Instant-on linux distro
 

Hi, Im new to linux. I am looking for something like Splashtop

http://www.geek.com/splashtops-insta...linux-desktop/

I only need to browse the net from a USB drive, and it should boot up in less than 10 seconds. Thats all I need.

Any suggestions? Thanks

Find a distro that you like. Custom compile the kernel. Trim fat. Go through the bootstrap process and cut what you don't need.

It also depends on what hardware you have. On my 450MHz 64MB laptop, I can boot to X (from LILO) in about 25 - 30 seconds.

Other than doing the above, I'm not aware of any such distro. Most distros probably will not boot in 10 seconds unless you have at least custom-compiled the kernel.

I don't think you're going to find anything like splashtop that operates exactly like it because it needs hardware support - but yes, follow LinuxCrayon's instructions - just pick a very light distro.

Damn Small Linux is the distro that has a web browser, apt-get, and other applications and it is about 50 megs.

The startup is a bit of a drag like most operating systems because of the hardware detection, disk mounting, so on and so forth. DSL is very fast.

I agree, go with DSL

Or puppy linux

Hi,

I would suggest that the 'OP' use a distro of choice and learn to trim the fat. That way if the 'OP' should choose 'DSL', 'Puppy' or 'InstantLinux©' to be his/her distro then trim to suit along with a <10 second boot time on the PDA/HandHeld/Laptop. He/she will have a distribution that we all would want or use.

Look at the Motorola, LG or whichever hand held phone or system with the boot/reboot is quick if you discard the link times.

I think those who are suggesting DSL or Puppy are confusing two different things with each other: a light weight or small distribution isn't necessarily the same thing as "instant on" or fast boot times.

The two might be related to each other, in that a smaller distribution will have fewer features _during_ boot. But this is somewhat moot. The best suggesting given was to "trim the fat". Specifically, if one really wanted a fast boot, then you'd have to compile a customer kernel. This allows the kernel to bypass hardware detection because it will hardware support is already present. The other thing to do is trim all the usual /etc/rc stuff to only support the things your system has. e.g., don't start services which you know you won't need; do you need NFS or SAMBA for surfing the web? Probably not. Once the system is booted, it almost doesn't matter what is actually installed on disk or what additional service are started, as that is another problem.