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Linux Fatware: Distros That Need To Slim Down
snydeq writes "We need bare-bones Linux distros tailored for virtual machines or at least the option for installs, writes Deep End's Paul Venezia. 'As I prepped a new virtual server template the other day, it occurred to me that we need more virtualization-specific Linux distributions or at least specific VM-only options when performing an install. A few distros take steps in this direction, such as Ubuntu and OEL jeOS (just enough OS), but they're not necessarily tuned for virtual servers. For large installations, the distributions in use are typically highly customized on one side or the other — either built as templates and deployed to VMs, or deployed through the use of silent installers or scripts that install only the bits and pieces required for the job. However, these are all handled as one-offs. They're generally not available or suitable for general use.'"
Got that. It's called Debian Net Install.
Done.
Ubuntu core distribution is ~34 MB, and available for x86, amd64, and ARM. It's more than suffcient to bootstrap a lean OS.
I always like to use TurnKey Core for such things http://www.turnkeylinux.org/core
It's small, lightweight and runs very quickly even on older hardware. It does a great job.
-americamatrix
If you really want lightweight and have a specific purpose in mind, just use something that only gives you what you want/need based on what you install. Then, localepurge.
I'm really liking Crunchbang lately! It's very fast, very stable, and it's based on Debian so it works pretty well with mainstream software. It also comes with non free repositories, and codecs.
For RPM-based distros, it's easy enough to set up a task-*.rpm to install a minimal subset of the entire repository for a specific purpose, like a LAMP server. I'm sure .deb-based distros have something similar, so I'm really not seeing the problem here, just a lack of understanding the power of FOSS by the OP.
"I believe in Karma. That means I can do bad things to people all day long and I assume they deserve it." : Dogbert
PEBKAC
I have Fedora 18 running in VBox with a Windows 7 host at this exact moment.
sudo make me a sandwich
CentOS minimal is 342Mb, which isn't as small as the Ubuntu, but I guess it comes with more "what you'd install anyway" packages.
There's the netinstall too, which is 230Mb. Nowadays if it can fit on a CD, its considered insignificant in size.
http://susestudio.com/ and make your own. As light or as heavy as you desire.
A starting point is JeOS. From the first page:
You can export your custom operating system as a Virtual machine, Live USB Disk, CD/DVD-ROM, Hard Disk Image and so much more.
As you want something very specific a great way would be SUSE Studio. Because I might want just a little bit different configuration then what you would want.
Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
2GB for a full Slackware install? Try nearly 8.
And yeah, I'd like to put it on a diet, but once something is already included it becomes quite entrenched. It's extremely difficult to remove anything large enough to make a difference without causing rioting in the streets with torches and pitchforks. I suspect it's the same for any Linux distribution.
What about PuppyLinux or DamnSmallLinux?
http://puppylinux.org/ http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/
Both are tiny, and boot in less than a minute.
I've been using it for almost 6 years as my primary desktop and laptop OS. Never had an issue like that, but then again, I take the time to search for critical bugs before I update, and considering this situation is supposed to be used for multiple VMs, it's not like rolling back to a previous snapshot is hard, minimal testing before deploying is assumed.