Hi,

I am running xubuntu on a Celeron 2.4 gig with 524 megs ram, it's running better than when I had ubuntu on it but I reckon it could go faster.

Would I get any improved performance running Slackware with xcfe on it? Would you recommend doing this? I mainly use the machine sort of as a server to run a java up which uses up most of the machines resources, and checking emails and browsing the web, but no video or audio, mainly text and pictures so I wouldn't need most of the functionality.

If the answer to the above is yes, for the latest version how many of the CD's do I actually need in order to get Slackware up and running?

Since (KX)Ubuntu tend to run many unneeded background processes it may be that Slackware will be faster for you. Keep in mind that in Slackware you will have to do the configuration manually, there are no fancy GUIs for that. If you want to give it a try just download the DVD and install it.

1 members found this post helpful.

I'm not sure, you might want to try fluxbox instead of XFCE if you're looking for something lightweight though. If you do a minimal install you could probably get some extra performance from cutting out things you don't need from the install. As for the CDs you need the first two, and probably want the 4th which has the extras, the 3rd CD is mostly KDE stuff and you should be okay without it if you cut out all the KDE packages. I would recommend getting the first 4 disks at least though.

Hi,
For a x86_32 CD just get install ISO disk1 & disk2. If you want KDE then you need to also get Install disk 3. Of course you could download DVD for either/both x86_32 & x86_64.
HTH!

Thanks for the replies guys!

OK I will get hold of a blank DVD in that case.

I was just thinking, I could just run this Celeron box as a server with no GUI and get another low cost machine and install a GUI for my emailing and web surfing. I run the service as it is in the terminal now anyway so all I need is a command line and the ability to output the...er...output to a log file. That should cut down on resources right?

I still use my old laptop with AMD Sempron at 1.8 GHz running Slackware 13.37 with XFCE 4.6. Works fine.

PIII 800mhz with 576MiB ram, runs Xfce just fine.

The problem most older PCs have is with Web Browsing. Mostly text sites perform fine. You can more or less forget about any performance on flash or java script heavy sites. My PIII can play windowed YouTube videos.

I gave my youngest Nephew a PC (AMD XP 1700+, 768MiB RAM, Nvidia fx5500) with Slackware and Xfce 4.8.3. Runs fantastic. He's able to get his homework done with Abiword, listen to music, watch videos, play a game or two, and video chat.

That's all good to hear. The thing is with this java application running, which I have running 24/7, the CPU is running all out, pretty much 100%.

I will try Slackware with fluxbox and then try running it without a GUI, although that's giving me a headache just thinking about it.

If you don't need a gui I highly recommend not using one, X doesn't use a ton of CPU power normally but every little bit helps when you're running at 100% all the time.
If you need some command line help try: http://www.hypexr.org/bash_tutorial.php
and
http://ss64.com/bash/
Doesn't cover everything but good places to start if you're new to the linux CLI

I'm curious to know how you managed to get 524 megs of RAM into your PC.

As to your question, we don't know how much expertise you have running Linux, or how much time and effort you are prepared to spend learning. I have NetBSD and OpenBSD firewalls/proxies/servers using just 18 megs of RAM, and Slackware machines using under 100, but I've spent a lot of time and effort learning BSD/Linux over the past ten years or so. If you are happy to put in that kind of effort then yes, you will be able to prune your system substantially. If not, then stick with what you know best and spend 20 or 30 euro on an extra gig of RAM to add to your 524.

Debian may be a good option here. It shares the same package management tools as 'buntu and it can be installed as minimally as you like. You can run a minimal Xfce4 if you wish - without a display manager.

Try Salix. That has Xfce by default and is lighter than Xubuntu. It is basically Slackware without the manual configuration. The installer is just one CD.

Thanks for the link. I think I may as well do away with the gui if I won't be using the machine for anything else.

I know the basics of the CLI. At the moment I have the app running in a command line where I can check its running OK, then in the gui I review the logs it creates and have the system monitor running. I am just having trouble visualising how I would switch between these things and have them running in the background with no GUI but I guess that will come with experience.

Ha ha, 512 I meant.

I am willing to put in the time and effort, but can't afford much downtime.

I don't think memory is even a major issue, seems to be running 60%, its the CPU which is running at max speed

If you plan to run a (mail/web)server, you'll need CD1 only. Plus (MAYBE) K series from CD2, which is kernel source only (~60 MB).

My first slackware (8.1) based mail and ftp server ran on Compaq ProLinea 4/33s (486@33 MHz processor with 16 MB RAM).

--
Cheers,
backblaze.pl