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Slackware deliberately keeps the operating system relatively simple and transparent. Its installer is primarily text-based, package management does not automatically resolve dependencies, and system configuration is generally performed through straightforward configuration files and scripts.

That gives you considerable control, but it also means that you should understand what you’re doing rather than expecting the installer to make every decision for you.

A typical installation looks roughly like this:

The official Slackware documentation is worth keeping nearby throughout the installation.

2. Decide what you’re installing

For a modern Intel or AMD computer, you almost certainly want:

Slackware64 15.0

rather than 32-bit Slackware.

For a normal desktop:

• UEFI firmware
• GPT partition table
• Slackware64
• EFI System Partition
• swap
• root filesystem
• optionally a separate /home

For a server, you might instead use:

• EFI System Partition
• swap
• /
• perhaps separate /var, /home, or storage partitions depending on the workload.

Recommended beginner layout

For a computer with a 500 GB SSD:

You don’t have to use this layout.

A single root filesystem is perfectly reasonable for a first Slackware installation:

In fact, I’d recommend keeping your first installation simple.

3. Back up your existing data

This is the most important step.

If you are installing Slackware onto a disk containing Windows, another Linux distribution, or personal data, partitioning can destroy the existing installation.

Before touching the installer:

1. Back up important files.
2. Verify that the backup actually works.
3. Make sure you have Windows recovery media if Windows is staying on the machine.
4. Record your existing partition layout.
5. If you’re replacing the entire disk, verify once more that you have everything you need.

If you don’t need anything currently on the disk, the installation is considerably simpler.

4. Download Slackware

Use an official Slackware mirror to obtain the installation media. The official mirror tree contains the Slackware 15.0 installation files, README files, kernels, packages, patches, and USB/PXE installation material.

Official Slackware mirror

• Look for the appropriate Slackware64 15.0 installation media.
• You will generally want the ISO and its associated checksum/signature information.
• After downloading the ISO, verify it rather than blindly trusting a corrupted download.
• On another Linux system you can use something along the lines of:

Compare the result against the checksum supplied by Slackware.

5. Create a bootable USB

On Linux, you can write the ISO directly to a USB drive.

Be extremely careful with /dev/sdX.

For example:

Identify the USB device.

Suppose it is /dev/sdb.

Unmount its partitions:

Then write the image:

Then:

Do not accidentally use:

if /dev/sda is your operating-system disk.

6. Boot the Slackware installer

Insert the USB and reboot.

Enter your firmware’s boot menu. Common keys include:

• The exact key depends on the motherboard.
• Select the USB device.
• On a modern machine, prefer the UEFI boot entry.

Slackware supports UEFI installations. For a UEFI installation, an EFI System Partition is required, and Slackware’s documentation recommends using the ELILO option rather than LILO during the installation process.

7. The Slackware installer

The installer initially gives you a console prompt.

You may see something similar to:

For a normal installation, simply press:

The installer will boot.

You will eventually reach the keyboard selection. If you’re using a standard US keyboard, you can usually accept the default. For other layouts, select the appropriate keymap.

8. Partition the disk

This is the first genuinely important part of the installation.

You can use:

or:

For a modern UEFI system, I recommend:

Your disk might instead be:

or something else.

Check first:

GPT partition table

For a new UEFI installation, use GPT.

Your final layout might look like:

EFI System Partition

Create approximately:

and mark it as:

It should be formatted FAT32.

Swap

A reasonable desktop value is:

If you intend to use hibernation, swap sizing becomes more important because the system needs enough swap to hold the relevant memory state.

Root

For /, I would give a desktop installation at least:

I’d personally choose around:

if disk space isn’t a concern.

/home

A separate /home is optional.

It can be useful because reinstalling the operating system doesn’t necessarily require destroying your personal data.

9. Activate swap

After partitioning, return to the Slackware installer menu.

Choose:

The installer should find your swap partition.

Allow it to activate the partition and add the appropriate entry to /etc/fstab.

