Updated 01.05.2005
Q) Will DSL ever get bigger than 50mb?
A) No.
The whole idea behind DSL is trying to fit a complete, fully functional desktop into a small footprint. If we were to raise the size, we would be becoming just another distro. And the fun of working more and more functionality out of 50mb would be gone. DSL will NEVER go over 50mb for the base iso. Stop asking.
Q) Can you add XYZ?
A) Maybe!
If it's small, and would add value to the distro, post a suggestion in the "Ideas and Suggestions" area of the forums. If it gets a good reaction, we will consider it.
Q) Why the name?
A) It's really just a way to emphasize the incredible small size of the distro.
If the name insults you, Just do what most people do. Call it "DSL".
Q) How can I help out?
A) Feedback and suggestions are always apprieciated, or you can...
buy a CD,
DSL on a BOOTABLE 128mb usb pendrive,
DSL on a 128mb pendrive that you can run INSIDE Windows,
something from the store, or even
make a donation.
Q) How can I be root in X?
A) Type "sudo [command]" or to stay root "sudo su".
Q) How can I get the scroll wheel on my USB mouse working?
A) Follow this process.
Quit X (ctrl+alt+backspace)
Run xsetup.sh
Select your desired resolution, then select USB mouse.
run startx.
enjoy.
Q) Why doesn't DSL have Gnome or KDE?
A) Because DSL is meant to be fast and light on PC's with minimal resources.
Q: How do I prevent the getting_started.html file from opening at boot time?
A: Open Emelfm and click on the 'H' in the upper left hand corner of the left pane showing the /home/dsl directory. Scroll down to the .xinitrc file and choose 'Edit' from the Emelfm button menu. Look for the dillo line that appears just before 'fluxbox' at the end of the file and place a '#' in front of the word dillo. Save and exit the file and you should be all set.
Q) Will DSL ever use the 2.6 kernel? Has it even been considered?
A) There are currently no plans (from what I have been told) to ever move to a 2.6.x kernel, for the following reasons.
1. The 2.6.x kernel is significantly bigger than the 2.4.x kernel, so it would cramp DSL's functionality.
2. The 2.6.x kernel drops a lot of support for legacy technologies, hardware, etc, and we want to keep DSL functional on as much hardware as possible
3. All major improvements that have occured to the 2.6.x tree have been, and are being backported to the 2.4.x tree, by a very active backporting team. And even though Linus said he would not participate in the backporting process this time, the demand for 2.4.x kernel maintenence is about the same as the demand for updates and improvements to the 2.6.x kernel, so even he has helped in the process, though not as much as what he does toward 2.6 development. For evidence of this activity, take a look at kernel.org, where you can see, the 2.4.30 kernel was released, just a few days after 2.6.10.
This is the description I also post over at Wikipedia, but I consider this the master copy.
It will be kept more up to date than the one at Wikipedia.
---Intro to DSL---
Damn Small Linux (also known as DSL) is a Linux distribution for the x86 architecture, originally in a Bootable business card LiveCD format, it is now also capable of being installed to and run from the hard disk, a USB flash drive, a Compact Flash card, inside a Microsoft Windows or Linux host environment via Qemu, a ZIP drive, and just about any other bootable media that can contain the required 50MB. Although the DSL project has maintained its 50mb size limit, it still includes many essential desktop applications. Damn Small Linux was originally conceived and maintained by John Andrews, but has grown into a large community project with many contributors, most notably Robert Shingledecker for the creation of the MyDSL system, DSL Control Panel, and tons of other stuff.
---Origins---
Although John based DSL originally on Model_K, a 22mb hack-down of Knoppix, DSL is now based on Knoppix proper, allowing much easier remastering and improvements.
