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Linux for a floppy disk? - Printable Version

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Linux for a floppy disk? - microchip13 - 03-21-2006

I'm looking to make some linux floppies to put some extra computers to use, essentially, all I need in the default linux is DHCP networking support, an ssh server, and leave enough free space on the floppy to put Folding@home(244kb)

I found this site:
http://users.sunet.com.au/~tsn/floppy_linux.html

But, I'm quite confused.


Thanks


Re: Linux for a floppy disk? - ztirffritz - 03-21-2006

I think that asking for all that on a floppy is a bit much. They are only 1.4 MB after all. I think that this is a better option:
http://www.puppylinux.org/user/viewpage.php?page_id=1


Re: Linux for a floppy disk? - microchip13 - 03-21-2006

I have puppy, havn't tried it.

This would be for close to 10 computers, so, while I could use a liveCD, having a linux disk ready to go would be very cool

All I need is:

sshd
ifconfig
Basic Ethernet Drivers
nano/emacs
folding


Re: Linux for a floppy disk? - TheTominator - 03-21-2006

If you plan on using only the floppy disk for everything and not putting any files onto the hard drive (if there is one), then you won't be able to do Folding@Home too. There just isn't enough space on the floppy to hold everything. While the console application is relatively tiny, each of the FahCore_*.exe files that it will download is greater than 1.5 MB. Add to that the working data files it calculates. You need additional storage no matter how you slice it.

One way to get additional storage without using the hard drive is to use the computer's RAM as a virtual hard disk. This assumes that the computer has lots of RAM to spare. Maybe the Linux configurations you are exploring already use this technique.


Re: Linux for a floppy disk? - microchip13 - 03-21-2006

hmm, true.


The one I'm looking at right now is BYD, that's the one most likely. It may have some support for a RAMDISK.

Maybe I'll just use some of my spare old Ubuntu discs