Slax Linux
Slax is the operating system for those who want a currently active light weight Linux distro and have a high end Android device. Slax has a 4.x linux kernel and has a decent performance on Limbo. This tutorial will guide you to install slax and configured it so it can be usable on your mobile device.
Download Slax
You can download the live ISO from the official website: https://www.slax.org
You can run the live cd or you can install it on a virtual hard drive. If you do so you need to make
Limbo Configuration
Slax installation to hard disk (Optional)
You can install Slax on the hard disk image taking advantage the persistent change. It is recommended to use QEMU and install the operating system on your desktop isntead of Limbo this way it will be much faster than your android device. Once you are done you can copy the qcow2 image to your phone and set up Limbo with the configuration above.
Virtual Hard Disk
Create a qcow2 image using qemu-img program on your PC. To download qemu-img for your desktop go to QEMU Downloads.
qemu-img -f qcow2 slax.qcow2 10G
Install Slax on Disk:
This is a quickstart guide to install Slax on a virtual hard disk. You will need to download the ISO image at the top of the page and follow these steps:
1. Boot the live linux distro in QEMU and attach the Slax iso:
"c:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-system-x86_64.exe" -hda slax.qcow2 -cdrom slax.iso -net user -net nic,model=e1000 -vga cirrus -usb -device usb-tablet -m 512 -soundhw hda -cpu qemu64 -accel hax
2. Now you can install qparted to create the partitions needed for the installation
apt-get install qparted
3. Now start qparted and create an msdos partition table by following these steps:
a. Create a partition ext2
b. Format with ext3
c. Install bash if you don't have it.
apt-get install bash
d. Copy /slax folder from the CD ROM image to the new partition you just created
e. Now change the current directory to the root directory of the hdd you created and run the following on the linux terminal:
/boot/instboot.sh
For the detailed installation guide go to the official slax website:
https://www.slax.org/starting.php
Download Slax
You can download the live ISO from the official website: https://www.slax.org
You can run the live cd or you can install it on a virtual hard drive. If you do so you need to make
Limbo Configuration
- CPU: qemu64 (or any 64bit cpu)
- RAM Memory: at least 512 MB
- Mouse: usb-tablet (supports touch screen and external mouse modes)
- Graphics: cirrus
- Audio: hda
- Network: user
- Network Card: default
Slax installation to hard disk (Optional)
You can install Slax on the hard disk image taking advantage the persistent change. It is recommended to use QEMU and install the operating system on your desktop isntead of Limbo this way it will be much faster than your android device. Once you are done you can copy the qcow2 image to your phone and set up Limbo with the configuration above.
Virtual Hard Disk
Create a qcow2 image using qemu-img program on your PC. To download qemu-img for your desktop go to QEMU Downloads.
qemu-img -f qcow2 slax.qcow2 10G
Install Slax on Disk:
This is a quickstart guide to install Slax on a virtual hard disk. You will need to download the ISO image at the top of the page and follow these steps:
1. Boot the live linux distro in QEMU and attach the Slax iso:
"c:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-system-x86_64.exe" -hda slax.qcow2 -cdrom slax.iso -net user -net nic,model=e1000 -vga cirrus -usb -device usb-tablet -m 512 -soundhw hda -cpu qemu64 -accel hax
2. Now you can install qparted to create the partitions needed for the installation
apt-get install qparted
3. Now start qparted and create an msdos partition table by following these steps:
a. Create a partition ext2
b. Format with ext3
c. Install bash if you don't have it.
apt-get install bash
d. Copy /slax folder from the CD ROM image to the new partition you just created
e. Now change the current directory to the root directory of the hdd you created and run the following on the linux terminal:
/boot/instboot.sh
For the detailed installation guide go to the official slax website:
https://www.slax.org/starting.php
Customization
You can customize your slax installation to make it easier to work with Limbo.
While still using QEMU on your desktop shutdown the virtual machine and restart it on the command line by attaching this time only the new hard disk:
"c:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-system-x86_64.exe" -hda slax.qcow2 -net user -net nic,model=e1000 -vga cirrus -usb -device usb-tablet -m 512 -soundhw hda -cpu qemu64 -accel hax
Once the OS boots up and you log in create a new user "tux" (or it could be anything) on the terminal:
useradd -m tux --uid 1002 -U
You can later use this account with FTP and other services.
While still using QEMU on your desktop shutdown the virtual machine and restart it on the command line by attaching this time only the new hard disk:
"c:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-system-x86_64.exe" -hda slax.qcow2 -net user -net nic,model=e1000 -vga cirrus -usb -device usb-tablet -m 512 -soundhw hda -cpu qemu64 -accel hax
Once the OS boots up and you log in create a new user "tux" (or it could be anything) on the terminal:
useradd -m tux --uid 1002 -U
You can later use this account with FTP and other services.
