Distributions/Configurations For Specific Uses?

Page writes "My college (UMPI) is currently reviewing a proposal to collect old hardware from small businesses and assemble machines for those who do not have a PC. The issue came up as to what linux distro to use that will allow us ease of both setup and ability to lock down the machine so once they are out in the field, they cant be tinkered with by accident (thus preventing problems later). These will be used solely for the purpose of web activities (surfing/mail), and word processing and *THATS IT*. Does anyone have suggestions and an idea about how to go about a standardized (or a sort of embedded) configuration across variable hardware?"

Comments

Knoppix

[beninkster]

Why not check out knoppix?

This distribution autodetects a tonne (I'm Canadian) of hardware. It runs off of the CD, however, you can set it up to store configuration settings on the hard disk. Thus, if you have any problems, you simply reboot.

I would take a look at LFS 4.0 in combination with the sources for Knoppix. Roll your own distro based on them. An added benefit of doing things this way: you can redefine the default settings so that nothing ever needs to be written to the hard disk.

Where is the download page

[pardasaniman]

I sure hope you've got one. Where is the FTP? I sure hope you are honouring the millions of developers who helped build the core of that distro for no money.