run linux with only 128MB memory?

I've got an old Compaq Armada e500 laptop, with 128MB memory. I won't
be connecting it to the web, so I don't need antivirus or firewalls
running. I'd like to view movies, play music, and use a memory stick
through the USB port. Can I do this with 128MB. Also, are there guides
for using Linux with small memory, eg to tell you how to eliminate
unnecessary services or other running components that I won't need?

On Sat, 18 Aug 2007 08:23:56 -0700, dspame wrote:

> I've got an old Compaq Armada e500 laptop, with 128MB memory. I won't
> be connecting it to the web, so I don't need antivirus or firewalls
> running. I'd like to view movies, play music, and use a memory stick
> through the USB port. Can I do this with 128MB. Also, are there guides
> for using Linux with small memory, eg to tell you how to eliminate
> unnecessary services or other running components that I won't need?

Last year I installed Elive Linux on a P166 with 64mb RAM. Although no
speed demon, it ran decently. Other contenders would include: puppy, damn
small, vector. You could also to a Debian install and skip the
'heavyweight' desktops - kde and gnome, opting instead for XFCE,
Enlightenment or other 'lighter' desktop.

At Sat, 18 Aug 2007 08:23:56 -0700 dspame@yahoo.com wrote:

>
> I've got an old Compaq Armada e500 laptop, with 128MB memory. I won't
> be connecting it to the web, so I don't need antivirus or firewalls

antivirus software is not needed for Linux and Firewall software is
built into the kernel. Neither are thus an issue with a memory 'poor'
machine.

> running. I'd like to view movies, play music, and use a memory stick
> through the USB port. Can I do this with 128MB. Also, are there guides

I have no problems with running CentOS 4.5 on a Dell Insperion 4000
laptop which only has 128 meg of memory. Everything works just fine.
I do use FVWM as my window manager and don't use GNOME or KDE and don't
use a graphical file manager or any of the other random mess-windows
inspired eye-candy commonly in use.

> for using Linux with small memory, eg to tell you how to eliminate
> unnecessary services or other running components that I won't need?
>

You just need to do a mimimal desktop or laptop install.

>

--
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On Sat, 18 Aug 2007 08:23:56 -0700, dspame wrote:

> I've got an old Compaq Armada e500 laptop, with 128MB memory. I won't be
> connecting it to the web, so I don't need antivirus or firewalls
> running. I'd like to view movies, play music, and use a memory stick
> through the USB port. Can I do this with 128MB. Also, are there guides
> for using Linux with small memory, eg to tell you how to eliminate
> unnecessary services or other running components that I won't need?

Sure, you can run Linux on 128 MB. You just have to pick a lightweight
desktop like XFCE or just use a resource friendly window manager like
IceWM instead.

I'm running Debian Etch (2.6 kernel) and XFCE on an old IBM Thinkpad 240X
(500 MHz PIII and 192 MB RAM). Zips right along even on battery when the
CPU speed is dropped to 130 MHz for longer battery life. However, I did
custom install almost everything. So, it doesn't have anything on it
that is not absolutely needed. And that greatly improves overall
performance.

Also look at Vector Linux or Damn Small Linux.

Stef

dspame@yahoo.com schrieb:
> I've got an old Compaq Armada e500 laptop, with 128MB memory. I won't
> be connecting it to the web,
> so I don't need antivirus
>
There is no need for antivirus software with linux. Antivirus software tries
to cure the symptoms but cannot heal the disease, which is security holes
inside the installed software.

There are <100 viruses out there for linux and the security holes concerned
are patched for a long time now. Just update your distribution frequently.


> or firewalls
>
This is a linux kernel builtin, you get it anyway unless explicitly switched
off (not recommended).


> running.
>
> I'd like to view movies,
>
The processor of this laptop is presumably too slow to play zoomed
fullscreen videos at natural resolution of the display. If the graphics
adaptor is supported by the XVideo extension (xv), it may work, though. If
not, you could try to set an additional low-res video mode (like 640x480)
just for playing videos and let the hardware zoom it -- some laptop
displays are able to do this. Switching video modes on-the-fly works with
[Ctrl]+[Alt]+[Numpad+] ...+[Numpad-]


> play music,
>
Perfectly possible, assuming the sound adaptor is supported (presumably).


> and use a memory stick through the USB port.
>
If this machine has USB1.1 only, transfers will be slow (~1MB/s).


> Can I do this with 128MB.
> Also, are there guides for using Linux with small memory,
>
128MB is not small memory. This is 32MB and less (some say 8MB and less).


> eg to tell you how to eliminate
> unnecessary services or other running components that I won't need?
>
The usual way is to use a distribution with small memory requirements where
that was already done. Just install it and try. No manual fiddling
neccessary. Stefan gave you some pointers.


Kind regards

Jan

On Sat, 18 Aug 2007, dspame wrote:

> Also, are there guides for using Linux with small memory, eg to tell you
> how to eliminate unnecessary services or other running components that I
> won't need?

Have a look at http://distrowatch.com/search.php , and choose
"Distribution category: Old computers".

I agree with other users that Vector and Puppy are good choices.

--
Yves Bellefeuille
<yan@storm.ca>