Console-only Linux???

k4zau · 02-26-2003, 03:53 PM

I was wondering if there was a complete version of Linux which is specifically designed to run in console mode? Something that includes all the standard console apps but nothing else? I would like to have one to put on an older 486/66. I have found that all the apps I want to put on it have console versions, and don't want to take the time to set up anything complicated (i'm lazy and impatient)

rockdw · 02-26-2003, 04:08 PM

Most distros will let you install only console stuff. RedHat will do that (for the most part). Slackware is probably a better choice for one that lets you nitpick individual packages.

Just don't pick any X stuff, and you should be fine ;-)

acid_kewpie · 02-26-2003, 04:08 PM

there are a lot of threads around here about linux on 486's, so have a little search. but as far as just using console, any dsitro can run just fine without X. just don't install it.

k4zau · 02-26-2003, 04:54 PM

OK, thanks.

I did search the forums a little bit. Seems a lot of the things I've heard about 486's involve fileservers and 'bare-bones' installations. I was more specifically wondering if there was an distribution designed only for console use, so I could get it up and running fast. But, I knew that I could just skip X installation if I didn't find a distro like that. I'll probably just do that...it seems the easiest. I'm looking at VectorLinux and Peanut Linux, or possibly Slack.

rockdw · 02-27-2003, 09:55 PM

Here is a good list of Linux Distros:
http://lwn.net/Distributions/

Dave Skywatcher · 02-28-2003, 03:57 PM

I would recommend Debian for your needs. The reason is that it includes a lot of configuration tools to make you more productive (unlike Slack), but they all run in console without needing to have X installed (unlike RH, etc.). The best of both worlds, really... You're given a lot of options during the install process to tune the setup to your needs, i. e., you can make a bare-bones install just by answering "no" to the options you don't need. Avoiding X is as simple as leaving it alone when you run tasksel or dselect.