14 DAY TRIAL // We've been informed today, December 12, by Arne Exton, a GNU/Linux developer known for several Linux kernel-based and Android-x86-based operating systems, about the availability of a custom kernel for Slackware 14.1 series of distributions.
It appears that Mr. Exton has managed to compile a new Linux kernel package for Slackware 14.1 and its derivatives, based on the upstream Linux 4.3.1 kernel, one of the latest and most advanced kernel branches available at the moment of writing this article, though Linux kernel 4.3.2 hotfix is already out as of December 11, 2015.
Arne Exton calls his new Slackware kernel 4.3.1-x86_64-exton, and he is using it in his Slackware 14.1-based operating system SlackEX, which received a new build as recently as December 11, 2015, bringing many other interesting improvements, new drivers, and extra support for modern hardware components.
"I have compiled a very useful (as I think) 64-bit kernel for Slackware 14.1 and/or all Slackware derivatives," said Arne Exton in an email sent to Softpedia. "My kernel 4.3.1-x86_64-exton has even more support for new hardware, etc. Kernel 4.3.1 is the latest stable kernel available from Kernel.org."
How to install Linux kernel 4.3.1 in Slackware 14.1 and its derivatives
As mentioned before, you can use Mr. Exton's Linux 4.3.1 kernel on any GNU/Linux distribution that is based on the Slackware 14.1 operating system, including but not limited to Slax and Zenwalk. However, please note that the kernel supports only 64-bit hardware platforms.
The installation is pretty straightforward, just download the 4.3.1-x86_64-exton kernel archive, save it in your Home directory, and then extract its contents and inject the kernel into your GNU/Linux distribution using the following command in a terminal emulator app.