>
> "Alvin B. Marcelo" wrote:
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > We've decided to reformat our old PC's and install Linux (mixes of 386's
> > and 486's and some PI's)...
> >
> > Question:
> >
> > What are the minimum packages to install
> >
> > - to make it a part of a network
Use slackware, i have a fully configured 386/33 machine with 4 megs of ram
with full network support. The H/D is only 80 megs.
Tke a look at the file FILE_LIST on a slackware cdrom, select some of the a
series, ap and n, decide for your self.
I would not advise installing X as on 386/486 macines it can be very slow
indeed.
>
> 1) If you want them connected to the networking using ethernet and
> tcp/ip you would need to compile (or compile a module) for the
> kernel to support the type of ehternet card you are using.
No, there is no need, the standard kernel has all needed modules alray made.
>
> 2) Then you will also need to add networking support in the kernel
> for tcp/ip (I don't think you can make this into a module)
Install some of the n series disks under ./slackware.
>
> 3) After than you can add the networking programs you will be using
> on a daily basic, some of these would also be good to have when
> setting them up, for debugging purposes. (like ping, telnet, ftp,
> etc.)
Once again there all in the standard package.
>
> 1) If you are using them though a modem dial up, add modem. compile
> (or compile module) for ppp support, referer to set 2 above.
No need once again all support is there already.
>
> 1) If you are using them as dumb terminals, add serial cable, install
> minicom, login.
>
>
> > - to make it run Netscape 4.x
>
> Networking support, see above.
>
> An X Windows System, the most popular one for Linux
> is the XFree86 Project {http://www.xfree86.org/}
>
> Don't know the size, but I would guess around
> 25-250 megs?
>
> Netscape Communicator {ftp://ftp.netscape.com}
> typically about 15-30 megs for stand alone
> to proffessinal package.
>
> That's about it.
>
> >
> > How "small" can a hard drive be for this purpose?
>
> 0 megs or less. Seriously you can, if money is tight,
> boot from floppy or NFS and use everything over the
> network, it does put a strain on bandwidth and the
> performance of the work station will be degraded, but
> it can be done.
>
> You could fit an entire workstation w/swap, w/X Windows
> System for under 500 Megs.
>
> I have a tight little slackware box that weights in at
> about 130 megs with no Windows System, but it is packed
> with alot of console programs.
>
> Another options you may look into is giving each workstation
> it's hard drive to boot from, to swap from, to run a X windows
> System and also Netscape. Then seutp an NFS server on one
> of the more "high" power systems with a decent amount of
> drive space. Put commonly used programs on there, and have
> users run them from there.
>
> This way it could save a decent about of more, admin maintainces,
> and not put to much performance staight on the workstations
> and network. NFS, NIS are good :)
>
I do agree with you tht slackware is the way to go here, if you want or the
question asker wants i could send a ls -al of thre whole disk, of course as
as perdonsl mail, to the list would be a waste of bandwidth.
>
>
> >
> > Thank you.
> >
> > alvin
>
> Here are some tight little "distro's" that run where hardware
> is tight. I got "small linux" up and running on a 386 w/ 8 megs
> of ram and a 1.44 floppy drive. :) I haven't tried the other
> ones listed here, yet.
>
> Try one of these
> Linux Router Project - {http://www.linuxrouter.org/}
> Small Linux - {http://http://smalllinux.netpedia.net/}
> Micro Linux - {http://mulinux.nevalabs.org/}
> Pico BSD - {http://http://www.freebsd.org/~picobsd/}
>
> Jack
>
--
Regards Richard.
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
