Salix Forums

Using live CD rc1 and just now wanted to use the 'host' command, alternatively 'nslookup'. However they don't seem to be provided. Is this a Slackware thing? Have I missed their hiding place? Any alternative to provide the same function?

Both host and nslookup are included in the bind package. It's not installed by default, so you'll have to install it to use them.

No, they are not provided by the Standard Installation discs and accordingly also not by the LiveCD.
But I think bind, the providing package, might be worth including in the default package sets.

Anyway, you can always add packages to your *running* live environment using slapt-get or gslapt. If you want to add them persistently to your live environment, you have to create a new module (e.g. 08-custom.lzm) in the salixlive/base directory of the ISO (easiest when exploded to USB). For the creation you can use the tools provided in the salixlive/tools directory. You probably need some deps to run them successfully, too.

Otherwise, you could simply, while in a LiveCD session, first create a persistence file (on a usb key for example) with the help of the dedicated utility that is right on the desktop.

After creating that persistent file, you must reboot the LiveCD, and from then on, any of your subsequent changes will be saved, that is all the packages you may install, all the work you may do or all the cosmetic changes you may apply on the Live environment.

In your case, after creating your persistence file & rebooting on the LiveCD, simply install bind & any other programs you may want to use in our LiveCD sessions from then on.

Thanks for explanation and suggestions. I see there are also various websites which will perform a lookup.
For example http://www.1pagedesign.com/name_server_lookup/, though this is a bad example, not recommended, presumably there are some that are genuinely useful and not just advertising traps for the unwary.