Sunday 19 May 2024 - 01:52:06 UTC 
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SARPi Project - Slacking on a Raspberry Pi
Slackware Linux ARM-based ISO image
It's common knowledge that the Slackware x86_64 OS is distributed as ISO images from which a bootable DVD or USB stick can easily be created. It may not be so well known that ARM-based Slackware Linux is not distributed, or available, as ISO images from official Slackware repositories or mirrors. "Why not?" you may wonder. Well, it's mainly because most ARM devices do not have optical drives installed, or the ability to use them in some cases. Even if/when they are capable of using an optical drive, most ARM devices cannot boot from a CD or DVD. However, once there is a CD/DVD drive attached (via a USB connection for example), and the system is booted and when the Slackware installer 'setup' is running, then it is very possible to install the packages from CD/DVD media.
There may be other instances where an ARM-based Slackware Linux ISO image might be useful, or even required. For example; installing/running Slackware Linux in Qemu, on a virtual machine environment, or simply for backup purposes to add to your existing ISO/DVD collection, etc.
This SARPi mini-project will show you how to create an ARM-based Slackware Linux ISO image by downloading the official Slackware Linux source tree files and running the 'mkisofs' command. It rates from 'unchallenging to ridiculously straightforward' in terms of time, effort, and proficiency required in order to be successful.
Although this procedure is intended for Slackware Linux ARM-based operating systems and purposes, it can basically be carried out on any Slackware Linux system; x86, x64, or otherwise.
In this SARPi mini-project we'll be using Slackware AArch64 -current on a Raspberry Pi 5 [8GB] device, with the hostname 'iana' and operating under the username 'dave'.
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Download Slackware Linux source media
First we'll download the Slackware Linux source media into our home directory. We'll be downloading the official Slackware AArch64 source tree files using the 'rsync' command from the Slackware.UK mirror repository. It's quick, easy, and very reliable.
To do this, type the following command:
Don't forget the period "." at the end of the command or it will not work.
The download will take a few minutes, depending on the speed of your Internet connection.
Once it's finished, we can use the 'ls' command to check that all the files are present and correct.
So, as we can see from the output, the Slackware AArch64 source tree files have successfully downloaded into the 'slackwareaarch64-current' directory.
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Creating a Slackware Linux ISO image
Next, we'll 'cd' to the Slackware AArch64 -current source directory before running the 'mkisofs' command to create the Slackware AArch64 ISO image.
Command: mkisofs -udf -o ~/slackwareaarch64-current_DVD.iso -R -J -V "Slackware AArch64" -hide-rr-moved -v -d -N -A "Slackware AArch64 current DVD" .
dave@torq:~/slackwareaarch64-current$ mkisofs -udf -o ~/slackwareaarch64-current_DVD.iso \
-R -J -V "Slackware AArch64" -hide-rr-moved -v -d -N -A "Slackware AArch64 current DVD" .
NB: The period "." at the end of the 'mkisofs' command is important - don't forget to include it.
The screenshot below shows that the ISO image is being created. This process should only take a minute or two to complete.
Once the ISO image has been created we can check it out. We'll 'cd' back to the root of our home directory and verify the new image file with the 'ls', 'file', and 'stat' commands.
dave@torq:~$ ls
dave@torq:~$ ls -lah slackwareaarch64-current_DVD.iso
dave@torq:~$ file slackwareaarch64-current_DVD.iso
dave@torq:~$ stat slackwareaarch64-current_DVD.iso
The results of these commands can be seen in the screenshot below.
So we now have a slackwareaarch64-current_DVD.iso (ISO 9660 CD-ROM filesystem data) image file that's 4.9GB in size which can be; burned to a DVD, copied to another storage medium or location (USB stick, etc.), or left where it is, and saved for future use.
It's worth noting that any ISO image can be compressed into a tarball (using 'gzip' or 'xz' for example) but these images do not offer a vast reduction in file size when compressed. Unless storage space is a concern then you might find it unnecessary to compress ISO image files.
Well done, if you have got through this SARPi mini-project guide and have been successful. Now you know how to create ISO images and can use these same steps to create more of your own.
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Thanks!
Thank you for reading and taking part in this SARPi mini-project. We hope you enjoyed it and found it interesting and educational.
Thanks also to Patrick Volkerding, and the entire Slackware Team, for producing a truly wonderful OS. Without you, and the work you do, the SARPi Project would not exist.
If you have any questions or need help, visit the Slackware Linux Forum on Linux Questions. Or get in touch on the #SARPi IRC channel on irc.libera.chat.
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