linux installation in PC/XT

sangupari · 03-09-2010, 05:56 AM

whether linux or unix can be installed on a PC/XT with 80MB hard disk and 16MB RAM?

zhjim · 03-09-2010, 06:16 AM

Should be not a problem at all. More important than the memory is the cpu in your system. But as linux is ported to a lot of cpu this should be no problem at last.

Many distribution have a low memory installer. As this is specific to the distribution you should have a look yourself.

This thread might be worth a look:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...-mb-pc-463275/

troop · 03-09-2010, 06:17 AM

http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/

Quote:

Run light enough to power a 486DX with 16MB of Ram

onebuck · 03-09-2010, 04:41 PM

Hi,

I would roll back to that era for GNU/Linux distribution. The legacy hardware will present problems for newer GNU/Linux Distributions. Max the memory and don't expect response from 'X' for heavy environments. So choose a light desktop or just use the cli.

jefro · 03-09-2010, 05:31 PM

You will find very few modern linux's that can run on that system. Most pc/xt's did not have a modern enough processor.

Post what processor it has or the exact model number or FRU.

onebuck · 03-09-2010, 06:32 PM

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefro

You will find very few modern linux's that can run on that system. Most pc/xt's did not have a modern enough processor.

Post what processor it has or the exact model number or FRU.

The true IBM-PC/xt would not run a GNU/Linux. If the unit is a PC-AT or above class with at least a 386 class processor/above then the OP could use early version of Slackware (at least 3.3) but would still need to compile a kernel and hopefully can find drivers for the hardware.

TB0ne · 03-09-2010, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sangupari

whether linux or unix can be installed on a PC/XT with 80MB hard disk and 16MB RAM?

You might find something to run in 16MB, and fit on 80MB hard drive easily enough. But an 8088 CPU? Not unless you do a custom-compile using an embedded-linux system that you custom write for it.

I've got more CPU power in my cell phone than that.

10110111 · 03-09-2010, 07:02 PM

Official Linux will not run on any x86 CPU like 286 or older because these CPUs don't have a MMU. Some time ago there existed a project porting linux to such systems - ELKS, but it seems dead now (though i might try to find some its files on my HDD).

johnsfine · 03-09-2010, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sangupari

whether linux or unix can be installed on a PC/XT with 80MB hard disk and 16MB RAM?

Are you sure you mean 16MB of ram, not 16KB? If 16MB, then you don't really mean a true PC/XT.

80MB hard disk is also big for a PC/XT, but not absurd.

Anything even similar to a PC/XT is far too little computer to run Linux.

If you have a 386+ with 16MB ram in a PC/XT box with 80MB hard disk, maybe you can find a stripped down build of an obsolete Linux to run on it.

What's the point?