I've an old Atom based Netbook that I'm re-provisioning to use as a BTSYnc 'hub' for home use.

I proven the concept by installing Ubuntu 15.10 in a partition alongside the existing Windows XP, but it's quite a heavyweight OS for what I'm doing here, as BitTorrent Sync is the only thing I need this device to do.

Can anyone suggest the most lightweight linux that I might provision in order to run BTSync - occupying minimum disk space, fewest unnecessary processes/services & lowest CPU overhead? I'd also like to occupy the entire disk, wiping out XP once & for all.

I'm not the most technically capable individual, tending to Google myself each step of the way. Hence, please don't presuppose a high level of competence on my part ! Thanks all.

You can try multiple distros from usb keys. Try first lubuntu or just install lxde to save some memory in existing installation.

Hi Yooy. Thanks for you reply. I'm happy to completely wipe this machine & start again. (I need to check how to merge all existing disk partitions into one, currently GRUB gives me the option to boot into Ubuntu or Windows)

I'm uncertain how I can compare the outcome of trying different distributions ?

Certainly I'm happy to forgo any GUI interface. We're this not a Netbook, I'd be happy to run in headless - much as I do with my Pi.

AntiX iso or Linux BBQ (the debian one) sounds like your cup of tea.

There is a arch linux lite one also that goes by BBQ. http://bbqlinux.org/

Better answers may come if you specify better

My single core intel n270 touchscreen atom netbooks run AntiX Full just fine and my touchscreen keyboard is called "onboard" on those.

I even run it on this I5 Dell with 8 gig of ram. It is pretty flexible and lightweight.

If wanting a Desktop environment distro that is light and will run OK on atom netbooks.

http://www.mepiscommunity.org/mx

I bet if you wanna be a slacker

http://www.microlinux.eu/

But filling a need for

can be pretty hard to handle.