The traditional Slackware installation sequence starts with ADDSWAP and then proceeds through TARGET, SOURCE, SELECT, INSTALL, and CONFIGURE.

10. Select the target partitions

Choose:

Select your root partition.

For example:

The installer will ask how it should be formatted.

For a straightforward installation:

is an excellent choice. You could also use other filesystems, but there’s no compelling reason to complicate your first Slackware installation.

If you created a separate /home, assign that partition as well.

For example:

Choose:

For a USB/DVD installation, select the appropriate local media.

The installer will locate the Slackware package tree.

You can also install through other methods, including network-based approaches. Slackware’s installation documentation describes USB and PXE installation material as well.

For your first installation, local installation media is easiest.

12. Choose the package sets

Slackware packages are organized into series.

You’ll encounter things such as:

The exact package organization can vary somewhat by release.

Full installation

For a first installation, I strongly recommend installing essentially everything except things you have a specific reason to exclude. Slackware itself recommends a full installation when you have sufficient disk space, and this is particularly useful because Slackware’s package system does not automatically resolve dependencies.

This is one of the biggest differences between Slackware and distributions such as Debian or Fedora.

Suppose application A requires library B.

Slackware generally won’t automatically say:

“A requires B, so I’ll install B for you.”

You are expected to understand the relationship.

Consequently, a full installation avoids many dependency headaches.

13. Start the installation

Select:

For a first installation:

is the easiest option.

The installer will copy the packages to the hard drive.

Depending on the machine and installation media, this may take some time.

14. Configure the kernel

After package installation, Slackware will ask about the kernel. For a modern 64-bit system, the generic kernel is generally the better long-term choice. Slackware traditionally provides both generic and huge kernels.

The “huge” kernel contains a very broad collection of drivers and is useful for bootstrapping. The generic kernel is more minimal.

For a normal modern system, I would generally choose the generic kernel and create/initiate the necessary initrd configuration if required.

15. Configure the network

You’ll be asked about networking. For a normal wired Ethernet connection, Slackware can generally configure the interface automatically through DHCP.

You might see something like:

or:

Modern Linux naming may produce names such as:

For DHCP:

is usually what you want.

If you’re configuring a server with a static IP, you’ll need something like:

The exact values obviously depend on your network.

16. Configure your hostname

Choose something meaningful.

For example:

or:

For a home computer:

is fine.

You can later change it in:

For example:

17. Configure the timezone

Select:

if your system is physically in Bucharest and that is your desired timezone.

For a generic machine, choose the timezone appropriate to its actual location.

You can verify it later with:

18. Configure the mouse

For a normal USB mouse:

is usually appropriate.

19. Configure the hardware clock

If the computer is primarily running Linux, using local time for the hardware clock can work, but UTC is generally preferable.

If Windows is dual-booting on the same machine, be aware that Windows and Linux traditionally make different assumptions about the hardware clock.

A common modern configuration is:

20. Configure the bootloader

This is especially important on UEFI systems.

For a legacy BIOS installation, Slackware traditionally uses:

For UEFI, Slackware’s installation documentation recommends bypassing the LILO installation and selecting ELILO.

If you’re installing Slackware64 15.0 in UEFI mode:

Make sure the EFI System Partition exists before reaching this stage.

21. Set the root password

The installer will ask you to establish the root password.

Use a strong password.

Do not make it something like:

Use a long, unique password.Slackware will initially leave you with the root account, which is the administrative account.

22. Reboot

When the installation is complete:

Remove the USB installation media when appropriate.Your system should now boot from the internal disk.

You should eventually see a login prompt similar to:

Log in as:

using the password you created.

23. First things to do after booting

First inspect the system:

Then:

And:

Check networking:

and:

Then:

If the first works but the second doesn’t, you probably have a DNS configuration problem.

24. Create your normal user account

Do not use root for ordinary desktop work.

Slackware provides:

Run:

You’ll be asked for a username.

For example:

Then provide the requested information.

Afterward:

Set a strong password.

Your system should now have: