Newer applications on older kernel?
 

I am using a specialized private application on an older kernel version 2.4.x. The application is optimized for this particular kernel (based on Debian). For usability of the application, I cannot really recompile kernels and modify the core OS (although technically I have root access and the freedom). What I am really trying to do is get a newer browser to use with in-house apps. It currently has an older version of Mozilla (not firefox).

Is there any way I can get some kind of newer browser that does not have all kinds of dependencies that might corrupt this critical app we use?

What I am thinking of is some kind of self-contained browser. I know with firefox on windows, there is a portable version that can be run from a usb drive in places where applications cannot be installed. Is there anything like this for linux? I am open to other browsers like dillo and opera, but just have not found anything like what I am looking for.

We are using icewm, not gnome or kde. I do want it to be gui, not text-based, my in house apps need a gui.

Any thoughts? I am open to creative solutions.

you should be able to find a recent version of mozilla compiled for your version of debian, and it shouldn't mess up anything to install it. i've compiled mozilla from cvs hundreds of times, and it will not put anything outside it's directory unless you tell it to.

except for the config file and cache mail in your home directory.

whansard,

Excuse my ignorance, but where would I find a compiled version for my version of debian. I know there is some kind of repository for compiled versions, but not being real familiar with the way the Debian system works, can you or someone else point me in the right direction?

Thanks

try this first:
http://download.mozilla.org/?product...nux&lang=en-US

mozilla doesn't need to be in the path, so you can put it wherever you want. Extract it, then go into mozilla/bin and run ./seamonkey-bin or whatever you think the executable is from an xterm or similar.



by the way, it's not really the kernel version that determines what apps you can run. it's what distribution and version, which will come with certain versions of libraries. they can all be upgraded. you could put all new software on the system and not touch the kernel.
what version of debian is it?


this is sort of overkill for a web browser, but

http://newbiedoc.sourceforge.net/sys...get-intro.html

http://www.linuxsecurity.com/content/view/122714/100/