"Damn Small Linux"

[curious john]

Some folk occasionally ask for a linux distribution that will work well on an older computer with limited memory. I usually suggest GreyCat Linux or muLinux. However I recently downloaded the iso for a distribution called "Damn Small Linux" (DSL).  www.damnsmalllinux.org  and burned it to cdr. It is a very much modified version of Knoppix and will fit on a credit card size cdr (50mb). It will then boot from that cdr and you can use it without installing it to your hardrive, although you have the option of installing it also. It will work with 486 era computer but works best with early pentium. Of course you can use it with later computer but video setup seems to be lot easier with older video cards. If you have 100mb or more memory and p2 or later computer Knoppix would be better choice anyways. Be aware that some early computers wont boot from cdrom drive. There are ways around this (see DSL website).

Will mention that it uses some older linux software so for example configuring the dialer is not as friendly as more modern linux's. It comes with a browser called "Dillo". I'd never used it before, but it is fast and works well...sort of. Its as small of a graphical browser as I've seen and works well for what it does, the developers are doing in spare time for free so it hasnt been rapidly developed (still alpha but very stable). Can easily browse this forum and other sites but cant post here as it doesnt support javascript. If however you install DSL to your hardrive they provide built in link to downloading Firebird browser (mini version of Mozilla) and flash plugin so you would have a very modern fuller featured browser. Of course if you have the room you can install full size browsers and supporting libraries, but they may slow down older hardware. DSL was really intended for early pentiums that ran win3.1 and win95

Most things are explained on website that I gave link to and they have a forum that you can ask questions without registering. As it comes they make you edit the dialer configuration with some esoteric text editor. I havent tried option to install it to hardrive. Be aware you will need a hardware modem. Some software winmodems (only a few) are supported under linux but you are on your own first finding the linux driver for a particular winmodem and then installing it. I've never used a winmodem under linux and dont want to. Hardware modems tend to work more reliably especially on older hardware even when running windows.

[blsJason]

I checked this one out myself after Vijay pointed this one out at the end of September on the " Have You Considered Shifting to New OS?  " (link goes to the post) thread. Took 3 hours to download, which isn't bad for an OS.
Took a while to figure out the linux file system thing with mounting drives and such... I get it now, at least.
I'm with you, I can't figure out how to get online with this... I don't even know if I have a winmodem or a hardware modem (I'm guessing I have the first kind, since it came with my computer). when I try the "pppconfig" thing they suggested on their forum, it says I have to know the root password (?). Then I noticed the menu option, and I don't know how that works, either, although I did check around online but couldn't get much info, though.
The CD/WAV file player works great, though.
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Don't buy Clearwire!

[curious john]

Yea I remember Vijay posting lot linux stuff. Looked at link you gave and at least I didnt just rehash his post. He only gave link to DSL website, didnt say lot about it.

Can use command "sudo" or "sudo su" to act as root. Shouldnt need a root password. I'll have to check. If you just type su to get root priveliges then you will need root password and I have no idea unless its "DSL" or something. Dont know which version of DSL you got, but latest one 0.4.10 has direct way to edit wvdialer without worrying about root. Lets see, leftclick on fluxbox desktop. rightclick apps, click system, click wvdialer, click modem config to tell it which port your modem is on, go back through above and after wvdialer click pppconfig. You will have to edit with vi editor using arrows on keyboard to navigate, delete key to get rid of example, insert key then type your isp info, esc to stop insert, finally when you have changed all info to your isp info type :wq to save changes.

They used the old linux wvdialer to save space, (meaning that they would need kde libraries to offer kppp dialer) but in last version (I didnt try earlier versions) they at least made it relatively easy. If I were to install it to hardrive, I'd just add icon on desktop for dialer.

Most likely you have winmodem if it came with your computer unless your computer came with 3.1 (some pentiums did). win3.1 required a hardware modem.as did dos. Good news is you can get cheap used external (or even internal if you wish) hardware modem off ebay cheap. I even found a brand new 56k external hardware modem last spring that cost me less than $14 bucks shipping included. It was some weird brand, but has given me no problems. Can get older 28k/33k hardware modem for buck or two but probably cost $5 or so to ship it (make sure you get the cable and power supply). I never connect over 26k on my rural phone lines so I can use such without seeing much difference. Watch out there are people still trying to sell ancient 2k to 14k modems to the unwary on ebay. They are worthless for any practical purpose.

I will add again that if you have around 100mb ram or more , just get copy of Knoppix cd. Modern everything and easier to use. Lots and lots of software included. I have slow dialup and sure wasnt going to try to download Knoppix, just found one of those cheapo linux places that sell cdr copies of the free distributions.. Think it cost me $1 plus $2 shipping and arrived within couple days. Beats spending huge amount of time downloading big iso on slow dialup.

[curious john]

Playing with DSL some more and noticed "links" listed in apps. Expecting text browser that I know and like, found it had transformed into a graphical browser. WOW, and it does javascript and SSL. Dont think I'll need Firebird.