Installing Slackware Linux Part 3 - Network Configuration

If you chose to configure your network now, the first thing you will be prompted for is a hostname. Enter something.



Now you'll be prompted to enter a domain name.



If you intend to participate as a member of a network that has a nameserver, you will want to enter your fully qualified domain name, ending in .com, .org, .edu or similar.

Otherwise just enter localdomain. In subsequent steps you can even remove that domain name. (That's what I do, for I don't really need to have one)

Next, you will be prompted to set up your computer's IP address.



If your network adapter connects to a cable modem, or a broadband router, or uses a PPPoE connection (PPP Over Ethernet... commonly used for ADSL Internet connections), then you probably want to choose DHCP to have your TCP/IP info automatically assigned.

If you choose DHCP, you will be prompted for a DHCP hostname. If you connect directly to a cable modem, you may need to specify your user ID here.



Otherwise, just leave it blank and hit enter.

Next, setup will prompt you to probe for your network adapter.



If it doesn't detect it, don't panic. It just means you'll have to figure out which kernel module your network adapter needs and configure the network later.



Ok, in this virtual machine, that's the virtual adapter it detects. It works. However, on the real Slackware installation, it doesn't automatically detect my D-Link 530TXS. Not a problem, because I know what kernel module it needs (sundance.o). That's something for later and we'll cover it then. It doesn't prevent us from configuring most of the network information though.

If you've chosen to use DHCP, a confirmation screen is what you'll see next. Your network configuration steps are completed.



Myself, I just configure my network statically, and I don't use the DHCP server on my router. So, if you choose Static IP instead of DHCP, this is how the configuration goes.

Enter your IP Address.



Enter your Subnet Mask



Enter your Default Gateway



Enter a Nameserver



Note: I'm just entering the IP address of my router here, it acts as a DNS proxy. The Primary and Secondary DNS servers of my ISP are entered in my router's WAN configuration. You will probably want to enter your ISP's Primary DNS server in this field, and then you can add more nameservers (e.g. the secondary) to your /etc/resolv.conf file later.

Now you will be prompted to confirm your network settings.



You can edit these settings from this dialog as well. For example, I want to remove the domain name "localdomain" altogether.

This concludes the network portion of setup.