Small Linux Distro

sLydE · #1 2004-07-05, 12:27 AM CDT

All right, i have an old machine that i would like to run linux on for an ftp/sql server eventually. here are the specs:
200Mhz PII
64mb ram
450mb hard drive
NO cd drive
diamond savage 2000 pci vid card

now, i want to know what the best distro would be to put on this system. Within a month or so, i'll be getting a bigger hard drive, but i would like all of the system files to be stored on this one if possible. Please note the absense of a working cd rom drive. Thanks in advance!

SuperNu · #2 2004-07-05, 01:54 AM CDT

I would go with Debian. It is mostly setup over a network if you go with the floppy install. Plus, you can really trim out a lot of excess packages you don't ne

--SN

carbo18 · #3 2004-07-05, 02:02 AM CDT

I will concur with SuperNu on Debian being a good choice. FreeBSD could also be an option as well, although it is Unix.

sLydE · #4 2004-07-05, 05:14 AM CDT

i know nothing about debian, any place that i can find a quick and easy guide to setting up a no-gui ftp/sql server install?

fjleal · #5 2004-07-05, 05:44 AM CDT

Ever tried damn small Linux? It's Debian-based, but very-very-small...

sLydE · #6 2004-07-05, 06:09 AM CDT

i am going to check that one out now

mbjbdc · #7 2004-07-05, 09:00 AM CDT

how about feather liinux it is 64 mg also debian based and comes with synaptic and apt

carbo18 · #8 2004-07-05, 12:44 PM CDT

Quote:

Please note the absense of a working cd rom drive.

Isn't Damn Small Linux CDROM based?

Feather linux is also CDROM based but can also be installed via pen drive... which requires USB.

I seem to remember that PII started at 233Mhz. So I'm guessing this system is actually a Pentium 200Mhz MMX (first generation pentium). So the motherboard probably doesn't even have USB support.

imdeemvp · #9 2004-07-05, 01:42 PM CDT

there is a lot of info here about distros and forums:

www.distrowatch.com

and this people here are offering a small distro sample for free:

www.easylinuxcds.com

good luck

btw for a server it will be slow with a p2 200mhz and 64 of ram and 450mb of hd...

***ilja*** · #10 2004-07-05, 05:58 PM CDT

Quote:

Originally Posted by sLydE

i know nothing about debian, any place that i can find a quick and easy guide to setting up a no-gui ftp/sql server install?

http://www.projektfarm.com/en/support/debian_setup/ is a good tutorial

http://www.eisfair.org/index_e.htm is a Server-Linux, very nice for beginner.

sLydE · #11 2004-07-05, 08:37 PM CDT

Quote:

Originally Posted by carbo18

Isn't Damn Small Linux CDROM based?

Feather linux is also CDROM based but can also be installed via pen drive... which requires USB.

I seem to remember that PII started at 233Mhz. So I'm guessing this system is actually a Pentium 200Mhz MMX (first generation pentium). So the motherboard probably doesn't even have USB support.

actually, you're right, my eyes decieved me. pentium-4 w/MMX 200MHz, good call. actually, there are usb connections on the back of the mobo, so that might be an option, i'll have to check out the bios and see if i can boot from the usb. (i have a 512mb usb thumb drive)

thanks for all the help

shtik · #12 2004-07-06, 02:53 AM CDT

you can use damn small linux from usb, too. a manual can be found at
http://rz-obrian.rz.uni-karlsruhe.de/knoppix-usb/

it describes how to install a working usb-boot damn small linux, it's actually an older version than the newest but i don't think it will be much different with latest version.

Jman · #13 2004-07-06, 04:55 AM CDT

Quote:

Originally Posted by imdeemvp

btw for a server it will be slow with a p2 200mhz and 64 of ram and 450mb of hd...

Bah. I ran a personal webserver (and ftp, database, cvs...) on a P83 with 36 MB RAM with Red Hat 7.3. I'll admit I had more hard drive space though.

Just don't run X graphics, and Fedora can do the same.

sLydE · #14 2004-07-12, 05:35 PM CDT

ok, so it turns out that the ide interface on the motherboard is junk, and doesn't work anymore. i don't have any scsi cards or cables, or hard drives for that matter, so i decided not to use that computer for now. i just decided to use fedora core 2 on my pIII 800, and run my ftp/web/sql server from there. thanks for all the help, that dsl is damn cool.

everest · #15 2004-07-13, 06:38 AM CDT

My personal recommendation for a system like that would be FreeBSD, its secure but can get a little complex running strait from the console. Luckily the FreeBSD handbook on the website provides everything you will need. But that’s all I used on my servers before Fedora so I'm a little biased.