Display Resolution
You can change the video resolution within Slax at any time using xrandr. For example if you want a wide screen resolution that fits better on a modern Android Display you can do the following:
For a resolution of 1024x600 open a terminal and type:
cvt 1024 600 60
The output will look something like this:
# 1024x600 59.85 Hz (CVT) hsync: 37.35 kHz; pclk: 49.00 MHz
Modeline "1024x600_60.00" 49.00 1024 1072 1168 1312 600 603 613 624 -hsync +vsync
You can now create a shell script with the information above that you can use to add the new custom resolution and will apply it to your current desktop:
#!/bin/bash
xrandr --newmode "1024x600_60.00" 49.00 1024 1072 1168 1312 600 603 613 624 -hsync +vsync
xrandr --addmode Virtual-1 "1024x600_60.00"
xrandr -s 1024x600
For a resolution of 1024x600 open a terminal and type:
cvt 1024 600 60
The output will look something like this:
# 1024x600 59.85 Hz (CVT) hsync: 37.35 kHz; pclk: 49.00 MHz
Modeline "1024x600_60.00" 49.00 1024 1072 1168 1312 600 603 613 624 -hsync +vsync
You can now create a shell script with the information above that you can use to add the new custom resolution and will apply it to your current desktop:
#!/bin/bash
xrandr --newmode "1024x600_60.00" 49.00 1024 1072 1168 1312 600 603 613 624 -hsync +vsync
xrandr --addmode Virtual-1 "1024x600_60.00"
xrandr -s 1024x600
Network
Web Browser
There are couple of web browsers that you can use with a good performance.
Dillo which is fast but doesn't good compatibility with modern websites.
And netsurf which is a little slower but with better compatibility.
FTP Server
You can install proftpd which is a light weight ftp server, on the command line type:
apt-get install proftpd
Then edit file /etc/proftpd.confg and uncomment this line:
RequireValidShell no
To start the FTP service type on a terminal:
/etc/init.d/proftpd start
Host Forwarding:
You can use port forwarding to connect from android or from a computer on the network to the FTP or SSH services.
Just type the following on the Host FWF under the newtork section in Limbo:
hostfwd: tcp:22221:21
You can now connect ftp port 22221 on your Android device and this will forward it to the virtual machine port 21.
Similarly you can add a rule for forwarding SSH port 22:
hostfwd: tcp:22221:21,tcp:22222:22
There are couple of web browsers that you can use with a good performance.
Dillo which is fast but doesn't good compatibility with modern websites.
And netsurf which is a little slower but with better compatibility.
FTP Server
You can install proftpd which is a light weight ftp server, on the command line type:
apt-get install proftpd
Then edit file /etc/proftpd.confg and uncomment this line:
RequireValidShell no
To start the FTP service type on a terminal:
/etc/init.d/proftpd start
Host Forwarding:
You can use port forwarding to connect from android or from a computer on the network to the FTP or SSH services.
Just type the following on the Host FWF under the newtork section in Limbo:
hostfwd: tcp:22221:21
You can now connect ftp port 22221 on your Android device and this will forward it to the virtual machine port 21.
Similarly you can add a rule for forwarding SSH port 22:
hostfwd: tcp:22221:21,tcp:22222:22
Package Management
To search and install new packages type on a terminal:
apt-cache search <keyword>
To install a package type:
apt-get install <package_name>
If you want to search and browse through available packages you can install synaptic which is a graphical user interface for aptitude. To install synaptic type from a terminal:
apt-get install synaptic
You can then start synaptic from the start menu -> Debian -> Applications -> Package Management -> Synaptic Package Management.
Note: If you're downloading large packages run the virtual machine using QEMU on your desktop this way the installation will run faster than Limbo. You can then transfer the virtual hard disk image to your Android device.
apt-cache search <keyword>
To install a package type:
apt-get install <package_name>
If you want to search and browse through available packages you can install synaptic which is a graphical user interface for aptitude. To install synaptic type from a terminal:
apt-get install synaptic
You can then start synaptic from the start menu -> Debian -> Applications -> Package Management -> Synaptic Package Management.
Note: If you're downloading large packages run the virtual machine using QEMU on your desktop this way the installation will run faster than Limbo. You can then transfer the virtual hard disk image to your Android device.
Multimedia
Make sure you attach the sound card hda to Limbo.
Now you can install audio software like xmms to playback audio file like wav and mp3.
To install audacious from a terminal type:
apt-get install audacious
For playback of video and other media formats you can install VLC though it might run slow on your device.
apt-get install dragonplayer
To run dragonplayer on your terminal type:
dragon &
Note the first time your run it it might have to initialize the video settings, if you encounter problems close the application and try again.
If you want to playback MIDI files you can install timidity++
apt-get install timidity
You can then start timidity client from the start menu -> Debian -> Applications -> Sound -> timidity
Now you can install audio software like xmms to playback audio file like wav and mp3.
To install audacious from a terminal type:
apt-get install audacious
For playback of video and other media formats you can install VLC though it might run slow on your device.
apt-get install dragonplayer
To run dragonplayer on your terminal type:
dragon &
Note the first time your run it it might have to initialize the video settings, if you encounter problems close the application and try again.
If you want to playback MIDI files you can install timidity++
apt-get install timidity
You can then start timidity client from the start menu -> Debian -> Applications -> Sound -> timidity