fault (core dumped) konsole -e $0 --rex 2> /dev/null
    Maybe I'm doing something wrong?

    The same problem with the wireless I had mentioned before in the other entry. I've also found that the interface is not blocked:
    # rfkill list
    0: phy0: Wireless LAN
    Soft blocked: no
    Hard blocked: no
    Then I will try what "tdmsilvino" suggested about Slackware kernel-firmware.

    Everything else seems to work very well and fast. By default KDE in Slax uses XRender, but I have configured with OpenGL and works very well with my nVidia GT430.

    Tomas M 2012-11-08 06:13

    @YAFU:
    Are you able to start just 'konsole' from the terminal?

    4hmad 2012-11-08 06:14

    thomas,

    pleaase tell me how to fix flash plugin video not loaded

    Tomas M 2012-11-08 06:22

    @4hmad: I don't know. It works for me.

    4hmad 2012-11-08 06:28

    i used slax-7.0-kde4-2012-11-06-i486.iso, and flash plugin not loaded video

    riman22 2012-11-08 06:32

    howto iwl4965

    YAFU 2012-11-08 09:36

    @Tomas M, The main problem is that Kubuntu 12.04 is not mounting well my pendrive. I have read/write permissions but I can not change the attributes of files. I can not make them executables:
    /dev/sdc1 on /media/KINGSTON type vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,uid=1000,gid=1000,shortname=mixed,dmask=0077,utf8=1,showexec,flush,uhelper=udisks)

    For the above problem I had tried running "botinst.sh" with "/bin/bash bootinst.sh" from "sudo su". And yes, you're right, "konsole" does not start if I run from "sudo su".
    Anyway I've tried from Kubuntu 10.04 and the pendrive is mounted correctly:
    /dev/sdc1 on /media/KINGSTON type vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=hal,uid=1000,utf8,shortname=mixed,flush)
    Now the files have their attributes correctly, but "bootinst.sh" still not working. With "sudo ./bootinst.sh" Konsole opens, showing something and closes quickly. The boot sector is not written successfully.

    justdeath 2012-11-08 10:08

    In VirtualBox 4.2.2: flash doesn't work, the mouse scroll doesn't work.

    Also: right-clicking on item in Downloads: open and open containing folder shows Launch application, instead of opening the file (known file type) or opening the folder.

    Still, it looks very nice!

    tdmsilvino 2012-11-08 11:53

    @justdeath - flash must be installed separated I guess that Tomas M can't ship a package that includes flash. Mouse scroll works in real machines, I guess there is some settings that you need to do on VirtualBox to make it work.

    @Tomas M - the new build works great. I had to install the kernel-firmware from Slackware 14 yet to make my wireless card work. Regarding flash and other plugins you could tweak the Slackbuild for flash player plug-in provided in Slackware and leave it in the root folder so the users could double-click and build the package as soon as they load the desktop. You could also include the mplayer plugin. The other option would be ship Chrome instead of Firefox as Chrome have built-in plugins (users would miss their FF add-ons).

    tdmsilvino 2012-11-08 12:30

    @Tomas M - I have a question: Should Slax free RAM memory as we close the applications?
    I have seen that the amount of RAM used always increase as I open the applications and it looks like that Slax doesn't free memory as I close the applications. How does it work?

    tdmsilvino 2012-11-08 12:38

    @Tomas M - ok ... I performed more tests and Slax is freeing memory as I close the applications :)

    tdmsilvino 2012-11-08 12:55

    I guess that we have almost everything that we need for a standard Desktop ... we're only missing dev tools and a PDF reader.

    wesleyjcr 2012-11-08 13:04

    Tomas'm having trouble with my video card sis because she carries just 671 in 1024 x768 which is not the ideal for a notebook.

    Luke 2012-11-08 16:33

    So where can we download a version of the RC iso without KDE and running solely on Blackbox?

    Or is that not an option yet?

    slaxlover 2012-11-08 19:19

    Tomas, why did you excluded user accounts management from kde setting? Please make it work for future releases.
    I plan to autologin non-root user in order to have access restrictions with kde administration tool.

    Tomas M 2012-11-08 19:22

    @tdmsilvino: pdf reader is there already, works for PDF files. It's in the menu under Graphics -> Okular.

    @Luke: there will be no separate version. Simply download current Slax and delete all .sb files from /slax/ folder which you do not need.

