LinuxQuestions.org - [SOLVED] installing gentoo on an pentium 2

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installing gentoo on an pentium 2

whenever anyone asks about the best distro for older hardware gentoo invariably comes up. So why can't I get it to install on my old hardware? I have been trying to boot the minimal install CD on a pentium 2 machine. so far it has hung in three different places, the last being mounting /dev/hdc. I have resolved all those issues by booting with "nosata" then "nosata" and "noload=pata_qdi" and finally by replacing a drive.

Now it is hanging at Unpacking firmware.....

If anyone has had experience installing gentoo on a system like this I would love to hear from you. Even if I get past this hurdle I am sure I will find 80 more.

I have found it is often better to go back in time. I'm still running slackware-12.0 on this (ide only) box with a few later compiles. Avoid bloatware - kde, gnome, seamonkey, m$, etc. The older versions of slackware are available, back to slackware-1.01 with file dates from 1995 (!). Avoid java based programs if you can - they run ok here (AthlonXP-2.6G) but really, you don't want to spend time watching an hourglass, do you? My mirror is
ftp://ftp.heanet.ie/mirrors/slackware/pub/slackware

thanks for the tip. I didn't even know that the old stuff was still available for download. I'll give it a shot.

I guess I should mention that what I am trying to do is set up a headless file server for the house. So I don't even want x. Just samba I believe. I know linux can run on these old boxes because I have P2 Zeroshell router. I have also been trying to get FreeNAS to work. It boots up and runs fine but it errors out when it tries to use a sata drive. I guess at this point I'm open to pretty much anything.

hey dowhatnow
I have ARCH 2010.05 testing running on my lappy pentiumII

Toshiba 7000CT Portege with 266mhz 160MB RAM PentiumII 4GB hard drive
cat /proc/cpuinfo

Code:

processor    : 0

vendor_id    : GenuineIntel

cpu family    : 6

model        : 5

model name    : Pentium II (Deschutes)

stepping    : 0

cpu MHz        : 266.630

cache size    : 512 KB

fdiv_bug    : no

hlt_bug        : no

f00f_bug    : no

coma_bug    : no

fpu        : yes

fpu_exception    : yes

cpuid level    : 2

wp        : yes

flags        : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 sep mtrr pge mca cmov pse36 mmx fxsr up

bogomips    : 533.47

clflush size    : 32

cache_alignment    : 32

address sizes    : 36 bits physical, 32 bits virtual

power management:

lspci

Code:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 440BX/ZX/DX - 82443BX/ZX/DX Host bridge (AGP disabled) (rev 02)

00:04.0 VGA compatible controller: Neomagic Corporation NM2160 [MagicGraph 128XD] (rev 01)

00:05.0 Bridge: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ISA (rev 02)

00:05.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 IDE (rev 01)

00:05.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 USB (rev 01)

00:05.3 Bridge: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ACPI (rev 02)

00:09.0 Communication controller: Toshiba America Info Systems FIR Port Type-O (rev 23)

00:0b.0 CardBus bridge: Toshiba America Info Systems ToPIC97 (rev 05)

00:0b.1 CardBus bridge: Toshiba America Info Systems ToPIC97 (rev 05)

00:0d.0 Multimedia controller: C-Cube Microsystems Cinemaster C 3.0 DVD Decoder (rev 02)

01:00.0 Ethernet controller: Xircom Cardbus Ethernet 10/100 (rev 03)

although ARCH is probably not best choice as it's pretty cutting-edge...

I would recommend Slackware 13.1 or current
Most stable distro ever; Slackware

It is logical to say "you should use an older distro on older hardware" but I disagree. :) Using a release that is past its "end of life" means no support, no bug fixes, no security patches, no support for new hardware/peripherals, outdated applications, etc.

Sorry I have no specific suggestions, as I have no personal experience with Gentoo (or Linux on an old Pentium 2). However, here's a link to a really neat blog all about Linux on older hardware: http://kmandla.wordpress.com/

Quote:

Originally Posted by dowhatnow? (Post 4041488)

You don't have to use the Gentoo livecd. Just use whatever disk can boot your system, then follow the handbook. Nothing from the minimal livecd is going to be on your final system.

alright, well thanks for all the tips. I will definately review them all as soon as I can get some free time. Sorry, I wasn't on earlier. I have considered building gentoo using a zeroshell disk, but I am worried that once built, I will have the same problem booting from the hard drive. My skills aren't that great so I don't want something too difficult just yet. I have not looked into arch but will do so. I don't know If I really need all the latest stuff. The idea is just to build the thing and let it run. are updates really that important to a home file server? Well it's a lot to consider and I want to thank everyone who contributed their ideas. Unfortunately it will be a couple days before I have any more time to spend on this project. Thanks again.