Extremely Light Weight Linux

[Spadoof]

Dear Readers,

I just posted about installation troubles with the linux distro DSL (Damn small linux). While I really like it DSL, it just seems like to much of a hastle for maintaining and installing. I need a linux distro that meets this criteria. 1) Small, barley uses any resources on my netbook. 2) Extremely fast boot up time. 3) Decently easy to install. 4) gui, nothing fansy. I already have eee-ubuntu but I need something that can give me fast access to the internet and my files upon boot-up. If you know of any that meet this criteria please let me know. Thanks for your help.


-Spadoof :gp2x

 

[Aries]

Personnally i really like Puppy Linux wich is only around 60-70mb and pretty much complete. What's great with Puppy Linux is that you can use it as a live-cd or dvd and save your modification with multi-session burn. It allow you to boot your OS on any PC with your data on the cd/dvd. The whole OS in loaded into ram so you can remove your cd and use the drive as usual. But anyway if you intend to install it on HD you can too.

http://www.puppylinux.org/
http://www.puppylinux.org/wiki/hardware/general/eeepc

 

[Capn_Fish]

Gentoo's got my vote. Install is easy (though more user-intensive than others, and it looks daunting, but has step-by-step directions) and mine boots in some 20-30 seconds (to a usable desktop/browser). It's definitely the fastest distro I've tried.

 

[mindlord]

You could always go the pure Debian approach and only install the features you're looking for. Go for XFCE, or some other lightweight Window Manager. Wicd for wireless configuration to avoid installing gnome, just to get Network Manager. I'd suggest other packages, if I knew what you wanted to use the netbook for.

 

[aaron11193]

+1 for Puppy Linux.

I installed it on a really old toshiba with a 300MHz AMD K6 and it ran reasonably fast

On newer hardware it pretty much starts the programs you want before you even get a chance to click them

 

[senquack]

Arch Linux is probably the fastest and is very lightweight.

 

[Ravnos]

You could always go the pure Debian approach and only install the features you're looking for. Go for XFCE, or some other lightweight Window Manager. Wicd for wireless configuration to avoid installing gnome, just to get Network Manager. I'd suggest other packages, if I knew what you wanted to use the netbook for.

Yeah, either vanilla Debian or Slackware can be made as light or as heavy as you want. I run Mandriva with Gnome/Compiz on my EEE though without any problems, so I don't know how light you really need to go.

 

[Spadoof]

Thanks for all your advice everyone. It is much appreciated.

-Spadoof :gp2x

 

[simonb]

I'm running Ubuntu Netbook Remix. Very quick, fairly stable, worryingly pretty.

 

[sixela]

+1 for Puppy Linux as well.

Small, and runs most multimedia files out of the box.

 

[IsSuE]

Arch Linux is probably the fastest and is very lightweight.

+1 for that, but it needs i686 at least

 

[streak]

Week ago i've started making tests with linux builds prepared to use from SD Cards / PenDrive [ i would like to use it for pandora ] and i found this awesome www page:

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/

Hopefull , you'll find there few distros that fits your needs perfectly.

StreaK

btw. almost all distros there are small and fast [ some of them was trimmed down to fit even on 128 mb sd cards ]

 

[fishybawb]

You could always go the pure Debian approach and only install the features you're looking for. Go for XFCE, or some other lightweight Window Manager. Wicd for wireless configuration to avoid installing gnome, just to get Network Manager. I'd suggest other packages, if I knew what you wanted to use the netbook for.

This is exactly what I've just done on my NC10, and it works very well. I used this site to install Debian Lenny, very handy if you don't have an optical drive and can't be bothered messing around manually making your USB drive bootable and all that:

http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

 

[nubie]

Sorry, I posted in your other thread first.

I vote Puppy Linux, it is very full-featured for a light OS.

Consider putting it on one of these: http://www.logicsupply.com/categories/flas...e_flash_modules

They have a 1GB for $21 (good if you are using an older PC that refuses to boot from a USB stick)

 

[Zeno Arrow]

Been trying out SliTaz Linux these past couple of days (which, to my knowledge, is the smallest Linux distro around with a full GUI and other standard bells and whistles). In it's 'Cooking' form looks very nice too. Boot time is snappy. Worth a try.
http://www.slitaz.org/en/

 

[ashdjones]

+1 Puppy Linux

Another plus point is that applications can be added in the manner of filesystem patches, Puppy will incorporate them when the system boots up (there are some great ones in the community for example for Open Office, Wine etc.).

Puplets are custom puppy installations, I particularly enjoyed this one (XFCE based):

http://www.puppylinux.org/downloads/puplet...arly-office-pup

 

[meganab]

U-Lite (ubuntulite) and DSL (damn small linux)

 

[Tom`]

I'd recommend SliTaz as well - I've installed it on thin clients and it works great.

 

[Consequence_9]

Moblin is looking pretty good & boots in under 10 sec on an eee. Although I've never used it, i might just set it up as my instant-on OS when I get a netbook.

 

[Spadoof]

Thanks again, these are all great suggestions. I have been trying out some of the suggested os and have been doing little research. I have to say I like puppy linux alot but I still am going to try more of the suggested ones to see what gives me the best boot up time and which uses the least resources. The suggested Moblin linux looks interesting, has anyone else tried it?

-Spadoof :gp2x