Re: InstallFest II - suggestions light weight distros

Greetings,

Concerning your question on light-weight distros, may I suggest the following:

Damn Small Linux (http://www.damnsmalllinux.org) - It is a live CD based on Knoppix (ergo Debian) and the developers do have frequent updates.  DSL is always a heaping total of 50 MB or less and contains a very basic Linux OS, graphical environment (fluxbox), and some desktop applications.  Optional programs are available from their website.  One can use those to remaster the CD.   This is one of my favorite mini-distros.  I've saved some rather old machines using this distro.  One can install it on a hard drive or USB drive.    Try it out!  (I'd suggest downloading the "syslinux" ISO if you are going to boot a CD on some older machines).

Puppy Linux (http://www.puppylinux.com/) is similar to DSL in that it is small--around 60 MB, but in my opinion has some better desktop applications.  Unlike DSL above, it is not based on any other particular or original distro.  Their website says it needs about 128 MB RAM, but I've had it on machines with 64 MB and it seems okay.  It is also a live CD with several install options.   Perhaps this one would be good to demonstrate or give away since it has some better "bells and whistles" that may impress Windows people.

Vector Linux (http://www.vectorlinux.com/) has been around for a while now and was one of the first Linuxes that I tried.    Their live CDs seem to be better now.  Previously they had your standard CD to install to hard dirve only approach.  Vector is based on Slackware.  I've not tried their live CDs recently but I know I was rather pleased when I did hard drive installs in the past.

Austrumi Linux (http://cyti.latgola.lv/ruuni/index_en.html) is an obscure distro from Latvia, also based on Slackware.  The live CD does boot into a Latvian desktop but one can find the (UK) flag symbol on the menu and get some good ole English.  I've been watching this distro grow over the past couple of years and it continues to show promise.   Again, it's small in size, roughtly 50 MB and it ran on my old machines decently.  With some of the desktop applications included, it reminds me of Puppy in some ways .  

Well, you can probably see that I'm one who is into the "mini-distros".  I'm totally impressed with what people can squeeze into small sizes and still have a decent OS, GUIs and standard applications.  I have some Pentiums at home (not PII or PIIIs - just "Pentiums") so I can attest that the above distros can do the job.  They can find most of my hardware but like any distro, there can be a few quirks (e.g., might now find the soundcard right away on one machine, maybe okay on another).   I hope you will find them interesting and enjoyable.  

Best Regards,
John Bocan

(Glad to see InstallFest is happening.  I hope to perhaps finally pop out to this or the meeting).

Jonathan Rosenbaum <[email protected]> wrote: We are combining forces again with WVU ACM this Tuesday the 28th for 
InstallFest II at the NRCEE ( http://osenergy.org/fblinstallfest.html ) .

The actual InstallFest occurs between 5:30-8:30.   There is a set-up 
time from 5:00-5:30 and a clean-up time from 8:30-9:00.

In the roster, there is a pre-planned install of CAElinux ( 
http://www.caelinux.com ) .  Kind thanks to Ricky Hussman of ACM for 
making/providing the install DVD.  Matt plans to provide FreeBSD 
installs.   Gregory of ACM is bringing 50 ubuntu cds (as long as someone 
in his CS class reminds him this Monday), and I'm assuming Morlug will 
be bringing cds, too.   I'm still deciding on a light weight distro for 
less powerful computers .. any suggestions? 

The InstallFest will be combined with a MythTV focus as mentioned in 
Ricky's latest message to our group.

In other news, David Krovich will be talking about Video on Linux at our 
regular meeting this Wednesday.  Then CTS creeps up on us two weeks 
later.  This is an exciting time for Free Software in Morgantown so 
spread the word about all these events.

Looking forward to seeing you all,

Jonathan
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