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Ubuntu Quietly Raises Install Image Size to 2GB (omgubuntu.co.uk)

Posted by msmash on from the not-so-minimal-on-size-anymore dept.

Joey-Elijah Sneddon, reporting for OMGUbuntu: You can expect to see a larger Ubuntu desktop installation image by the time the Yakkety Yak yips out. Developers are currently debating the exact size limits that official flavours will adhere to, with some favouring a 2GB hard limit while others are looking to go full-DVD size at 4.7GB+. Canonical's Steven Langasek explains the plans for Ubuntu 16.10 Yakkety Yak: "I've finally gone ahead and bumped the limit on Ubuntu desktop images to 2GB for a minimally-sized USB stick; this gives us a new limit that I think we will care about, while also leaving us headroom so we're not constantly fighting it back down to the line." The Ubuntu ISO is supposed to be around the 1GB mark but has creeped past this in recent releases. The current Ubuntu 16.04 LTS desktop .iso is 1.4GB.

4 of 154 comments (clear)

  1. In before accusations of bloat by LichtSpektren · · Score: 5, Informative

    The main reason why the .ISOs have grown is because lots of language support packs have been integrated directly into the installer. The size of the rest of the system has been relatively the same since 14.04.

  2. Re:With 32 gig usb sticks so cheap ... by HouseOfMisterE · · Score: 3, Informative

    FAT32 max file size is 4GB.

  3. Re:Multiple sizes by LichtSpektren · · Score: 4, Informative

    You're in luck. Try the Ubuntu Core iso, or the netinstall.

  4. Re:With 32 gig usb sticks so cheap ... by justthinkit · · Score: 3, Informative
    Windows:
    Overcoming the Windows 2GB Caching Limit

    Typically, a Windows process running in the 2003 operating system environment can access up to 2GB of address space. This memory is split between actual physical memory and virtual memory. Basically, the more processes that are running on the system, the more memory will be committed to reach the full 2GB address space.

    When memory consumption approaches the 2GB limit, the paging process increases and performance begins to degrade.

    Linux:
    2GB Filesize limit

    Q: Is there any way around the 2GB file-size limit in Linux? Are there any stable patches to fix it?
    A: Short answer: In a practical sense, no. The 2GB limit is deeply embedded in the versions of Linux for 32-bit CPUs:

    Even if most hardware and software these days do not have these concerns, why break things for some systems?

    --
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