---What can fit in 50 megabytes?!---
Now in its 9th iteration (0.9.2), Damn Small Linux has a complete desktop, including: XMMS, FTP client (both graphical and command line) and server, Mozilla Firefox web browser, Dillo web browser, Links-hacked web browser, Siag Office (Pathetic Writer word processor and the Siag spreadsheet), Sylpheed email, spellcheck (US English), some editors (Beaver, Vim, Nano), graphics editing and viewing (Xpaint, and xzgv), Xpdf, emelFM (file manager), Naim (AIM, ICQ, IRC), VNCviewer, Rdesktop, SSH/SCP server and client, DHCP client, PPP, PPPoE (ADSL), Monkey web server, calculator, generic and GhostScript printer support, Network File System, games, system monitoring apps, a host of command line tools, USB support, and PCMCIA support. DSL has built in scripts for the download and installation of Debian's Advanced Packaging Tool a.k.a Apt, and Synaptic, the gui for Apt. Additionally Damn Small Linux provides on-demand download for large programs such as OpenOffice.org and the Gcc as well as smaller apps like Xchat by means of the MyDSL system, which allows users the convenience of 1 click download and installation of apps (although most DSL users refer to all things MyDSL as extensions). As of December 7, 2004, the MyDSL servers are hosting over 200 apps, plugins, and other extensions available for installation.
---The MyDSL System, or Stuffing the Penguin---
The MyDSL extensions and servers are handled and maintained by the enigmatic Ke4nt and hosted by many kind organizations, such as Ibiblio and Belgium's Belnet. There are 2 areas of the MyDSL servers - regular and testing. The "regular" area contains extensions that have been proven stable enough for everyday use and is broken down into different areas such as "Apps", "Net", "system", and "uci" (Universal Compressed ISO - extensions in .uci format mount as a separate filesystem to save RAM space). The Testing Area is for newly submitted extensions that theoretically work "as advertised", but may have any number of bugs.
This is the first step in preparing to install DSL.
There are a variety of ways to get DSL, many of which may be explored on the main DSL website. For simplicity's sake we're going to assume you just want to get the files you will need to install DSL onto a CD, USB key, Hard Drive, or some other USB Device.
In the following documents you will be referred to DSL images (ie. bootusb-x.x.img & dsl-x.x.x.iso). These are the actual images you will need to install DSL to media.
At the time of this writing is the latest DSL version supported by these FAQs.
You can always visit the main DSL website to find the latest mirrors and such to get your hands on a copy of DSL.
That being said, the only thing left to do is actually download the files.
Using your favourite browser or FTP client (or even bittorrent) you will need to visit a mirror site and simply download the version of DSL you want.
We'll assume you're reasonably knowledgable with the FTP protocol and want to get the latest version.
Open your favourite FTP client and change to a local directory you wish to keep the files in, if using command line FTP simply:
***CODE SAMPLE***
ftp ibiblio.org
username: anonymous
password: anon@mouse.com
cd pub/Linux/distributions/damnsmall/current
get bootusb-x.x.img
get dsl-x.x.x.iso
quit
***END CODE SAMPLE***
You now have the necessary files (in most cases) to install DSL.
If you're wanting to do an embedded install simply find the version of embedded DSL you wish to use and download the dsl-embedded-x.x.zip.
There are some advantages to buying DSL from the main DSL website.
It helps save time and takes out a lot of the confusion people run into when attempting to install DSL by themselves. It also helps ensure that DSL continues to be provided and improved upon.
You can buy DSL preinstalled on a USB key/pen drive or other USB/cf devices, and from the main site even purchase a full scale DSL mini-machine, or donate.
So, you downloaded the ISO image, md5summed, and the checksums didn't match.
But it took you all night to download it, and you don't want to have to start from scratch, do you?
Well you don't have to! And I'll tell you how! reguardless of the OS you are running!
Note: this method works, no matter how the image is messed up. Even if you only got 41mb from one of the mirrors, and then the server died.
What you need:
1. the messed up ISO image
2. internet connection
3. Any bittorrent client (bittorrent-gui, bittorrent-cli, or ctorrent from the repository will be GREAT)
How to do it:
1. Connect to the internet.
2. Head over to our Bittorrent Mirror.
3. Download the .torrent file for the latest iso (if a new version just came out, it may take a day or three to show up onto the BT mirror)
4. Start bittorrent and tell it to save ti the same folder that the messed up iso is in.
5. Wait untill BT says "Download Sucessfull!"
You corrupt ISO is now Fixed!
The documentation and ideas expressed on this website or provided by volunteers are in no way to be held liable for any damages incurred by usage, properly or improperly. No warranties are expressed or implied. Proceed at your own risk.
The operators of this website will not be held responsible for any incidents involving the use of ideas or programs demostrated or supplied by using this website.
That being said, enjoy DSL.