Baslinux mailing list

[sindi keesan <keesan AT sdf.lonestar.org>]

On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 3aoo-cvfd AT dea.spamcon.org wrote:

> sindi keesan wrote:
> > Computers with pcmcia and ethernet and cdrom
> > drives probably have at least 12MB RAM
>
> That's not correct.  I've owned three laptops with
> PCMCIA slots and 4mb RAM.  I've found ISA network
> cards and CDrom drives in PCs with as little as
> 2mb RAM.

I had no idea such laptops existed.  Our 12MB 486 had pcmcia but the 8MB 
does not.  Maybe someone upgraded the RAM.


> > I will see what I can do to make BL3 work
> > better in 8MB RAM from 2 floppy disks
>
> With 8mb RAM your best course of action is to
> use the DOS version of BL3.  That leaves your
> entire 8mb free for use.

I know, but I like challenges.  And this would also produce a BL3 that 
would work on a 386 with 3MB RAM from a small hard drive if I can get it 
to work with loadlin instead of lilo from 2 floppies.  Not that BL1 would 
not work there already, probably better.


> > root filesystem is a selected set of files that you
> > need in order to run a minmal linux

> Not really.  A root filesystem might contain a selected
> set of files that you need in order to run a minimal
> Linux.  But that is not the definition of a root
> filesystem.  Do you understand what a filesystem is?

Apparently I don't.  Would you like to explain?


> > I don't think I should automatically install disk2.tgz
> > in the computer with 8MB RAM because it will install to
> > /dev/ram1
>
> Not necessarily.  Only the /usr/X11R6 directory (and sub-
> directories) is on /dev/ram1.  Files going into other
> directories will not sit on /dev/ram1

So if I make my own disk2.tgz it will install files to wherever they 
belong, and if there are no files in /usr/X11R6 it won't install them.  I 
get it.   I just have to make sure not to add more than 2MB to ram0 in 
addition to the modules and links.  links2 might fit, I will take a look 
(instead of links-0.90).  It might fit better if I can learn to compile it 
without X.

I really don't need a laptop for anything but this is really educational. 
Thanks for all the information.  The best way to learn is by doing.

> Cheers,
> Steven