[Preston] Linux on a 486

Tue Sep 17 10:31:00 2002

John,
Thanks for the advice about memory. I had intended to up it to 128Mb but
hadn't realised it would make such a dramatic difference.

Robin

----- Original Message -----
From: "John" <john.rushe@btinternet.com>
To: <preston@mailman.lug.org.uk>
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2002 9:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Preston] Linux on a 486

> Robin,
>
> All you need to do is ramp up the memory. I have run KDE on a PII 233 Mhz
> with 256 MB ram without any problems whatsoever. Even now, I run RH 7.3
with
> KDE 3 on a PII 400 Mhz with 330MB ram and again the response is superb.
This
> PC also acts as my server for the web via PPP connection (running squid,
> firewall, sendmail and fetchmail along with Samba) and still I can use the
> KDE desktop without any problems whatsoever. If you want to transform your
> Linux GUI experience using Gnome or KDE then install some extra RAM. I
can't
> see why you would need more than another 64 MB if you are using it purely
as
> a desktop... It's RAM that makes all th difference here rather than a
faster
> CPU... Let me know how you get on, I promise you the investment in extra
RAM
> will be well worth it...
>
> Cheers
>
> John
> PS... There is a distro called tinylinux which I have never used that may
be
> suitable for the 486's... I am sure somebody on the list will be able to
add
> more info on this and any other possible distros...
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Robin Johnson" <robin@totalise.co.uk>
> To: <preston@mailman.lug.org.uk>
> Sent: Monday, September 16, 2002 7:45 PM
> Subject: Re: [Preston] Linux on a 486
>
>
> > I'd confirm what Stephen is saying about the GUI. I have RH 7.2 on a
> 450Mhz
> > PII with 64Mb RAM and either Gnome or KDE are too much for it. I'd be
> > tempted to investigate oneof the simpler and lighter Window Mgt Systems
> for
> > X, such as devolution or .. - there are a few about. I'm only saying
what
> I
> > would do, I have no experience of these simpler GUIs but I am sure I
have
> > read reviews in magazines that speak well of them.
> >
> > Robin
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Stephen Taylforth" <stephen@ribblesdale.org>
> > To: <preston@mailman.lug.org.uk>
> > Sent: Monday, September 16, 2002 3:12 PM
> > Subject: RE: [Preston] Linux on a 486
> >
> >
> >
> > You'd probably be better running one of the 486s as a server (without
> x-win)
> > and saving the 233 as a workstation. In my experience linux without x
> > windows will run an any old piece of junk but putting a gui on even a
> quite
> > high end machine can make it creak under the load.  Your best chance is
> > finding a really early copy of linux which was around when the machines
> > first saw light of day (circa 94 /95 from the spec) but I can't suggest
> > anything that old.
> >
> > You shouldn't have any trouble making a 486 into a firewall / router or
a
> > mail server providing you don't expect to run a gui or handle a lot of
> > traffic. You should manage this with a quite modern linux provided it
will
> > run on a 486
> >
> > My experience with firewalls is with later versions of linux with a 2.4
> > kernal and iptables. I have set up back office boxes with early pentiums
> (90
> > mhz with 8meg) and they work fine provided you don't expect too much.
> (they
> > are much happier with 16 mb)
> >
> > I think that with such old machines you'd better get your hand in with
the
> > command line. (or retire them gracefully......)
> >
> >
> > Stephen Taylforth
> >
> > IT Technician Ribblesdale School Clitheroe
> >
> >
> > >I've just inherited a small number of 486 machines and want to play
> around
> > >with networking them. I plan to set up a server using a PII 233 and Red
> Hat
> > >7.3 and want initially to play around with the 486's as work stations,
> but
> > >maybe later use one as a firewall / router and one as a mail server.
> > >
> > >Can anyone advise on the best version of Linux to use on these
machines,
> > >bearing in mind they are quite low spec:
> > >  a.. 486 DX2 66 / DX2 50
> > >  b.. 340 / 540Mb HDD
> > >  c.. 8 / 16 MB RAM
> > >  d.. Thin net ethernet cards (although I do have some 10 base T cards
so
> I
> > >may change them later)
> > >  e.. No CD Drive (so I'll have to do a network install, but I think
I'm
> OK
> > >with this)
> > >
> > >Ideally, I would like to use an earlier version of KDE / Gnome or some
> > >other x-windows system (even though I do need to get to grips with the
> > >command prompt). I am thinking about an earlier version of Red Hat, but
> > >having checked their site, the earliest version available for download
is
> > >6.2 and this appears to need more hard drive space than I have
available.
> > >What about earlier versions of Red Hat than this? Where can I download
> them
> > >from? Alternatively, if anyone has a suitable version that they don't
> want,
> > >or will let me copy it, that would be even better.
> > >
> > >As far as firewalls go, the top two would appear to be Smoothwall and
> > >IPCop, anyone got experience with either and / or have any particular
> > >preferences? Also, will they support the hardware I describe above or
do
> I
> > >need something higher spec?
> > >
> > >On a separate point, I haven't been to any meeting for the past 3
months
> or
> > >so due to a number of work and personal commitments, but it sounds like
> I'm
> > >not the only one. What is currently happening, is the group dying a
slow
> > >death?
> > >
> > >Phil Edwards
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Preston mailing list
> > Preston@mailman.lug.org.uk
> > http://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/preston
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Preston mailing list
> > Preston@mailman.lug.org.uk
> > http://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/preston
> >
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Preston mailing list
> Preston@mailman.lug.org.uk
> http://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/preston
>