Minimum System Requirements

JohnDA · 04-03-2011, 09:14 PM

I have a suggestion, and perhaps you already have this covered. I volunteer my time to a local charity and fix up used computers so that they can be donated to needy families. Many times I will get old computers with Windows and the files have been corrupted. Because of all the licensing problems and the fact that these old computers do not have the original installation discs, I like to install linux and totally replace the original operating system, making a clean hard drive with Linux on it. The type of Linux will be based on the ability of the computer to handle the version. I think it would be great if the different Linux distributions would have a file that would specifically state what the minimum computer system should be such as memory size, CPU type, etc. Right now, I am installing on a trial basis using the live CD method and see if the program will run, then install it if there are no problems.

stannick · 04-04-2011, 06:27 AM

I think this is a great idea. I've also been "rescuing" old PCs and installing Ubuntu for donation to those who cannot afford them. I figure if it is a 486 or better and has at least 512 RAM, it's likely to work OK. Some are just too old to use for anything and finally have to be recycled. I like your idea of having the manufacturer specify the minimum requirements. I believe you can usually get them online somewhere; but it might take some searching. A big problem for needy people is getting internet service. Our ISP rates are very high--as they are everywhere. The dial-up services that are inexpensive or even free are so much hassle and difficult for people without experience to use. The slow response time makes them feel it isn't working and then you have a nonsense service call.

jeremy · 04-04-2011, 10:18 AM

JohnDA, the LQ S&F forum is for feedback about LQ itself and not Linux in general. I've moved your thread to a more suitable forum, but note that most distro's do make this information available.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...emRequirements
http://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/...e_Requirements
http://www.puppylinux.org/wikka/MinReq
etc.

--jeremy

DavidMcCann · 04-04-2011, 12:42 PM

You'd think that all distros would put this somewhere visible, but few do! I've collected data on various user-friendly distro:

64MB — Vector Light
128MB — Puppy
256MB — CrunchBang, Mepis, Salix, Xubuntu

Mepis requires Pentium Pro or better, the others will run on a Pentium I.

cascade9 · 04-04-2011, 12:55 PM

Heres the aptosid (formerly 'sidux', based on debian 'sid') requirements-

Code:

Minimum system requirements:
amd64:
CPU requirements: 
AMD64
Intel Core2
Intel Atom Series (2xx/ 3xx, N4xx/ D4xx/ D5xx; the N2xx series does not support EM64T)
VIA Nano
any x86-64/ EM64T capable CPU
newer 64 bit capable AMD Sempron and Intel Pentium 4 CPUs (watch for the "lm" flag in /proc/cpuinfo or use infobash -v3). 

RAM requirements: 
KDE: ≥512 MB RAM (≥768 MB RAM recommended), ≥1 GB RAM for liveapt.
XFCE: ≥256 MB RAM.
VGA graphics card capable of at least 640x480 pixel resolution.
optical disk drive or USB media.
≥3 GB HDD space, ≥10 GB recommended.

i686:
CPU requirements: 
Intel Pentium pro/ Pentium II
AMD K7 Athlon (not K5/ K6)
Intel Atom Series (Z5xx/ Z6xx, N2xx)
VIA C3-2 (Nehemiah, not C3 Samuel or Ezra)/ C7
any x86-64/ EM64T capable CPU or newer
the full i686 command set is required. 

RAM requirements: 
KDE: ≥384 MB RAM (≥768 MB RAM recommended), ≥1 GB RAM for liveapt.
XFCE: ≥192 MB RAM.
using i686, only 3.1—3.4 GB RAM are accessible, amd64 (x86-64/ EM64T) is strongly recommended for 64 bit capable hardware.
VGA graphics card capable of at least 640x480 pixel resolution.
optical disk drive or USB media.
≥3 GB HDD space, ≥10 GB recommended.

http://aptosid.com/index.php?module=...display&sid=21

I wouldnt be be installing aptosid for 'needy families', being debian sid based its to prone to breakage. But its probably a decent guide for the minimum requirements for debian stable, which would be suitable.

jefro · 04-04-2011, 04:39 PM

Try slitaz.

stannick · 04-05-2011, 02:47 PM

I've been trying slitaz, which is really quite an OS! I'd like to mount my LVM2 file system, and I think I need to use losetup in the process of mounting the lvm. I get:

losetup /dev/loop0 sda.img
losetup: /dev/loop0: No such file or directory.

Then, I found one answer to the question which said that I need to put CONFIG_BLK_DEV_LOOP=y in the .config file.
I'm not sure where the .config file is. The config file that I think I am interested in is: /etc/tazlito/tazlito.conf
But, how do I get the kernel to re-read the file?
(I could be way off the track here, but I sure would be interested in being able to mount the file system.)
Thanks.

JohnDA · 04-06-2011, 04:24 AM

Thanks very much for the links, jeremy

And also, Thanks to everybody for all the info. It was very helpful.

Much appreciated!