Hey there, you'll probably find this topic rediculous but I'm being quite serious What is the optimal linux configuration for Linux running on a 386? I'm mainly concerned with Linux kernel and library versions and anything else that can speed up my 386.

My 386 has pretty high specs (compared to most 386s) so I'm not *that* limited by the hardware.

Processor: AMD 386DX/DXL @ 40MHz
Cache: L1 1kb, L2 64kb
Coprocessor: IIT 387DX @ 40MHz
RAM: 32mb SIMM
SCSI Controller: Adaptec 152x
Hard drives: 2x IBM DGHS04Z 4.5gig (SCSI)

I'm currently using the Slackware Linux distro with kernel version 2.2.19.

I'd appreciate any help, thanks
-Dan

I think you are going to be limited to the 2.2 series kernels. I don't the 2.4 series supports the 386 (although many distros don't compile for anything more elaborate than the i386 instruction set).

I recall SuSE 6.1 supporting 386s. I could be wrong though. You are going to be hard-pressed to do anything seriously useful with a system that is so old. It could maybe serve as a firewall or a honeypot. That's about it.

2.4.x supports 386s

And as for the whole uselessness comment... 386s are still very useful (even as a tiny server and software development machine ...to a certain extent) if the system has been upgraded. Otherwise, yeah, it should just be a router/firewall.

-Dan

Although you are the one asking the question, I would guess that if you already have Slack running on that 386 you know more that half the followups will be able to offer.
I would be interested to know which version of Slack and what GUI (if any) you are running.
I have an old 486 with 64MB RAM that someone gave away as "an old DOS box". I was quite shocked to find it to be as powerful as it is. Having installed an ISA NE2000 clone network card I had around, a Y2K BIOS update card with large drive support, and a 4GB hard drive, I still need to install the dual boot Vector/Debian software.
The term "old DOS box" lead me to believe it might be more like the 486 with 4MB RAM that I once installed a version of Zipslack to.

even 2.6 should support 386s, since you can just tell the compiler to compile only for 386...

Slackware verision 8.0 with no GUI (although I've thought about getting BlackBox on it)

I guess what I'm asking for is the most minimal configuration / version for the kernel or libraries that will not hinder 386's ability run any program while having the lowest load on the processor.

-Dan