[MLUG] Old Linux Version

[P at draigBrady.com]

Peter Lavin wrote:
> Dear MiLUG contact,
> I have just pick up your email address in the magazine 'Linux Format', and
> think that you may be able to help me...
> 
> I have a Pentium 150MHz PC with 32MB RAM and 1.2GB HD and I am looking for
> an old version of Linux to learn with. I guess this PC was bought in 1995/96
> and so a version from around then would be suitable. This is my 'second' PC
> and I would load it on this PC and possibly network it with my main PC for
> learning, etc.

That's not too bad of a PC. You should be able to run the latest
kernels + most software. However gnome/mozilla/kde might be a
little too CPU/memory intensive.

Here's the top output on my redhat 9 system in work here:

---------------------------------------------------------
  SIZE  RSS SHARE STAT %CPU %MEM   TIME CPU COMMAND
---------------------------------------------------------
71532  66M 16412 S     0.0 13.2   0:26   1 mozilla-bin
  170M  29M   888 S     0.7  5.8  87:22   0 X
15068  10M  2592 S     0.0  2.1   1:35   0 gnome-panel
  9844 9840  7060 R     0.3  1.9   0:00   0 gnome-terminal
............. the rest insignificant ....................

So probably the best thing to do is to install redhat 9,
(without mozilla/gnome/kde), and then install windowmaker
and firebird after. You can get an idea of the GUI presented
by windowmaker from my website which is modeled after it:
http://www.pixelbeat.org/

Note a handy way to test different GUI environments out
is to use a knoppix live CD, that you can boot from
and select between many configs (you don't need
to install it). I can drop you this also if you like.

> I am currently studying IT part-time in college. Do you know of anyone that
> could give/sell me a CD or a CD copy of floppies to load this. I live in
> Dublin and can collect from anywhere in the midlands (as I am originally
> from Roscommon). I will also of course pay any postage or media costs to
> anyone that can help me out,

I'm in Dublin everyday and can drop you redhat 9 CDs
Alternatively you could go to the meeting next Friday (Aug 1st)
in Peter Clarke's pub beside the cathedral in Longford
(at around 8PM).

Pádraig.