Non-GUI Linux on a Floppy

ashkan_G · 02-25-2005, 02:22 AM

I'm pretty new to Linux and really want to discover "the power" of linux. But I can't do any discovering on my home pc since it is a family pc (I tried it once and it turned REALLY UGLY).

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that I have a very old IBM ThinkPad and I was wondering if anyone knew a distro that can fit into a floppy (the laptop is so old it doesn't have a CD-ROM!).

I don't need any GUI. Just the console.

I would appreciate any help.

Thanks.

Adony · 02-25-2005, 04:34 AM

I doubt that there is a distro that fits on the 1Mb of the floppy .. with that space it barely can´t hold the kernel itself

You could try damn small linux that can be run from a usb pen, but maybe you also doesn´t have support for usb too...

You could always try Knoppix on your "family pc" as it runs directly from your pc without "damaging" data on the computer..

frrossk · 02-25-2005, 06:43 AM

Check this: http://users.sunet.com.au/~tsn/floppy_linux.html

ashkan_G · 02-25-2005, 08:46 PM

Thanks frrossk.
That link gives me a lot of choices.

DesyphER · 02-26-2005, 01:52 AM

You can allways trash that laptop or give it to a bum.. They really need to experience a computer.

ashkan_G · 02-26-2005, 03:54 AM

I don't think that it would help me "discover" anything!

IsaacKuo · 02-26-2005, 05:28 AM

Try out GamesKnoppix, Mepis, Kanotix, or Overclockix. These are all Knoppix based LiveCDs which you can run on your home computer without installing onto the hard drive. You just pop the CD in, and it automatically detects your computer hardware and boots up. They won't mess up anything on the computer, and don't even need a hard drive at all to run! To "uninstall", all you need to do is eject the CD. That's it!

wapcaplet · 02-26-2005, 08:59 AM

muLinux comes in a set of floppy-sized images, and has a surprising amount of software. I installed it once and found the installation process to be quite smooth (better than many full distributions, in some ways). I didn't end up using it very much, so I can't really comment on whether you'll find it useful for everyday work, but I'd definitely recommend giving it a try.

rvijay · 02-27-2005, 06:40 AM

There are several good Floppy Linux Distros out there.
Never trash old PCs. That is bad advice. Use them to the maximum.

There are some floppy Linux distros that will turn an old PC into
a firewall, router, server etc.,

Other Popular Floppy Linux OSs:
tomsrtbt, Pocket Linux, Trinux, Wolf Linux

All can be found easily by search on the net.

Vijay

ashkan_G · 02-27-2005, 04:26 PM

Thanks everyone. Wow! Now, I can truly brag about Linux community support. I hope one day I can return the favor.

DesyphER · 02-28-2005, 01:36 AM

IsaacKuo!, he said he doesn´t have a CD-ROM

DesyphER · 02-28-2005, 01:40 AM

ashkan_G; Oh yeah, firewall ey

.. i downloaded astaro security linux quite a while ago to use on an old shitty computer, but i haven´t got the chance to get my hands on one yet. I´ll just have to wait till this P4 3Ghz Rig gets old =). Oh yeah does astaro have an easy installer?

IsaacKuo · 02-28-2005, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DesyphER
IsaacKuo!, he said he doesn´t have a CD-ROM

Of course he has a CD-ROM...on the house's main computer which he isn't supposed to install anything on!

He wants to see "the power of Linux", and I think the best way for him to do so is on his more powerful computer, not on some pathetic old laptop. The restriction is that he can't INSTALL anything on the "good computer", not that he can't use it at all, surely!