On Tue, Nov 12, 2002 at 11:20:48AM -0500, Howard Eisenberger wrote: > On Mon, Nov 11, 2002 at 07:49:48AM +0000, Steven C. Darnold wrote: > > > > The [Debian 3.0] docs say that 12 meg ram is required. > > > > This unfortunately is now the norm for non-GUI installs > > running from a ramdisk. There just isn't room in 8mb RAM > > for a larger kernel, larger libraries, larger binaries and > > a complicated installation routine. That's why I used an > > old kernel, old libraries, busybox and a minimal installation > > routine. > > The Linux kernels just keep getting bigger. This seems to be > a major stumbling block for old systems. Most of the current > so-called "mini" distributions seem to have very large memory > requirements.
To followup on this a bit. While further additions to my Slack 8.1 BasicLinux installation are proceeding nicely (ssh, exim, still a problem with nfs, but I never got that straightened out in Debian either), as long as I am playing around with this stuff, I figured I would see what happens if I installed basic Debian to a spare hardrive on my PI with plenty of ram and then transferred the drive to my test box with 8 meg ram. Both the compact and vanilla installations (kernel 2.2.20) seem to work as well as Slack 8.1 after they are transferred to the test box. The 2.4 kernel did not even install to the P1, but I realize now that the older loadlin is on the CD. So, in this case it may not be the kernel that is the stumbling block, but the installation routine. Now, if I could figure out an easy way to install Debian to the old PC without the P1, I might be as famous as you. :-) Anyway, I'll keep testing the new BasicLinux, which was a snap to install. By the way, I compiled links with svgalib on my main box, and was quite impressed. That might be something that can be added to BL. Howard E. To unsubscribe from SURVPC send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with unsubscribe SURVPC in the body of the message. Also, trim this footer from any quoted replies. More info can be found at; http://www.softcon.com/archives/SURVPC.html
