Remove unnecessary packages on a Fedora 10 install
 

I'm a Linux noob, but I've used it enough to be able to use it effectively. Now I've mostly used Ubuntu, but recently I've been setting up a computer with Fedora 10 as a game server for a LAN party. Because the other people I'm working with are primarily Windows users, I don't want to uninstall Gnome and just use the terminal.

However, I'd like the actual F10 install to use up as little room as possible - I don't want to have a whole bunch of packages I don't need using up space.

With the first installation, I went through the package list and just uninstalled anything I didn't think I needed, thinking the dependencies system had me covered from uninstalling anything still needed. However, it must have done the reverse and uninstalled anything that needed them, because it completely destroyed the installation.

Now, I'd like advice on how to eliminate packages I don't need without messing up the system. I'm considering using it for a small home server as well, so if I can make this work I may do that also.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks.

I used to do that years ago in binary distros, until I realized that it's illogical, and that they right thing to do is to build your system with only the pieces you need.

If you don't mind compiling from source I suggest Gentoo. If you don't want to get your hands that dirty then I'd use arch. But I think that debian is as fine grained if you know what you want to install and has much more packages than arch.

I don't think that there's any guide or rule of thumb to know what to delete and what not to delete, other than experience and knowing what packages do you really need.

Install smallest system possible
 

Hello I have been using fedora core/red hat for
many years. I was disappointed with the fedora 10
Installer. It skipped many steps. So, it may not be
your fault that the installation was messed up.

With that said, most Installations give you the
option of installing the smallest possible system.
If FC 10 will let you do this it may be an option
for you. Please keep in mind that this will not be
the fastest, or easiest. Now you will have to
install the individual programs you need manually.
other than Linux from scratch, this may be the best
option for you.

I have found that it is a mistake to try during the
installation process to check off packages in an
attempt to thwart the default install process. In
most cases you will find that all the packages you
checked off get installed anyway.

I will agree with i92guboj on this one. If you are after a minimal install Fedora/RedHat is not the way to go.

On the other hand a game server is not going to require all that much hardware power to run. Probably switching to a GigE setup and adding some ram, will do more to enhance your performance than anything else. GigE cards are cheap now and ram is dirt cheap.

The computer in question has a GigE card and 4 GB ram. Seemed like more than enough to me, esp. for a linux install.

I don't really want a minimal installation, just an installation without some of stuff I don't want (e.g. IRC clients, word processors) - but maybe yumex can help me with some of that?

i92guboj: I've never compiled from source, but I've heard good things about Gentoo. I may try it for a future project after the lan party in question (can't at the moment, I have to have the thing running by a certain date).

Hi.

Many folks like to take a middle ground -- avoid the compiles and time it takes for something like Gentoo, but not have a bloated system.

I've used a Debian minimal install network install (netinst) on several boxes. It's often a case of a single check-mark to avoid having a lot of things installed that you don't want. With the thread at http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?t=13362 you end the first stage with a non-X system, adding X plus either Gnome or KDE as you desire, and finally a continuing process of adding whatever else you need in addition to that.

After I got used to that, I even installed onto (software) RAID (cases of 1, 5, and 10 for benchmarks) systems easily inside of an hour, often around 30 minutes to the first bootable phase. For an install of an unfamiliar system, I usually allocate time for a number of installs until I get it right.

It will take some time, but I suggest you read the entire thread. Although it's on another forum, the thread starter has been seen on this forum as well.

Best wishes ... cheers, makyo