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#1 2012-12-10 17:07:47

debugger
Member
Registered: 2012-12-10
Posts: 4

Install on Flash for PC with 32M Ram

Hi,
we have 50 Old! PC that boot by DOS and connect to a Central PC (Unix OS) and use from a COBOL Software by command
These PC have not H.D.D and have 32MB Ram Only!

we want to use a Fast,Lightweight Linux that have a Graphical Desktop and we can run Firefox on it
Can we use ArchLinux for this issue  or we should search for another distribution that Run Kernel on 32M Ram?

Thanks a lot
Best Regards

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#2 2012-12-10 17:13:05

Jristz
Member
From: America/Santiago
Registered: 2011-06-11
Posts: 1,022

Re: Install on Flash for PC with 32M Ram

If these machines are i686 on they prossesor you can run arch, else you cannot, and aditional for flash the sse intruction on the processor is need as far I know


Well, I suppose that this is somekind of signature, no?

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#3 2012-12-10 19:22:58

chris_l
Member
Registered: 2010-12-01
Posts: 390

Re: Install on Flash for PC with 32M Ram

I have been able to install arch on a i686 with only 64 ram using an old iso. https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/In … ing_old_cd

But 32mb only! hm wow, maybe if you install from a different pc, adding swap... maybe! if is i686... but I don't think it will work, 32mb is too little.

Firefox? no, forget it. Maybe elinks or another text based browser. Unless a really old version of firefox can run from such a low specs.

Try it, If 32mb is not enough for arch, or your processor is not i686, but i586, you could try connochaetos. Still, I think it requires 64 ram...

If neither connochaetos work there, try with deli(cate). http://delicate-linux.net/ that one works with i486. If your pcs are i386, then try with Basiclinux http://distro.ibiblio.org/baslinux/

EDIT: Basiclinux includes an old opera browser! Since the minimum requirements using it with X is about 12Mb, maybe your 32Mb will make it have an almost acceptable speed.

Last edited by chris_l (2012-12-10 19:31:41)


"open source is about choice"
No.
Open source is about opening the source code complying with this conditions, period. The ability to choose among several packages is just a nice side effect.

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#4 2012-12-10 19:43:35

debugger
Member
Registered: 2012-12-10
Posts: 4

Re: Install on Flash for PC with 32M Ram

Can i use Flash as Virtual memory(for increase Ram)?

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#5 2012-12-10 20:25:44

chris_l
Member
Registered: 2010-12-01
Posts: 390

Re: Install on Flash for PC with 32M Ram

debugger wrote:

Can i use Flash as Virtual memory(for increase Ram)?

Sure, is called swap tongue

But your flash stick will die fast that way. Mostly because the low ram will require you to use the swap area a lot.

If you mean something like ReadyBoost from the windows world, there is not something like that on linux... and it wont do what you think. (is more for cache of files, as far as I know)


"open source is about choice"
No.
Open source is about opening the source code complying with this conditions, period. The ability to choose among several packages is just a nice side effect.

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#6 2012-12-10 20:42:50

DSpider
Member
From: Romania
Registered: 2009-08-23
Posts: 2,273

Re: Install on Flash for PC with 32M Ram

Welcome to the forum.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Be … ion_medium

Note: The memory requirement for a basic install is 64 MB of RAM.



And an untranslated bit, that was apparently removed from the installation guide (I don't know why), used to say:

Arch Linux is optimized for i686 and x86_64 processors and therefore will not run on any lower or incompatible generations of x86 CPUs (i386, i486 or i586). A Pentium Pro, Pentium II or AMD Athlon (K7) processor or higher is required. (technically, cpu's without the cmov instruction such as AMD K6 and via C3 are also i686, but we use gcc and it uses cmov instructions) Before installing Arch Linux, you should decide which installation method you would like to use.

Source: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Of … hitectures


"How to Succeed with Linux"

I have made a personal commitment not to reply in topics that start with a lowercase letter. Proper grammar and punctuation is a sign of respect, and if you do not show any, you will NOT receive any help (at least not from me).

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#7 2012-12-10 22:04:16

Pres
Member
Registered: 2011-09-12
Posts: 423

Re: Install on Flash for PC with 32M Ram

Slitaz is my favorite distro for very aggressive minimal requirements. Doubt you are going to be able to run Firefox with those specs though.

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#8 2012-12-10 22:04:29

Mr.Elendig
#archlinux@freenode channel op
From: The intertubes
Registered: 2004-11-07
Posts: 4,092

Re: Install on Flash for PC with 32M Ram

Arch is not optimized in regards to ram usage at all, you are much better off with some other distro.


Evil #archlinux@libera.chat channel op and general support dude.
. files on github, Screenshots, Random pics and the rest

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#9 2012-12-11 04:13:01

debugger
Member
Registered: 2012-12-10
Posts: 4

Re: Install on Flash for PC with 32M Ram

Mr.Elendig wrote:

Arch is not optimized in regards to ram usage at all, you are much better off with some other distro.

Hi
what's your suggestion?

