SliTaz GNU/Linux, the Smallest “Desktop” Distro Ever Created
Submitted by srlinuxx on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 10:14.
“At 25 MB, it has to be the smallest desktop distro ever created”. These were the words of Ladislav Bodnar in the most recent issue of Distrowatch Weekly when he announced this fresh and minuscule distribution as a new addition to the waiting list. Its name is SliTaz, and I was so intrigued about it that I tried it out.
The smallest distribution that I’ve used so far is Geexbox at 8MB. But, it can’t be considered as a complete “desktop” distro since it only specializes in playing multimedia files.
So what about SliTaz?
SliTaz can be loaded as a LiveCD which I did, or through a bootable USB media. Once I fired up the LiveCD, the traditional boot options menu screen first appeared. The instructions are still in French so I didn’t care to dig further and just went on by pressing ENTER. Next was the local configuration or the language options, followed by kmap setup, soundcard selection, X configuration, and Login screen. The default user name is: HACKER and the root password is: root.
Interesting selection of features in kernels ? Livecd SliTaz ?
When you use only livecd version, you use only drams after loaded from cdrom(bios bootloader).
This means 2.4.24.2 can be as small as 3.7 mb; not using DOS, networkOS and a minimum of drivers helps. Kernel 2.6.24.2 can be as small as 600k+ kb, using only ppp and dialer for firefox connection? No, SliTaz uses sth0 for internet connection and has all the codes for broadband network operating system. If you want to use external dialup modem, you might search for Slackware dialup files, and install the targz files(pppsetup from version 10.2; v12 for servers is broken(maybe udev /usr istead of /dev/modem bindings with /etc/ppp) for pppsetup, also watch out for 2.6.24.2 binding problems as well as try chat, chap or pap scripts depending on your ISP allowance) in SliTaz?
This is not the 37 mb of kernels other tiny distros used? But, it is still much larger than QNX(1.414 mb) with Neutrino window manager, external dialup modem and Firefox 2.0.0.13(7.7 mb).
Typically, QNX microkernels can run a computer with 750,000+ lines of codes. Linux kernels needed 4.5 million lines of codes.
This is a rather upto date Linux distro. PPP config for dialup modem and network operating system may need sorting out? SliTaz works with all my monitors and components in my computers other than external dialup modems launched from the menu. SliTaz Firefox may also need Flash from Adobe, which hogs a lot of drams.
Footnote:
However, SliTaz does have ppp 2.4.4. You can use pppd call apex(paula) command.
http://linux.softpedia.com/get/Communications/Telephony/ppp-14015.shtml#
As illustrated, you need two files, apex(ttyS0 serial port external modem , 115,000/38400 speed, user name and password) and chat(AT command,ISP telephone number, pap secret of name and password). The files are written on text editor and saved into the respective directory and file name. ppp-on and ppp-off is turning on the modem or off. ppp-on-dialer is turn on and dial.
Calling for developers to write a small front end to ppp 2.4.4, that can start and finish connection in one step? Its about time to link the launch of ppp from browsers?
Many people love the small size of JWM(69kb), but it needs a front end to reset the panel size, many of us needed the panel to be smaller than 1024x768, or even 640x480 sometimes. It need zooming feature to fit many monitors. We have to be reminded that gzine with smaller screen and less pixels will be presented faster from internet connection.
SliTaz should be two versions, one for broadband 100 mbps and one for dialup with opera mini v4?