Arch Linux

xerxeslins

Member

Registered: 2010-02-02

Posts: 2

Is possible to install Arch in 486? [SOLVED]

Hello!

First of all, excuse my English. (using Google translator).

I'm going straight to the point.

Is possible to install Archlinux from a live-cd (like Ubuntu), so that the whole system is being compiled for i486 architecture, using ABS and Pacbuilder?

I know that Arch is optimized for i686, but with the Pacbuilder and also with the ABS thought it might be possible to install Arch on older machines. Compiling the entire system.

If possible, could someone tell me how to proceed?

Thank you for your attention!

Links:
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pacbuilder
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Arch_Build_System

Last edited by xerxeslins (2010-02-03 15:32:32)

lilsirecho

Veteran

Registered: 2003-10-24

Posts: 5,000

Re: Is possible to install Arch in 486? [SOLVED]

AFAICT no........

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Ultraman

Member

Registered: 2009-12-24

Posts: 242

Re: Is possible to install Arch in 486? [SOLVED]

I suggest you take a look at Slackware, I believe they still support i486. Or perhaps Debian, but I doubt that running apt is enjoyable...
Or, if you are willing to set up distcc or simply have an enormous amount of patience, Gentoo. I have run Gentoo on i586 boxes with distcc support (my trusty old Athlon 2400+ at the time did a lot of compiling...). You can really strip Gentoo, but you have to know your system well.

Another question is: Why?
For a very very small fee you can get a Pentium3 these days. Heck, a friend of mine bought a Pentium4 for 15 euro's last week.

Old hardware can be great fun, but I think you would be better off using your i486 system as a retro-gaming system with MS-DOS 6.22 for example. I have an old Pentium 166 set up with Win98 for the same kind of purpose. Sure beats fiddling with DosBox.

Last edited by Ultraman (2010-02-02 23:34:10)

xerxeslins

Member

Registered: 2010-02-02

Posts: 2

Re: Is possible to install Arch in 486? [SOLVED]

Arch is very good, but it lacks in terms of portability.
I'm deciding between Debian and Gentoo. Slackware is very good, but Xfce is poor and it has a few packages in the repository.

Gentoo is more like the Arch. Unfortunately it is very cumbersome to install and Portage has many error messages.
(yes. I am noob)

Debian seems good to me.

Thanks for the answers.

keegan

Member

Registered: 2009-05-12

Posts: 54

Re: Is possible to install Arch in 486? [SOLVED]

I would suggest Slack or Debian. For a self proclaimed noob like you Debian would probably be easier. True gentoo will work on most anything, but it would literally take you months to get a gentoo system compiled on a 486.

Ultraman

Member

Registered: 2009-12-24

Posts: 242

Re: Is possible to install Arch in 486? [SOLVED]

, but it would literally take you months to get a gentoo system compiled on a 486.

Which is why I suggested distcc.
But you could even install Gentoo on an entirely different PC for example. Just make sure you set your compile settings to i486.