More than using an old suse version, you would better using something like "damn small linux" or using another distribution but installing the "basic" system (without desktop environment like gnome or kde, preatty "heavy") and installing a light window manager like fluxbox and only the applications you really need Gaël Kevanf1 wrote on 01/03/2005 11.32.13:

On Mon, 28 Feb 2005 20:55:55 -0600, Glenn Holmer wrote:

...

I'm trying to get SUSE 9.2 to install on an old machine with just 64M of core and no CD-ROM drive. OK, I built the half-dozen floppy images on another machine and went to install from that machine over HTTP. The install starts, warning me to add swap first (which I do, as there's already a Linux swap partition available), but then it just hangs with the progress bar about 3/4 filled.

Is this even possible in 64M?

-- ========================================================= Glenn Holmer (Linux registered user #16682) ========================================================= I am closing down. I have much to do; you have engaged my circuits on your petty affairs for far too long. ========================================================= -Orac (the computer), Blake's 7 =========================================================

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My Local LUG (Wolves LUG) have been debating this very same issue. At the moment it seems that the minimum amount of RAM required seems to be somewhere in the region of 128mb. However, I would imagine that it all depends on what you want installing. If you are going for an extreme minimalist install then you might get away with it. I can't remember off hand what the minimum requirements are for SuSE 9.2 as recommended by SuSE/Novell but I'm sure it is more than 64mb. Waht about trying a distro more suited to an old machine? Perhaps an older version of SuSE? You could always try updating the kernel and security packages once it is installed and running.

-- Take care. Kevan Farmer

34 Hill Street Cheslyn Hay Staffordshire WS6 7HR

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On Tuesday 01 March 2005 05:53, Fergus Wilde wrote:

On Tuesday 01 March 2005 02:55, Glenn Holmer wrote:

...

I'm trying to get SUSE 9.2 to install on an old machine with just 64M of core and no CD-ROM drive. OK, I built the half-dozen floppy images on another machine and went to install from that machine over HTTP. The install starts, warning me to add swap first (which I do, as there's already a Linux swap partition available), but then it just hangs with the progress bar about 3/4 filled.

Is this even possible in 64M?

I've never had luck with SuSE on the smaller machines. I have 7.2 running on a 166 with 64M, at the time it wasn't a small machine. I just installed linux on a 486-25 with 12 M of RAM. I used slackware, then did it again using uWoody - this is a debian woody compiled with uclibc. It comes as a root image that you copy to the harddrive then resize, and setup some configuration files (Google should find the start of a howto). Slackware still supports a floppy based install. 6 disks get things going then you have to move over the tarballs. Some are too big to fit on a floppy so split and cat let you copy them in pieces. Once the networking/modem is set up then you are done with the floppy. There are many small distros but I find most are no longer in active development, or are very specialized. RULE http://www.rule-project.org/ tiny linux http://hem.bredband.net/ekmlar/tinylinux.html Puppy linux http://www.goosee.com/puppy/ Amigo Linux OS http://www.amigolinux.org/docs/minstall/AmigoHOWTO.htm Damn small linux http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/download.html Coyote http://www.coyotelinux.com/ tomsrbt http://www.toms.net/rb/ floppix http://floppix.ccai.com/ small linux http://www.superant.com/smalllinux/ mulinux http://mulinux.sunsite.dk/ LEAF http://www.leaf-project.org/ I have bash and gcc on my aero and use it for late night coding when I don't want to go downstairs to the main machine. -- Collector of vintage computers http://www.ncf.ca/~ba600 Machines to trade http://www.ncf.ca/~ba600/trade.html Open Source Weekend http://www.osw.ca

Kevanf1 wrote:

I have checked on my box. SuSE 9.2 should be run on a minimum of 128mb RAM but 256mb is recommended. However, I would imagine that if you don't have X or any GUI installed then you should be ok. I might be trying this myself soon as I have an old Pentium 166 that I want to put to use as a firewall. Wish me luck :-)

I did precicely that, with a 166 MHz Pentium & 64 MB, running SuSE 9.1. Works well.

On Tuesday 01 March 2005 14.13, James Knott wrote:

Glenn Holmer wrote:

...

I'm trying to get SUSE 9.2 to install on an old machine with just 64M of core and no CD-ROM drive. OK, I built the half-dozen floppy images on another machine and went to install from that machine over HTTP. The install starts, warning me to add swap first (which I do, as there's already a Linux swap partition available), but then it just hangs with the progress bar about 3/4 filled.

Is this even possible in 64M?

I have installed SuSE 9.1 in 64 MB, without difficulty. However, I didn't install any GUI, as it's used only as a firewall. I installed from CD thought. I don't know if a network install has greater requirements.

I seem to recall the figure 92 Mb for install. Boot via the install floppies, and manually enter the shell (alt-f2), create all the partitions, make some swap, and enable that. Then flip back to the installer and continue. That is how the manual tells you to do for a low ram system. I would probably make a 128-512 Mb swaparea in your case, depending on what you are going to do with it. -- /Rikard --------------------------------------------------------------- Rikard Johnels email : rikjoh@norweb.se Web : http://www.rikjoh.com/users/rikjoh Mob : +46 735 05 51 01 PGP : 0x461CEE56 ---------------------------------------------------------------