Chapter 2. Installing Slash

Installing Slash is not difficult, but there are multiple steps and several possible complications. This chapter describes the complete process, from downloading Slash and all of its requirements through compilation and installation. Please note that this chapter does not cover everything there is to know about configuring and using these tools.[6] It does walk through the basic steps to get a Slash server up and running.

The Slash install process improved greatly for the 2.0 release. The latest distribution includes a GNU makefile, plus a Perl script (install-slashsite) for customizing the installed Slash server with site-specific information, such as the machine’s fully qualified domain name (FQDN) and the name of the local Slash user. These should work on any free Unix system; however, they are guaranteed only on GNU/Linux systems. (“Linux” is used as a convenient shorthand for “an operating system containing tools from the GNU project, built around the kernel named Linux”.)

Before You Begin

Because this chapter can’t reasonably go all the way back to the Big Bang, it assumes certain things. You should already have a working and compatible Unix-like operating system. As with most Unix software, you will need root access, along with at least some basic system administration experience. If you’re new at this, read the instructions completely before beginning an installation, then follow along.

In addition, prepare the following information:

  • The installed ...

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