    Dameon 2012-11-08 19:35

    how to install on HDD

    Akshay 2012-11-08 20:09

    @tom

    Modem works now but mobile-broadband-info is still missing

    & can you add an Installer so it can be installed on usb or Hard-disk(love to use it as the main OS) & also be updated (from default slack repo)

    slaxlover 2012-11-08 20:19

    Forgot to ask about modules management :)
    When we will be able to test deb2sb conversion utility?

    andy 2012-11-08 20:43

    please provide an installer to help in installing to usb/harddisk

    Tomas M 2012-11-08 21:11

    Where do I get mobile-broadband-info ?

    Harper 2012-11-08 21:22

    Please provide an easy installer
    so i can install it on my laptop

    Akshay 2012-11-08 21:25

    @thomas

    goo.gl/sGsDl

    Get that package

    slaxlover 2012-11-08 21:40

    No installer? Please provide this so can install
    No user-account management In control setting?

    Please include both in Next RC

    softy 2012-11-08 21:59

    how to install this on hard drive & install PAE kernel?

    slax-installer doesn't work(googled) :(

    Please provide an option to install & also update

    john 2012-11-08 23:35

    thanks for this
    but no install option!!
    Need to install it on my old laptops
    when will you provide an installer?
    next rc?
    How to update? Is it compatible with slac 14?

    dimitrij 2012-11-08 23:38

    @tdmsilvino (or Tomas)

    could you please explain how to add the missing firmware.

    I tried to copy the microcode for my intel wireless adapter (from git.kernel driver package) to /lib/firmware. Modprobing iwlwifi, it still complains in dmesg about not being able to locate the ucode file. Am I missing something?

    Thanks

    fixxxer 2012-11-08 23:45

    Great work.
    What about pxe boot? Is it possible right now in slax 7?

    stk 2012-11-09 00:39

    @sonnydonk
    I already asked Tomas M, I have an ATI Radeon 6290 on APU AMD C-60. Hope he includes this on Slax RC2, until then no Slax for me :(

    tdmsilvino 2012-11-09 00:48

    @dimitrij you can download the package from the Slackware web site: mirrors.slackware.com/slackware/slackware-14.0/slackware/a/kernel-firmware-20120804git-noarch-1.txz

    If you are using the 64bits version of Slax you must replace slackware-14.0 for slackware64-14.0 in the URL.

    Then install the package with the command installpkg kernel-firmware-20120804git-noarch-1.txz and reboot your machine.

    YAFU 2012-11-09 02:58

    @tdmsilvino - Install the kernel-firmware worked in my case.
    The link for 64-bit package is:
    mirrors.slackware.com/slackware/slackware64-14.0/slackware64/a/kernel-firmware-20120804git-noarch-1.txz

    I hope Slax 7 include that version of the package.
    Thank you!

    James 2012-11-09 03:09

    Great work, have used you Slax since I found 'Frodo' on web years ago. My only request at this time would be to have the shutdown script eject the CD before powering off as it did in past versions.

    slaxlo 2012-11-09 03:23

    can we please have an installer so that we can install this?
    as the primary os
    & easy way to update

    andy 2012-11-09 04:15

    Tomas M
    Do you plan to give us an installer
    in the next release candidate

    joseph 2012-11-09 04:59

    how to install this on hdd

    Tomas M 2012-11-09 05:25

    I have no plans for hard disk installer. Put it on your hard disk in 'live' mode, it will work. Simply extract the ZIP archive to your hard disk and run /slax/boot/bootinst.sh

    If you're within Slax, copy the slax directory from /mnt/live/memory/data/ to your hard disk, then run bootinst.sh from slax/boot/ on that harddisk.

    Max21 2012-11-09 06:12

    How to convert slackware packages in slx modules?

    justdeath 2012-11-09 07:29

    Ok, I found the flash problem. Adobe Flash 10 and 11 require libcurl, found with the following command:
    strings libflashplayer.so | grep libcurl

    The same command on Flash 9 (taken from Slax 6.1.2) does not list libcurl as dependency.

    Now here is the interesting part: in Slax 6.1.2 Flash 9,10,11 work on both FF 3.5.1 (default) and FF 16.0.2 (if libcurl is deleted, only Flash 9 works, the rest are toast).

