Minimum system requirements?

[dico]

Hi There,

I want to starting learning more about Linux and decided to go with the Mandrake 8 distro. I want to install this on an old laptop that I am not using. The laptop is a p100, 16meg ram, 850HD. I am wondering if this is enough computing power and if anyone has any suggestions.

Thanks,

-dr

[Gaccm]

hmm... linux can run fine on that, but if you want to install (and run) the graphical part... i dont know. I have p 200 64meg ram and the graphical part is kinda slow, if you can live with a console then go for it, but all the newer ditrobutions have graphical startups, so i would suggest Redhat6.2 (its the first distro i ever used)

[bigrigdriver]

Assuming that for the time being, this is a learning experience and not a working environment, 32M ram would be better (64 much better). And I also assume that 850HD means 850M of room on the hard disc. That should be bumped up to 2G or better (my OpenLinux installation took up about 1.2G, but it was a fairly complete custom installation). Your CPU is more than adequate (and old IBM AT would probably work). If you are entirely new to Linux and Unix compatible systems, you'll start generating log and message files you're not accustomed to dealing with, and will need some room to grow on the HD until you get a handle on Linux and can customize logrotate to limit the size of the log and message files.
In effect, if you do not have previous experience with M$-DOS or some version of UNIX of Linux, you are in for a rough ride (the learning curve is steep; the potential for doing great damage to the installation is huge). If you do have experience with M$-DOS of some version of UNIX or compatible, there won't be that much new. You know what it means to be your own sysadmin, because in Linux, that's what you must be when you're on a stand-alone system.
On the brighter side, there are many websites with discussion forums which you can use to get solutions to problems. First, though, get used to reading documentation and trying to solve your own problems. You will learn much more that way.
I don't know beans about RedHat. But, anytime you have a problem, email me (my address should be attached to this). I'll be glad to help in any way I can.

[ 06 May 2001: Message edited by: bigrigdriver ]

[ 06 May 2001: Message edited by: bigrigdriver ]

[manual_overide]

It'll work fine. Just don't expect to set any speed records. :)

The minimum requirements for linux w/o X, BTW, are:

386 processor
4MB RAM

As for diskspace, there are versions that fit on a floppy, and versions that take almost 8GB w/ everything installed.

850MB is a little low for a large distro like Mandrake, but if you do a custom install, and don't install lots of stuff, you should be fine.

[Unruly]

Originally posted by manual_overide:
<STRONG>It'll work fine. Just don't expect to set any speed records. :)

The minimum requirements for linux w/o X, BTW, are:

386 processor
4MB RAM

As for diskspace, there are versions that fit on a floppy, and versions that take almost 8GB w/ everything installed.

850MB is a little low for a large distro like Mandrake, but if you do a custom install, and don't install lots of stuff, you should be fine.</STRONG>
actually, you can one up that... :) run a diskless (see: NO harddrive) router, gateway, firewall, etc... :)

[Tyr-7BE]

I dunno if those things will give you the linux experience you're looking for if you go with Drake 8. Mandy is known to be a PIG when it comes to memory.