Thomas Mueller wrote:
>
> Can BasicLinux use larger ramdisks for a computer
> with sufficient RAM
Ramdisk size is a kernel parameter that is set when the
kernel is compiled. As far as I know, the only way to
change it is by recompiling.
I have been considering going to an 8meg ramdisk, but
that would limit BasicLinux to computers with 16meg
RAM or more. I think there is probably more potential
in going to a loop filesystem (which is stored as an
image file on the user's DOS/win9 partition).
But IMHO the best option, for people who have a spare HD
or partition, is to transfer BasicLinux to a small ext2
partition. Even 10meg is enough (although 30meg would
would give you a lot more room to play around with)
I can think of no better use for an old 40meg HD.
I've just completed a script for transfering BasicLinux
from ramdrive to HD partition. And the resulting
installation seems very solid. I'll test it some more
tomorrow, but it's looking pretty good at the moment.
> And what would be an optimum ramdisk size with
> 20 MB RAM such as I have now?
16meg RAM + 4meg ramdisk is pretty balanced.
You could handle 12meg RAM + 8meg ramdisk, but
I wouldn't go any further than that. Linux
performs better when it has more RAM to work
with.
> I looked through the README80.TXT for Slackware 8.0,
> and it looks like I'd need 946 MB for a tight fit,
> not including GIMP and GNOME (350 MB), KDE (390 MB),
> teTeX (135 MB) and xview (15 MB). Compilers total 280 MB.
Slackware gives you a lot of choices about what you install
and what you don't, so you can certainly make a slimmer
installation than this. If I were you, I would start off
with the Slackware base set (say 50meg) and use it for a
while before adding anything else. That way you have a
clearer idea of what you need and what you don't. Besides
with only 20meg RAM, those fancy GUI desktops aren't going
to perform so well.
> I can only accommodate about 780 MB now.
Plenty of room. My largest HD is only half that size.
Cheers,
Steven
