Linux on a Pentium Pro 180 with 96 megs of RAM

[sweetlew]

I'm looking for a version of REDHAT or SUSE that will run on a Pentium Pro 180 with 96 megs of RAM comfortably. I have an older PC laying around and I need to get some Linux experience. I would like to get a version that includes a graphic interface also, plus have some software included. Any help would be great!!!!!

It doesn't have to be REDHAT or SUSE but I would like to have support if the need arises.

 

[zeland]

I run RH9 off my Pentium-166 desktop with 128MB RAM pretty well, although a bit slughish. I guess it has to do with lack of RAM as my HDD thrashes a lot (swap memory) when I load stuff and my slow (5400rpm) Bigfoot HDD isn't helping much with the swapping. The performance you'd expect is somewhat like running Windows95 on a 486-66 with 32MB RAM (not that I can really recall clearly how Windows95 ran on my 486 way back then). Any app that you launch usually takes about a minute or two to get running. Since its for learning it should be just fine.

Most distributions will have everything you'll need (2-3 CDs). The Debian distro comes with everything other distros have plus the kitchen sink (6 CDs).


--== Anything can go wrong. It's just a matter of how far wrong it will go till people think its right. ==--

 

[TonyGroves]

With a machine of that vintage, you would want to be choosy about what software you run. If you can avoid using memory-guzzlers like the glitzy KDE or Gnome desktops, and use something like the fvwm window manager instead, it would improve things.

 

[jshurst]

Check out Debian. Or if you want a small package then check out CollegeLinux, it is very easy.

 

[rudis]

I have installed a SuSE Open Desktop 1.0 with KDE 3 on a Pentium I/266-Notebook with 128MB RAM.
Though booting very slow once started the applications - even OpenOffice - runs really fluently. All SuSE 8,9 and Redhat 8,9 are really slow on the same machine.
Normally I don't reboot the machine - rather keep it in Sleep/Standby-mode to omit the long boots.
If you have less RAM you should define at least the same amount of swap. Your PPro will be strong enough.

I thing Open Desktops successor has a different name now as SuSE has been bought by Novell.
Else I also propose debian-style stuff for the old machines - knoppix also is pretty fast (debian kernel) and know lots of hardware and kde

Greetings Ruedi

 

[Chacalinc]

try Yoper... just one install CD.