[ILUG] Re: multiple (small-)distro bootable CD, with OO.org for brownie points?

[Brian Foster]

recevied Ok(?) by Gmail....
has not (yet?) shown up in inbox from either ILUG nor sent-to-myself (as 
Dcc).

On Apr 10, 2005 6:09 PM, Brian Foster <blf at blf.utvinternet.ie> wrote:
> 
> I have this (vague) memory of reading someplace about
> a scheme for placing multiple (and obviously small,
> such as Damn Small Linux (DSL)) Linux distros on a
> single CD, such that they were all bootable from
> that CD. when you booted the CD, something like a
> grub menu/prompt appeared, you selected the distro,
> and the selected distro then booted (in, I think,
> a "live" mode (like Knoppix)?). (and if I could
> also then install the distro onto the machine's
> HDD, that would be grand.)
> 
> does that sound familiar? or am I blowing smoke?
> any pointers/clews/suggestions?
> ( and Yes, I could use multiple CDs. but I want
> to try such a scheme if it exists... )
> 
> the target machine is a Dell something-or-other,
> 128Mb RAM, known functional serial port(s?), some
> network card (type and functionality unknown),
> USB (functional or not is unknown), and — here's
> the (1st) kicker — only an 80Mb (yes, mega) HDD.
> which is actually Ok for the machine's purpose.
> (and, for _this_ machine, getting a bigger HDD
> is probably not possible. ;-( )
> 
> the HDD currently contains a (broken) SmoothWall
> of unknown vintage, originally installed for some
> other machine (the RAM and HDD are transplants),
> but which can be booted. the machine has booted,
> from CD, both Knoppix 3.6(?) and SUSE 9.1 Ok.
> 
> I want to overwrite that zorked SmoothWall with
> a functional modern distro. since this machine
> nominally just sits there and runs tests of our
> software, it does not need much. X, OO.org <http://OO.org>, and
> that sort of stuff is, strictly speaking, not
> needed (but see below). since it _is_ a test
> machine, stuff like gdb(1) and other test/debug
> software would be good — and there is also an
> argument for Eclipse — but I doubt those are
> issues per se?
> 
> the 2nd kicker: I would love to convert the staff
> away from M$-Worthless. OO.org <http://OO.org> is a plausible
> choice, I've used it (at home) with varying but
> improving success on documents from work. there
> is no possibility whatsoever of even installing
> OO.org <http://OO.org> on any of the Linux servers, so I have
> this grand, if vague, plan to install it on the
> test machine as a demo. but of course that does
> mean X and other large wodges of stuff... ;-(
> ( I can jettison this 2nd issue if needed. I have
> two other plans for OO.org <http://OO.org> demos. <evil grin> )
> 
> so, besides both DSL and the recently mentioned
> Puppy Linux, and maybe CElinux, does any have any
> suggestions for other small distros? (plus the
> multiple-boot CD scheme mentioned above?)
> 
> cheers!
> -blf-
> --
> Experienced (20+ yrs) kernel/software Eng: | Brian Foster Montpellier,
> • Unix, embedded, &tc; • Linux; • doc; | blf at utvinternet.ie FRANCE
> • IDL, automated testing, process, &tc. | Stop E$$o (ExxonMobile)!
> Résumé (CV) http://www.blf.utvinternet.ie | http://www.stopesso.com
> 



-- 
Experienced (20+ yrs) kernel/software Eng: ║ Brian Foster Montpellier,
• Unix, embedded, &tc; • Linux; • doc; ║ blf at utvinternet.ie FRANCE
• IDL, automated testing, process, &tc. ║ Stop E$$o (ExxonMobile)!
Résumé (CV) http://www.blf.utvinternet.ie ║ http://www.stopesso.com