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Old 05-18-2009, 12:20 PM   #1
grahamdcp
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Linux distro solely for image processing, using GIMP suggestions sought


Hello everyone, I currently run 4 PCs with various distro's of Linux.

What I would like to do is set up one pc as my work station dedicated to Image processing.

I am seeking a reliable stable version of linux distro that is light weight With the latest version of Gimp.
It needs to be able to handle RAW format as well as jpg and DNG if possible.
additionally I would require a browser that is compatable with the latest flash plugins . So that I can access applications like email online . With so many Apps becoming available online as flash apps i don't need to have stand alone Apps on my pc.
What i don't want is a distro with bells and whistles.
I only require a basic Gui to launch Gimp and navigate my files.And post them to online galleries.
When it comes to Programing I'm am a complete newbie so the simpler the process the better.

I have read that you can roll out your own distro's but after a few lines into the article it was like reading a foreign language.

Any suggestions appreciated, like are there any distro's out there that are predominantly for image editing . and if there is where I may download a copy from. (live or install, 386 or amd 64) I guess what I am trying to create is my own personal GIMP box or Gimp studio

At the moment my current distro's(ubuntu 8.10 ,fedora 10,mint linux) are quite large and have gimp in them but I find gimp runs slow on them.

my pc Amd 64 3400 , 2 gb ram , 256mb video ,300gb HDD,


thanks
Kind regards
Graham
 
Old 05-18-2009, 12:54 PM   #2
rweaver
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Well, if you want something that specific I'd suggest a more 'roll your own' distribution like Arch or Gentoo (they're not as hard as rolling your own and there is good support and documentation available.) Expect to do some work though.

The reality is... larger distribution != slower distribution. Making sure you have a release that uses all the features of your processor and having the correct video drivers installed will largely make more of a difference than changing to a smaller distribution.

Last edited by rweaver; 05-18-2009 at 12:59 PM.
 
Old 05-18-2009, 01:07 PM   #3
linus72
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Tinycore_1.4.2; add only what you want, when you want it.
Starts at 10MB and add from there...
( http://www.tinycorelinux.com/ )

Wanna put it on USB to save a 700MB CD from a 10MB distro-
Must either partition USB to save apps/etc to 2nd partition or save the apps on your HD
As with DSL. USB should be FAT16/32, with boot flag on(use cfdisk "cfdisk /dev/sdxx", choose "bootable" and then "write".
If not partitioning USB-
get iso image, put iso in folder on desktop named "tc".
cd into the "tc" folder from Desktop(Ubuntu), and login as root
sudo su

cd Desktop/tc
mkdir /mnt/iso
mount -o loop tinycore-1.4.2.iso /mnt/iso
mkdir /mnt/usb
mount /dev/sdxx /mnt/usb (where "xx" is your USB name (sdf1/sde1/sdb1,etc)
cp /mnt/iso/* /mnt/usb

After copying the iso to usb; rename "isolinux" folder to "syslinux"
rename isolinux.cfg to syslinux.cfg
edit syslinux.cfg so it is as below-

Code:
display /syslinux/boot.msg
default tinycore
label tinycore
kernel /bzImage
append initrd=/tinycore.gz quiet

implicit 0	
prompt 1	
timeout 300
F1 /syslinux/boot.msg
F2 /syslinux/f2
F3 /syslinux/f3
Install syslinux with-
"syslinux -s /dev/sdxx" again, where "xx" is your USB, NOT your HD!
Use "mount", "fdisk -l" to find out usb name.
Reboot into tinycore and save apps/settings,etc to your HD.

If you wanna save apps,etc to 2nd partition of usb so they go with you-
Use Gparted or cfdisk to make 2 FAT16 or FAT32 partitions-
1st partition= 100MB, bootable
2nd partition= rest of usb (2GB USB would be about 1.6+GB)

Last edited by linus72; 05-19-2009 at 06:11 AM.
 
Old 05-18-2009, 01:16 PM   #4
grahamdcp
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thankyou sincerely for your fast replies. i have copied your replies and saved them as a text file for offline reading . i will go through each suggestion and see if i can grasp the task ahead. i have a fresh pot of coffee ready and donuts so here goes. I will keep you updated my progress and if i get stuck I'm sure a bribe with some virtual food will get me through .

Thankyou once again Graham :-)
 
Old 05-18-2009, 01:26 PM   #5
linus72
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Wait-I have uploaded a prepared Tinycore usb to my site; here's the download link
( http://multidistro.com/downloads/off...4.2-usb.tar.gz )
Just extract that and put on your USB, and set boot flag active.
Install syslinux to usb.
reboot and play.
any issues, please post.
 
