On Wed, 27 Jun 2001, Don Head wrote:
> > I do read what you write, I just feel there should be
> > some way to FTP install on a low ram computer. I also
> > understand that certain sacrifices occur during the
> > install (This is what I would like to learn more
> > about).
> I'm not really sure how the install works, but from
> pieces I've picked up here and there, and a little
> consideration of my own, I think I have a little bit of
> an idea as to why the install takes so much RAM. I'll
> try and explain what I've come up with so far, and if I'm
> way off, I'm sure someone will correct me.
> First off, you have the boot disk. It's 1.4MB, and that
> has the kernel, common hardware and other modules, and
> gets the whole thing started. Can't remember if that's
> compressed or not, we'll assume so. We'll double it.
> +1.4MB X 2
> =2.8MB
> Then, you have the second stage installer, which is
> downloaded once the boot disk gets up and running. If
> you take a look at your CD-ROM/FTP site, you'll notice
> that "mdkinst_stage2.bz2" is 9.6MB, compressed.
> Uncompress that and you're looking at a big chunk of
> change. I haven't tried it, but I'll go with 2x
> compression for everything here on.
> +9.6MB X 2
> =22MB
AFAIK:
With mounted (NFS, CD-ROM, HD) installs, you don't have to 'download'
stage 2; there is an uncompressed copy already on the installation media
so you just use it in situ. This is another, very significant reason why
NFS installs are 'better' than FTP installs.
Michael
