Linux or BSD on tiny HD?

[William Park]

On Thu, Feb 03, 2005 at 11:09:58AM -0500, Steve wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I've got a spare computer that I want to install either linux or BSD
> onto. Thing is it only has 540MB (yes, 1/2 Gig) hard drive (but it's
> got 192MB RAM thankfully). I basically want a light-weight distro just
> to play around with (still learning linux). I think this is a good way
> to learn. I grew up with a lot DOS and I really love the BASH shell,
> so I am not afraid of any of that! :-)

Slackware.  Honestly, if you're starting out on Linux, then get a
harddisk to do a full install.  You can trimming it down to 512MB, but
how would you know which packages to include and exclude, if you never
tried them?

> 
> So my question is for suggestion of either Linux or BSD distros to
> install on that small of a drive. I'd like to have X installed, but
> not really necessary I suppose (and definitely not Gnome or KDE). I
> have O'Reilly's Linux in a Nutshell reference book (and TLUG) so
> hopefully I can learn to swim in the deep end. I've got a bit of Linux
> knowledge, but only enough to get me by with installing something easy
> like Fedora, or Live CDs like Knoppix.
> 
> Part 2 of my question is that I want to be able to connect my ethernet
> card from this computer to my windows box to share/access files there.
> Do I need a router, or is there a way to connect two computers
> directly? Sorry if this is a basic question for some people here! Even
> if someone can point me to a site or document that can help me with
> networking using linux/bsd/windows.

It's called "crossover", as opposed to "patch" cable.

-- 
William Park <opengeometry-FFYn/CNdgSA at public.gmane.org>, Toronto, Canada
Slackware Linux -- because I can type.
--
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