Re: Minimal Install
On Thu, 6 Mar 1997, Mike Patterson wrote:
>
> I came up with an interesting challenge for myself the other day...
> Unfortunately, I can't even seem to get past square 1.
>
> I have a spare system sitting aroud doing nothing, so I thought it might be
> a good idea to put this guy to work as a fileserver/printserver. So far,
> so good, right?
>
> The problem is that I'm trying to do a debian install in less than 100
> megs. Of course this means forgoing things like X, etc... But every time
> I go through dselect and choose packages to remove, it refuses to comply!
> Instead, it complains about failed dependancies, etc, that are listed as
> ok. Does anyone know the magical combinations of packages to start out
> with a simple system that I can add onto as I need to?
>
> As a side note, here's what I wante this machine to eventually do (in order):
>
> * Be mountable by my other Linux boxes
> * Act as an IPX router (needed for next requirement?)
> * Have some directories mountable (shared) by my Win95 boxes
> * Act as a print server (using a local printer)
> * Allow dial-in PPP/IPX (Win95)
>
> As you can see, this means that I don't need many of the packages, and that
> I need to get rid of some if I'm going to be sucessful in getting this in
> under 100megs. Any ideas?
>
Start with the Base System and install the packages you need by hand using
dpkg instead of dselect. You can do the job with dselect, but I'm not the
expert to lead you through it. In general the tact is to us 'H' to put all
packages on hold and then go unhold the ones you want. You will still need
to wade through dependency screens unless you have checked everthing out
before hand and selected the dependent packages first.
I typically decide I need a package, use 'dpkg -i' to install it and look
at the error messages to see what packages I need to install before this
one will. Follow the dependency trail, installing needed packages and
eventually you get the install of the package you want to work. At this
point, if the maintainers have done their job correctly, the package you
want will, not only install, but perform in a reasonable manner after
installation. Always read the description and look at the recommends and
suggests, as they may impact your particular use of the package.
As to the packages you want; I can only speak to the win95 problem, which
I believe is resolved by using samba, the netstd and netbase and ppp
packages should also be installed in their fullness (pieces of these
packages are provide on the base disks) to give you the network access you
need. There is the possibility that you may need to create a custom kernel
to satisfy some of your needs.(ipx)
I build a custom system who's sole task was providing for the compilation
of a special kernel. Without the kernel source (approx 26 meg) this system
came in at around 40 meg. The standard packages, when installed, take up
just short of 100 meg (around 97 meg), so, if you are careful about what
frills you install, you should be able to build what you want in your
available space.
Luck,
Dwarf
------------ --------------
aka Dale Scheetz Phone: 1 (904) 656-9769
Flexible Software 11000 McCrackin Road
e-mail: dwarf@polaris.net Tallahassee, FL 32308
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