Linguofreak
Well-known member
I have an incredibly ancient (~1995 vintage) PC with about 40 megs of RAM, currently running D*mn Small Linux. DSL uses a 2.4 kernel, which lacks certain features I'd like to have, so I'm looking for an equivalent 2.6-based distro. The problem is the tendency of lightweight distros to be Live CDs that load their entire root filesystem into RAM rather than leaving it on the CD, which makes them great on merely old systems, but chokes up ancient systems like the one I'm trying to install to, even if they could normally handle the software set the distribution uses.
For example, I've been playing around with Slitaz in VMs tailored to approximately match the hardware profile of the machine in question, and if I use a VM profile with more RAM to install it to a hard drive image, then bump the RAM down to 40 megs and give it some swap space to work with, it will run. But to install it I need the Live CD, and the Live CD won't run in 40 megs and won't mount swap space. I've not had much luck yet with their "loram" options either.
Can anyone recommend a lightweight 2.6-based distro that does not attempt to load its entire Live CD filesystem into RAM (it doesn't need to be a LiveCD either, a dedicated install environment is just fine, maybe even preferable) and will either install without problems in 40 megs, or prompt for a swap partition when the CD is booted (I've never seen a distro that does this, but it would be a desirable feature)? The distro should include X and a program set when first installed comparable to (or bigger than) Slitaz, but, as stated, without loading everything into RAM at boot time.
For example, I've been playing around with Slitaz in VMs tailored to approximately match the hardware profile of the machine in question, and if I use a VM profile with more RAM to install it to a hard drive image, then bump the RAM down to 40 megs and give it some swap space to work with, it will run. But to install it I need the Live CD, and the Live CD won't run in 40 megs and won't mount swap space. I've not had much luck yet with their "loram" options either.
Can anyone recommend a lightweight 2.6-based distro that does not attempt to load its entire Live CD filesystem into RAM (it doesn't need to be a LiveCD either, a dedicated install environment is just fine, maybe even preferable) and will either install without problems in 40 megs, or prompt for a swap partition when the CD is booted (I've never seen a distro that does this, but it would be a desirable feature)? The distro should include X and a program set when first installed comparable to (or bigger than) Slitaz, but, as stated, without loading everything into RAM at boot time.