    In Slax 7 RC1 only Flash 9 works, 10 and 11 simply do not want to run (right click gives Movie not loaded and about). But installing libcurl does not solve the problem. Something else is missing.

    Finally, mouse scroll works, it was an option in VirtualBox.

    Lastly, the system simply crawls with less than 512 MB of RAM. Not a problem, but still not useful on old PCs.

    justdeath 2012-11-09 07:59

    The previous post is about the 32-bit version.

    I just ran the 64-bit version and Flash 11 (default) works fine.

    I hope Tomas can guess what file is missing in the 32-bit version.

    dtm 2012-11-09 09:15

    Hi Tomas, I'm sending this message with a Asus eeepc 1101HA: Slax has the best recognition of GMA500 and hotkeys I've ever found. It's really amazing, Slax is really fast in this slow netbook! I can watch videos with no problems (no 720p) and listen to mp3s.

    On my PC I have some troubles with M3N78 PRO and audio via HDMI (so I do with ubuntu, I admit) and no recognition of TP-Link TL-WN723N.

    Tomas M 2012-11-09 09:21

    Thank you justdeath for your feedback. I was able to track down missing files in Slax 32bit and confirmed Flash doesn't work there. It is missing libcurl and libldap libraries. I'll add those to fix flash player on 32bit architecture. The 64bit arch is not affected since the mentioned libraries are there.

    4hmad 2012-11-09 10:39

    yeah that's right, i used slax 7 32bit yesterday and have trouble with flash.

    joseph 2012-11-09 10:53

    Ok so can you make a script to install it to the HDD?
    love slax & want to keep it as the primary os & update it
    Please consider again for the installer

    slaxlo 2012-11-09 11:31

    I have no plans for hard disk installer. Put it on your hard disk in 'live' mode, it will work. Simply extract the ZIP archive to your hard disk and run /slax/boot/bootinst.sh

    If you're within Slax, copy the slax directory from /mnt/live/memory/data/ to your hard disk, then run bootinst.sh from slax/boot/ on that harddisk.


    Not very easy for a OS which is so good & many people want as their day to day OS
    please consider making it installable to hdd & usb
    Just add an installer & easy update mechanism

    YAFU 2012-11-09 12:29

    I see many people wanting to use Slax as main system in disk. I have a question: If you install Slax on disk, is it created some kind of normal user without many privileges such as using Slax from usb stick? I think it is not good for the community that users become accustomed to using the system as root.
    In Slax root privileges is necessary because it is a pocket system for use in special conditions. Still, I would prefer that required some kind of "sudo" without password as work the Ubuntu LiveCD.
    Another question: Why not install Slackware then?

    Harper 2012-11-09 12:40

    Please consider making this a Lightweight installable os. Its lightweight Fast No crap Please add an Installer easy to use update & pkg management from official slac repo Please Do consider This Os is like a DRUG Everyone here loves it but disappointing that cannot install it easily due to lack of installer & No official compatibility with Slackware(easy upgrades) So please add a easy to use installer

    slaxlo 2012-11-09 12:42

    Another question: Why not install Slackware then?

    Because this is lightweight & for very old systems as well(256mb ram)

    YAFU 2012-11-09 13:16

    @slaxlo, That's a good point.
    But maybe in Slackware (and other KDE distros) you can customize KDE without semantic desktop (akonadi and nepomuk) and you will not be using more than 300MB of RAM.

    slaxlo 2012-11-09 18:33


    There is a big difference between not more than 300mb
    & even less than 256 mb ram(like this distro)

    johnny 2012-11-09 23:28

    "pppoe" it?

    ralcocer 2012-11-09 23:46

    Why bother with size in a HDD. you first have to modify your boot script to start without all the live stuff also vmlinux which I think it's been modified for Slax. Install Slackware in expert mode and go thrugh the list and only install what you want.

    justdeath 2012-11-10 01:56

    Glad to be of help, Tomas!

    Now to the next thing: Skype 4.0.0.8 (dynamic and static):
    1. It does not work in Slax 7 64-bit.
    2. Dynamic runs. Static complains about missing libtiff, after installed complains about version, which is fixed by:
    ln -s libtiff.so.3.9.6 libtiff.so.4
    3. Skype is unusable in VirtualBox, consumes 100% CPU (probably to guard against reverse engineering).
    4. From live CD works fine, camera and microphone also work.