Old 05-18-2009, 02:51 PM   #6
linus72
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OK grahamdcp; I made it even easier, I installed gimp1 and the new gimp2 to tinycore, and uploaded the gimp apps here-
(http://multidistro.com/downloads/off...backups.tar.gz) and so now all you gotta do is decide whether or not you want to have the tinycore backups/apps on your HD or on your USB...

Example for backups on HD-
edit append line on syslinux.cfg to say "append initrd=/tinycore.gz quiet restore=hda1 tce=hda1" that's if the backups are on the 1st partition of your HD.

Example for partitioned USB (tinycore always will see USB as sda1, partitioned USB as sda1/sda2)
"append initrd=/tinycore.gz quiet restore=sda2 tce=sda2"

So, either put the CONTENTS of "tc-backups.tar.gz" on your HD or USB and edit syslinux.cfg as well to show tinycore where the backups are.
This way-you just have gimp1 and 2, nothing else.
Install firefox whatever.

Last edited by linus72; 05-19-2009 at 06:11 AM.
 
Old 05-19-2009, 10:33 AM   #7
grahamdcp
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At last I can get backto my Pc,what a day . car problems all fixed now grrrrrrrr .... Firstly a big thankyou Linus 72 you have taken a lot time and been so helpful.

1. After searching high and low I finally found a usb flash drive that the kids hadn't pinched for there own . I had a dozen or so laying around now I only have 1 and it's a measly 1gb . but should be fine for the task at hand. I also found an old 8gb hard drive so it gives me 2 options. load the operating system on either the usb or hdd.

2. Ok I plugged in the usb flash drive, oh boy I have to partition this first. Now I have done guided partitioning with install and live cd's, but I haven't actually formated or partitioned a usb flash drive in linux before.
No time like the present to learn.

So from what I have read there are some partitioning programs out there for this task and I must find out more about boot flag active.

which i will do to gain more experience. I'm still learning linux terminology (lingo)

With that said . I don't mind frying a 700mb cd for a small distro. Hell if all else fails I can add it to my collection of coffee cup coasters.

Is it possible to get an ISO file of the distro with the gimp 1&2 included from the files you uploaded I'm not sure how to create an iso file from scratch but I do know how to write an existing iso file to disk and then booting from it.

I'm not sure if my pc will boot from a usb flash drive , I've never tried but i'm sure a quick look in cmos will tell me.

In the mean time i'm off reading and experimenting to learn more about the tasks ahead . Thanks for your instructions they have been very helpful and I have been getting meanings of the lingo through google. yep I'm a complete newbie . lol cheers Graham :-)

Last edited by grahamdcp; 05-19-2009 at 10:36 AM.
 
Old 05-19-2009, 10:49 AM   #8
repo
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Why don't you use puppy or muppy?
muppy has gimp 2.4
 
Old 05-19-2009, 11:03 AM   #9
linus72
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grahamdcp; I just found out how to get tinycore to load/save apps etc without partitioning the usb.
Usually, it will balk if you try to restore apps,etc from sda1(usb), which is why it wants a 2nd partition on usb to save to.
a workaround is to use your hd as the backup, then transfer the "mydata.tgz" and "tce" folder to your USB(not partitioned); then change the syslinux.cfg append line from "append initrd=/tinycore.gz quiet restore=hda1 tce=hda1 waitusb=10" to "append initrd=/tinycore.gz quiet restore=sda1 tce=sda1 waitusb=10"
Then it will work from usb without having to partition it.

Putting the backups, apps, etc on an iso/cd will work, but will only be read-only, not read-write as on your HD/USB.

You could download the tinycore iso from them, burn it to cd, and keep backups on your hd, but you could,nt take the apps,etc wih you.
With USB you can take everything everywhere you go

I tried it today and with gimp2(better choice) installed and it ran nice!
Tinycore is the only distro I know of where you can have JUST the apps you want, can be remastered, and is Current.
I am uploading a new tinycore usb now that has firefox,bash,nano,beaver,rox-filer and depends pre-installed and runs off a non-partitioned USB, comes up to 33MB!!!
Incredible and no distro compares really.

I'm gonna check out making the iso with gimp2 and see what's up

Last edited by linus72; 05-19-2009 at 11:04 AM.
 
