Re: [PLUG] Recommendations for an OS that will run on 256MB laptop

[Martin Cracauer via plug <plug@lists.phillylinux.org>]

Steve Litt via plug wrote on Sun, Oct 20, 2024 at 02:38:52AM -0400: 
> Steven Grunza via plug said on Wed, 16 Oct 2024 09:08:11 -0400
> 
> >I am looking to use an old laptop for a proof-of-concept project.  It
> >needs an OS but only has 256MB of system RAM, which is the maximum the
> >machine will hold.  It originally ran Windows TabletPC (basically
> >WinXP).
> >
> >I was thinking of trying Slax but the recommendation is 512MB minimum
> >for Slax.
> >
> >It would basically be a programming station with WiFi or Ethernet
> >connection to report results/statistics using a USB connected
> >programming pod and a USB connected barcode scanner.
> >
> >Any suggestions as to a Linux (or BSD) distribution that would work
> >with only 256MB?
> 
> I think pretty much any Linux distro that doesn't force all sorts of
> junk on you should do the trick. In other words, not Ubuntu, Mint, or
> all those other "training wheels, all GUI all the time" distros.
> 
> I don't know whether or not systemd consumes much RAM, because I don't
> use systemd and I have 64GB of RAM on my daily driver.

My attempt with 256 MB blew up way before init (systemd) is reached.
Probably when loading initrd.  That makes it likely that a large range
of Linux distributions don't do 256 MB anymore out of the box.

While FreeBSD ran it was overtaking 256 MB RAM even with a single C++
compilation, reducing to 30% CPU and getting some processes OOMed even
with 1 GB swap in addition to 256 MB RAM.

I'd say the prospects of making productive use of such a machine are
slim.  On Linux you probably have to make a custom kernel and run
without initrd.

Martin
 
> Why not take a well provisioned system and install various distros on a
> 256MB Qemu VM? Besides all the other fine Linuxes and BSDs recommended
> in this thread, try Void Linux. Install just the core, which is all
> command line. Then if you want GUI, install xterm, then X, then
> [openbox | jwm | IceWM | etcetera ]. I have no idea whether Wayland
> uses less RAM than X.
> 
> If you must install a browser, something like vimb limits your
> footprint. Stay away from mainstream browsers.
> 
> Another thing you might try is Plop Linux. It says it can run in 64MB.
> 
> https://www.plop.at/en/ploplinux/index.html
> 
> SteveT
> 
> Steve Litt 
> 
> http://444domains.com
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Martin Cracauer <cracauer@cons.org>   http://www.cons.org/cracauer/
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