    Wireless does not work on my IBM T60 laptop, Intel 3945 ABG. Module is loaded, but the indicator does not light up. The command
    ifconfig wlan0 up
    returns
    SIOCSIFFLAGS: No such file or directory

    But lspci lists the wireless card; iwconfig shows wlan0, lo, eth0; ifconfig shows eth0, lo. The network manager does not list any WiFi points.

    I ran some more tests: in Slax 6.1.2 the card is detected (the indicator is active), also the WiFi networks are shown by KWiFiManager, but it can not connect. On the other hand, wicd works perfectly.

    In Porteus 1.2 everything works perfectly, by means of wicd.

    All in all, Slax 7 seems stable enough, just a little bit more testing.

    Prcek 2012-11-10 03:26

    I just tried the slax-7.0-kde4-2012-11-08-x86_64.iso and have some suggestions:

    1) add kshutdown utility, it's not big and it's very useful

    2) add kwalletmanager for easy kwallet settings

    3) wifi on my laptop dell inspiron 5720 is not recognized, wlan0 doesn't exist (lspci: Network controller: Intel Corporation
    Centrino
    Wireless-N 2230 (rev c4)), should be the module iwlwifi


    dmesg says:
    [ 9.316615] iwlwifi 0000:02:00.0: request for firmware file 'iwlwifi-2030-6.ucode' failed.
    [ 9.316941] iwlwifi 0000:02:00.0: request for firmware file 'iwlwifi-2030-5.ucode' failed.
    [ 9.316943] iwlwifi 0000:02:00.0: no suitable firmware found!

    Thanks for your work on Slax, it's great!

    Hool.de.Nord 2012-11-10 06:40

    1. During booting I've seen 6 green clovers instead of 1.
    2. Wi-Fi is not working on HP Compaq 6710s.
    3. I'm missing good music player - Qmmp.
    4. Does Slax 7 RC1 work with USB 3.0 pendrives?
    5. "txz2sb" tool would be awesome.

    Tomas M 2012-11-10 07:03

    Re [70]: the amount of clovers depends on number of your CPUs. You have apparently 6-core CPU, or two three core ones.

    USB3 support is not yet clear, I have no device to test that on.

    txz2sb is simple:

    installpkg -root /tmp/txz2sb$$ "$1"
    dir2sb /tmp/txz2sb$$ "$2"
    rm -Rf /tmp/txz2sb$$

    Could you please add LINUX-phc support to SLAX 7? 2012-11-10 11:35


    Will Linux-PHC be supported? (undervolting CPU)

    linuxlalala 2012-11-10 18:15

    And I thought that you developers would keep KDE3 as the default desktop :((((. Why don't you make a trinity desktop edition?

    jcsoh 2012-11-10 19:26

    "And I thought that you developers would keep KDE3 as the default desktop "

    Although Tomas did talk about personally testing Gnome , I think it was quite clear from quite early on , slax 7 will be based on KDE 4 as all the while slax is always based on slackware current (current at the time for the particular version of slax).

    Porteus 32 bits is based on Trininy /KDE3 . I think this is your most viable option.

    Atakan 2012-11-11 02:16

    How can i install any package to slax 7?

    Peter T 2012-11-11 03:58

    How to activate squashfs module?
    Do you do activation of *.xzm ?

    KriK 2012-11-11 23:11

    I have same problems with radeon cards(

    TM 2012-11-12 16:57

    i have graphic issue with AMD 750g onbord graphic,
    it display all pink colors

    KM2cde34 2012-11-12 21:13

    Hello

    I need to run Slax with " NO persistent changes", for a few try. what is the script for do a manuelly "persistent changes"...

    Thanks

    YAFU 2012-11-13 07:36

    @Tomas, what about a text file on the Slax desktop with answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ)? For example, how to install packages in Slax from Konsole?

    About Konsole, personally I like to "Show Menubar" active by default, and "Show" New Tab "and" Close tab "buttons.
    Regards.

    No gui for wpa wifi connection? 2012-11-13 15:38

    Hi! I'm new to linux and trying to connect to my wpa wifi network but to no avail. Slax was able to detect my broadcom wireless card. It seems that slax had no gui for connecting to my wpa wifi network.

    Murphiks 2012-11-28 21:43

    Works pretty great. But a few computers will not start, Undefined video mode 305. Computers Dell OptiPlex GX150 series