Old 05-19-2009, 12:00 PM   #10
linus72
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OK, I did upload the new usb and it has the apps above + gimp2, still small at 42mb!
http://multidistro.com/downloads/off...icialusbs.html
here's the readme, please tell me if any mistakes-

PHP Code:
Tinycore-1.4.2-USB
Author Bryan Starr 05
/19/09 
42MB Pre
-installed FirefoxNano
BeaverGimp2Rox-FilerBash
Conky, and depends.
All work done in Ubuntu-8.04 
either installed 
or LiveCD

Ingredients
-
Tinycore-1.4.2-USB.tar.gz
syslinux 
(avail thru 
Ubuntu synaptic pkg manager
)

Instructions:(no need 
to partition USB
!)

Step 1cut&paste/move THE 
CONTENTS of TC
-USB folder to 
your mounted FAT32 USB 256MB 
or bigger.

Step 2) If not already known
determine USB name designation 
by opening a terminal 
and entering
"mount" and/or as root "fdisk -l"
either of which should tell you it's 
name (sdf/sde/sdb.etc), of which 
the 1st(or only)
partition would be 
sde1/sdf1/sdb1,etc. 

Step 2) If not already, set the boot flag 
active(bootable) with fdisk or cfdisk.

fdisk- as root, "fdisk /dev/sdx" 
where "x" is your usb, 
type "m" for help at fdisk prompt.
Choose "a", (toggle bootable flag), 
then "w". close terminal.

cfdisk- as root. 
"cfdisk /dev/sdx"; hit enter on [Bootable], 
then [Write], then [Quit], 
close terminal.

Step 3) Install syslinux to usb; 
Now that you know the usb'
s name
installing syslinux is easy-
"syslinux -s /dev/sdxx"
where "xx" is usbNot HD
example's sdf1/sde1/sdb1 etc

Step 4) Make sure your PC/laptop is set 
to boot from usb and reboot into 
Tinycore-1.4.2-USB! 
 
Old 05-19-2009, 12:34 PM   #11
grahamdcp
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Scream............ lol ok managed to do the step by step from the original post and also up to the addittional post with gimp1&2

verything seems to have gone as planned but heres what happens when i reboot from ubuntu. after initial boot screen i'm given some options via the grub menu. i choose other operating system . eventually it comes up with a message syslinux 3 bla bla bla

after this it says BOOT:

ok forgive my ignorance what do i type next. lol


actually the more i think about it . I might start out using the K.I.S.S. principle and i aint calling you stupid....more so myself what i would like to try out first is something like this.

run pc with multiple boot op sys keeping ubuntu on hdd1 and puting TC on hdd2
so all i need is an iso image that installs (tc, gimp2 and firefox like an inclusive distro) . I don't mind if my TC isn't portable yet. once I get it up and running then I can add/remove programs and once I find the setup i'm happy with then it's just a case of learning how to roll out a distro . initially similar to a live cd or install and from here a variation that installs directly to usb.

i have tried transfer the backups either to or from hd to usb and visa versa . now i'm getting those damn you don't have permission to do that. Mind you I was using the copy /paste method. Not sure of the commands for terminal yet.

i'm just trying the latest append instructions,,,, so i'm about to reboot.



Also thankyou repo.. i will look into those distro's as a solution as well.

fingers crossed lol.

If you don't hear from me for little while .. it probably means i've gone deep sea diving to retrieve my pc.


cheers and thanks Graham
 
Old 05-19-2009, 12:36 PM   #12
linus72
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OH- I just discovered a big hoo-doo-

I downloaded the tinycore usb after uploading it to test it and at the desktop when I tried to add an app or backup I got an error saying see /tmp/backup.., anyway it's listed as read-only!!

To fix this, before you put the contents of the "TC-USB" folder on your USB, in Ubuntu, right-click on the TC-USB folder, choose properties and make it read-write for everyone-root, user, you, whoever.
Do the same for all contents of TC-USB folder, then proceed to put it all on usb as above.
Sorry, I didn't know it would do that.
 
Old 05-19-2009, 12:37 PM   #13
linus72
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OH-push enter when it says "boot:"
 
Old 05-19-2009, 12:40 PM   #14
linus72
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Also, you might have to goto Ubuntu-8.10 system menu/administration/permissions or authorizations and make yourself able to access all drives,etc
 
Old 05-19-2009, 12:45 PM   #15
repo
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Quote:
run pc with multiple boot op sys keeping ubuntu on hdd1 and puting TC on hdd2
just grab the iso you want, install it on your HD, and then remove everything you don't want.
Or use the debian netinstall to install a minimal system, and then you add what you need.
http://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/
 
  


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