64Mega HD install

Forum: HD Install
Topic: 64Mega HD install
started by: lart-lab

Posted by lart-lab on May 06 2005,08:21

for a research project we have to use a linux distribution installed on mini-itx boards with a 64M flash memory.
is there a way to strip dsl to be installed on such a little space?
remastering is the only solution?

thanks,
leonardo.

Posted by roberts on May 06 2005,10:05

I run a couple of mini-itx 64MB CF machines. It was that particular target machine and CF that frugal_instal.sh was designed for. If your mini-itx has an IDE to CF adapter and it is set for hda, then simply run the frugal_instal.sh program, Apps->Tools->Frugal Install

Posted by clivesay on May 06 2005,11:02

Frugal makes for an easy research project. You'll be done in 5 minutes

Chris

Posted by lart-lab on May 06 2005,11:54

Quote (roberts @ May 06 2005,06:05)

this copies dsl as a zipped image on my disk, and makes it kind of difficult to upgrade/change. What I meant was something different, if it is possible to strip it down as of having a real image in 64M. for example, we always work with hostap driver and we need to upgrade it and test it every once in a while, I can't imagine myself reinstalling the image on every change (we have no CD as well). A solution would be to add a little partition for config/source stuff and mount it when needed, but It still seems a little uneasy

thanks,
leonardo.

Posted by roberts on May 06 2005,12:09

You would not want to attempt a regular hard drive install to CF. Limited writes would soon kill the device. Frugal is easy to upgrade via a single file, KNOPPIX which could later be done via net. For original install the CF+IDE adapter can be hosted in any whitebox with a bootable cdrom and then mounted in the cdromless mini-itx. This is how I do it. Additional mods or customizations can be achieved via the extensions, be it custom for your printer, your winmodem, etc. For example Metro Pipe's Personal VPN is nothing more that a mydsl.iso. This is also true for the Thinknic.iso it too is really a mydsl.iso. If you study and learn our system it is imensely flexible.

Posted by clivesay on May 06 2005,12:38

roberts is right.

Any changes you make can be saved in your backup file and additional apps can be packaged as mydsl files to load at boot.

If your mini-itx is connected to the web via a broadband connection, you could boot it with DSL on a USB stick and upgrade your CF card with the latest version by doing < THIS >. I use this method (or a variation) to update all my DSL installs when a new version is released. No reason to burn CD's. I can update my pendrive and hard drive installations.

Good luck

Chris

Posted by lart-lab on May 09 2005,09:13

thanks for the replies.. we are thinking about the solutions you suggested. One more thing, what do you mean with "Limited writes would soon kill the device"? that those IDE/CF tend do die soon if I don't overwrite the whole device every time? or just that they have a limited lifetime if I write too much on them ?

thanks,
leonardo.

Posted by ke4nt1 on May 09 2005,12:06

Your second choice is correct.
Like USBflash keys, Compact Flash also has a finite lifetime
for the amount of WRITES it can sustain without errors.
Readability is no problem, lifespanwise.

As both clivesay and roberts has mentioned,
I also run only the compressed, read-only, frugal type installs
for all of my laptops, desktops, and car audio installs..
They are VERY easy to upgrade!
They are VERY easy to customize!
It is very easy to add new programs and apps to them.
You can save all your personal data, files, mail, etc.. in an
encrypted backup, located either in your CF, a USBkey, or FTP site.
Once you have setup your "custom" linux environment,
it is also easy to create a new " mydsl.iso" , creating
your own customized linux distro, based on DSL, that you can
use to burn your own bootable CD, DVD, or place into another
CF disk, USBkey, or other media.

73
ke4nt