With regard to this topic, Rich Green's Dos site lists 3 Freeware
Linux installations (small) that coexist with dos and can be installed
on the same disk partition as DOS. Go to:
http://geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lakes/1401/misc01.htm#linux
to download these versions and/or get links to their home pages.
I enclose their descriptions below, and hope the amount of text is justified
by the interest:
LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS FOR DOS PARTITIONS...
Below are some smaller Linux OS distributions that can coexist with
DOS/Win9x on same partition. Installable on uncompressed drives.
_________________________________________________________________
1. PYGMY LINUX- Small Linux distribution coexists in DOS/Win
partitions, easy install (UMSDOS).
2. Dragon Linux- Small Linux distribution coexists in DOS/Win
partitions, easy install (UMSDOS).
3. DosLinux- Linux for DOS partitions implements efficent "virtual
partition" (non-UMSDOS).
1. PYGMY Linux unrated [added 09-26-99] "...is a small distribution of
the Linux operating system. Pygmy is UMSDOS based, it allows a novice
user to install a fully functional operating system, that co-exists
peacefully with DOS/Win95,98 on the same partition. It is great for
people who wish to experiment with Linux without the fear of trashing
their computers with fdisk, for old PC users (minimal configuration is
i386, 4 MB RAM and approximately 25 MB of disk space). Pygmy is
internet ready, it supports connection via phone line (modem) and
network card (LAN). It allows installation of Slackware, Redhat and
Debian packages."
My notes: I downloaded this package simply because the easy install
instructions were enticing. And it was painless (but note that the 25
MB free diskspace requirement above is more like 35-40 MB when you
calculate allocated space). Pygmy is not a "tutorial package" which
hand-holds the user through custom configuration, Internet
connectivity, and the like- learning to use Pygmy will be as
challenging as any other LINUX distribution. But Pygmy does come with
a complete set of Unix tools that will be familiar to many DOS users
(bash, e/f/z/grep, sed, (m)awk, less,...etc.) and includes a smart
little collection of newbie-friendly programs (e.g., an easy-to-use
text editor (PICO), good NC-like file manager (MC), graphics viewer
(zgv), Lynx, more).
Pygmy Linux is distributed as seven 1.4MB files. To install:
* Download the distribution files and make sure the local filenames
are correct. (When I downloaded them, Internet Explorer messed up
the filenames).
* Copy all distribution files to a new C:\LINUX directory on your
HD.
* Run the auto-install program Pygmy**.exe.
* Get to a real DOS prompt (not a DOS box, and *plain* DOS mode if
you are on a Win9x machine)
* CD to C:\LINUX
* run LINUX.BAT
* At the login screen type "root"
* Call your neighbors and tell them you are running LINUX.
* (Optional, but wise: Type "adduser", give yourself a username and
password; don't mess around alot when logged in as "root")
* Run some programs (e.g., mc = midnight commander file manager).
* When finished, type "reboot" to shutdown and reboot your machine
back to a DOS prompt.
* Next, read the docs to configure to taste...<g>.
* If you decide to remove Pygmy Linux, simply delete the directory
C:\LINUX.
Pygmy X, a GUI X-windowing system add-on (with VNC viewer) is also
available.
See [28]Pygmy Linux Project Homepage for download information,
add-ons, and FAQS.
_________________________________________________________________
2. DRAGON Linux is a UMSDOS Linux very similar to Pygmy Linux (above).
Although I haven't tried it, the install method, distribution size,
and hardware requirements appear nearly identical to that of Pygmy.
Supported hardware may (?) vary between Dragon and Pygmy.
See: [29]Dragon Linux Home Page
_________________________________________________________________
3. DosLinux unrated [added 09-29-99]
Comments from a user: "[DosLinux] is another excellent Linux
mini-distribution which can be dropped into an existing Dos partition.
I have tried virtually all of the small distributions and it is by far
the best...It is a distribution that one can start out with and then
stay and grow with... It uses a loop system that creates a user
controllable, single image file which acts as a virtual partition [the
size of the partition can be defined by user during install]. This is
much more efficient than the USMSDOS system which creates a complex
directory structure. In particular, it is very easy to delete the loop
system because it consists of only a few files. One must use deltree
or its equivalent to delete a usmsdos system and it can be rather time
consuming. Another good point is the documentation which is excellent
for this kind of distribution. If one is in the mood, one can install
DosLinux in a standard Linux partition as well. I have done this and
prefer the results to Red Hat 6.0....
DosLinux is easily extendable. I have downloaded and installed
Xwindows using the documentation available on the DosLinux site and it
went without a hitch. It is easy to install support for a Zip drive as
well."
[My notes: By closely following the install doc, I installed DosLinux
in about 15 minutes on a fast PII. The installation is admittedly
slightly more involved than Dragon or Pygmy, but the directions were
simple, clear, and accurate. Hints: The install doc assumes all
distribution files initially reside in root directory ("C:\"). When
the docs say "MS-DOS mode" assume this means a *clean* boot to DOS-
don't allow DOS drivers to be loaded in Config.sys or Autoexec.bat (in
Win98 = F8 and "safe command prompt" option). The worst part of
installing DosLinux was the slow downloads- including the large 8MB
main distribution file. It is recomended that you don't download this
file initially: read the install doc to discover why.]
Author: Kent Robotti, (1999). [30]Home Page. Suggested by Greg Head.
See the [31]DosLinux Home Page for more info and download links.
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