How Small Can Linux Be? And where you managed to stuff your tux?

[Pavarr 0]

I know there are distributions of Linux that fit onto one single FDD. But they are specially designed to do so. Have you managed to stuff your ordinary-size Linux into something that was never meant to serve under ReiserFS? I did.

 

It all started with Philips MP3 player HDD065 (uncertain of model, never mind), like this one:

 

 

It's got about 2 GB of disc space, pretty much. I took my copy of openSUSE 10.0, cut it up a bit so it was about 700 mb big, used 100 mb swap and praying to lord I ran an installation.

 

And after restarting my PC, my family thought I finally got freaked as hell, 'cause I jumped up yelling "it did it! it did it!" in front of screen with openSUSE 10.0 start-up screen on it...

 

Of course, Linux is now long-gone from my MP3 player - all in all, it's meant to be a player not a HDD - but I'll never forget it.

 

And did YOU ever try to stuff your Linux into something really small?

[xboxrulz1405241485 0]

well, remember, Linux is just a kernel. It can go as small as 512 MB.xboxrulz

[snutz411 0]

Ever hear of Damn Small Linux (DSL)? It is a fully functional distro of Linux that is 50mb. Yes, you read that correctly, 50mb.

Here's a link to it
http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/

[finaldesign1405241487 0]

and have you ever heard about http://www.ipodlinux.org/ if not please read THIS POST.

[jipman 0]

If you strip out all graphical based program/services and just leave the kernel and some other basic commandline tools, you should have about 10mb's left of operating system.Also, with Damn Small Linux around, you can also use those cheaper flashmp3-players to store an installation on.Still wondering if having an OS running from your flash memory isn't too bad for the lifetime of the memory. Didn't flash has a quite limited amount of write actions or something?

[cyborgxxi 0]

Alright guys, I think that's enough. I mean, let's not beat his little accomplishment into a little pulp, shall we? It would make him feel low and bad Really!So let's congratulate him Everyone has to start low, right?Good job, Pavarr. What's your next goal now? Haha

[hatim 0]

i think the smallest..linux can go is under a megabyte. I have seen linux on floppies..but ofcourse its means they ahve very little functionality.

[xboxrulz1405241485 0]

Linux was used to be distributed using floppies before CD existed. It held gcc, kernel and very basic tools.xboxrulz

[wutske 0]

It probably didn't have Gnome/KDE installed. I've tried to install Suse9.3 on 2Gb w/ KDE, but it was impossible to use (due to lack of space ).How fast/slow is it, because I've once tried running Mercury (java based messenger) from my Packard Bell MP3 player, but it was slow as hell because it uses the slow USB1 standard .

[Shadow X 0]

Wow, I never new that Linux had that sort of technology. Normally when you hear the words 'small' and 'technology' you think of Microsoft and the Apple iPod Nano. We never expect Linux to come up with something as small as this.

It all started with Philips MP3 player HDD065 (uncertain of model, never mind), like this one:

What's better though. The Philips MP3 player HDD 065 or Linux. I myself have a standard MP3 player that you plug into a USB slot and you then transfer your songs. But how does this work because it seems pretty cool to carry around?
Also, do any of you have a computer by Linux? I don't, mine is by Microsoft but I haven't known anyone to have a computer by Linux. I was wondering if they are any good?

[InitialDriveGTR 0]

The smallest i have seen is on my linksys router, running OpenWRT, i think the smallest package is around 10MB, but correct me if i am wrong.

[Pavarr 0]

I myself have a standard MP3 player that you plug into a USB slot and you then transfer your songs. But how does this work because it seems pretty cool to carry around?

1064336168[/snapback]

It works pretty similar - it's got a slot for the relay cable on side. You just plug the relay cable into the slot and into USB, and transfer songs

 

Sadly, when there is Linux (reiserfs) on it, it won't work as a player But you're right, it's fun to say, "hey guys, I've got a Linux in my pocket"

 

 

When I was creating this topic, I wasn't actually thinking about how small can Tux be, but into what (unusual) devices it can be stuffed into - mp3 players, like iPODs seem to be a logical choice

 

@Shadow: I've got my computer with both Win2k and Linux on it, and use both equally - and yes, there are good things to Linux, I bet that more to Windows

[kalyan1405241522 0]

i think the smallest..linux can go is under a megabyte. I have seen linux on floppies..but ofcourse its means they ahve very little functionality.

yes mostly those will have only the kernel.... If u want to small linux u can go for linux 1.0 (the first official version) written by Linux torvalds...
But if u want GNU/HURD ( a project by richerd stallemen and ).... u need to have more sapce...
what ever we are using is not just Linux it is GNU/Linux....
So u can have linux on floppy on the GNU/Linux ..

am i right............ i think........

[Jeigh1405241495 0]

Pavarr, alot oy those types of mp3 players can be partitioned like a normal HD, so if you really got into this you could make a linux compatible filesystem partition of, say, 700mb (or less if you go with damn small linux or whatnot) and then leave the rest of the space open for tunes. This way you can have linux in your pocket AND a fully functional mp3 player

[Twistit 0]

There are linux distro's designed just for usb sticks cant remember which right now because my usb stick is long gone.. hehe Bet you can find one here: http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/ (could be .org)