I search for Fastest,Lightweight Linux that install on Flash and need to 32M Ram(Max Need)
I found some distribution like:
Slax
Arch
Puppy
SliTaz
Tiny Core Linux

I should format a Flash format to swap for use as virtual memory  for use Firefox 0.8!
Because IE use 20M Ram or Firefox 17 use 150M Ram

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#10 2012-12-11 04:28:40

Trilby
Inspector Parrot
Registered: 2011-11-29
Posts: 29,442
Website

Re: Install on Flash for PC with 32M Ram

Do you really need firefox?  Why not something like midori?

I second the suggestion for slitaz, which comes with midori as the default browser.


"UNIX is simple and coherent..." - Dennis Ritchie, "GNU's Not UNIX" -  Richard Stallman

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#11 2012-12-11 05:29:09

x33a
Forum Fellow
Registered: 2009-08-15
Posts: 4,587

Re: Install on Flash for PC with 32M Ram

Whichever distro you use ( +1 for slitaz from me too), don't use an outdated browser. It is likely to have several vulnerabilities.

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#12 2012-12-11 10:02:06

Alber
Member
From: Spain - España
Registered: 2011-11-11
Posts: 227

Re: Install on Flash for PC with 32M Ram

I've used the top or/and free commands to see memory in my current Arch installation and get:
Before X:
    used(-buffers/-cache): 28348      buffer: 11080      cached: 26840      Total used: 66268
With X (Openbox, Tint..)
    used(-buffers/-cache): 39720      buffer: 15720      cached: 68136      Total used:123576

Edit: All data in KiB.

Last edited by Alber (2012-12-11 16:56:44)


Because not all of us are native English speakers, try no to use slang or abbreviations, thank you.

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#13 2012-12-11 16:22:00

chris_l
Member
Registered: 2010-12-01
Posts: 390

Re: Install on Flash for PC with 32M Ram

Now the question no one has asked (including me - shame on me!):

What are your specs?

Yes, we have very clear the 32Mb part, but, what processor it has? Do you have the brand and model of the cpu?
I realized is interesting this DOS machine that has usb ports, no HD and 32Mb ram only

Last edited by chris_l (2012-12-11 16:40:34)


"open source is about choice"
No.
Open source is about opening the source code complying with this conditions, period. The ability to choose among several packages is just a nice side effect.

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#14 2012-12-14 20:14:06

ismaelvc
Member
From: México, D.F.
Registered: 2012-02-26
Posts: 136

Re: Install on Flash for PC with 32M Ram

I wonder if links -g in the framebuffer is possible with so little ram?

I also have a 32M old laptop, but I dont have the power addaptor, or I would have tested! lol surffin the web in it with links would be fun!

Last edited by ismaelvc (2012-12-14 20:17:08)


Laptop: LG LM70 Express                                                  Kernel: 3.14.2-1-ARCH   
CPU: Intel Pentium M processor @1.86GHz                  Hard Drive: 80G
Video: Mobility Radeon X600                                            X Driver: xf86-video-ati
Memory Size: 1.5G + zramswap: 384M + swap: 3G

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#15 2012-12-14 20:33:21

masteryod
Member
Registered: 2010-05-19
Posts: 433

Re: Install on Flash for PC with 32M Ram

As a proof of concept I think is doable. Also look at special distributions like Damn Small Linux, min. required memory is 24MB for that one.

As a real usage machine for GUI web browsing it will be real PITA. I was recently browsing internet on P4 with 256MB and it was doable but painful.

I don't understand to well what are you trying to achieve. Is there a reason why can't you just replace it with newer used one which will be couple dozens times more powerful and cost like nothing on e-bay?

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#16 2012-12-14 20:39:21

chris_l
Member
Registered: 2010-12-01
Posts: 390

Re: Install on Flash for PC with 32M Ram

masteryod wrote:

I don't understand to well what are you trying to achieve. Is there a reason why can't you just replace it with newer used one which will be couple dozens times more powerful and cost like nothing on e-bay?

The answer is at the begin:

debugger wrote:

Hi,
we have 50 Old! PC that boot by DOS and connect to a Central PC (Unix OS) and use from a COBOL Software by command
These PC have not H.D.D and have 32MB Ram Only!

He want to use machines he already have. (and messing with old pcs is fun!)

Anyway, I would do it using elinks - I dont see the reason to put the use of a graphical browser like a requirement on such an old machine


"open source is about choice"
No.
Open source is about opening the source code complying with this conditions, period. The ability to choose among several packages is just a nice side effect.

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#17 2012-12-28 20:04:27

debugger
Member
Registered: 2012-12-10
Posts: 4

Re: Install on Flash for PC with 32M Ram

Hi,
Please See Use a Pen Drive To Extend Your PC RAM
Can i divide Flash space to 2 separated parts? one of them for swap(use for extended RAM)  and another for using file like Firefox ...
Or i should use 2 Flash Memory (SWAP & Files)

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#18 2012-12-30 17:45:51

chris_l
Member
Registered: 2010-12-01
Posts: 390

Re: Install on Flash for PC with 32M Ram

Just create 2 partitions on your usb drive. Read Partitioning on the wiki for more info.
...and don't forget to search the wiki before asking wink


"open source is about choice"
No.
Open source is about opening the source code complying with this conditions, period. The ability to choose among several packages is just a nice side effect.

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