Home server...

[TheMatrix]

This may seem a bit weird to some of you, but oh well....

So I'm trying to put together a home server out of some rather old things. I'm looking for a linux distro that will run a server, maybe a lightweight desktop, and not too large.
And all of that has to run with this:

Pentium 100MHz Processor
64MB RAM
30-40GB HD (I'll probably add more hd space later)
About 5MB Video RAM
512KB cache
Distro must fit on a CD

Probably some of that is irrelevant, but oh well.

I'm going to try antiX (http://daveserver.homelinux.com/antiX/antiX-M11-Server.iso), but it needs 128MB RAM. Maybe it'll work, if I'm lucky.

I've considered Puppy, but I think that's going to take longer to install - it's not RPM or Debian based.

[lengthy_brochure]

I have deleted the contents of this post

[darkwoon]

I'd probably use a Debian/stable base and carefully handpick which packages to install, instead of relying on the default installer's tasksel. (Distros like DamnSmall are actually just that).

I'd suggest setting a VirtualBox machine on your main computer with only 64MB of ram, and check how far you can push it (it will be way faster to make your tests on it than on the real deal).

Even if it would be possible to run a graphical desktop environment on such a machine, it would probably not give good results - even if there are lightweight apps available for just about everything, the X server itself is going to already eat a good chunk of your ram.

[lengthy_brochure]

I have deleted the contents of this post

[TheMatrix]

I'd suggest setting a VirtualBox machine on your main computer...tried that, it worked ok-ish.

you know, i should probably use more recent stuff. i just had all this old stuff lying around and so i thought "hey - why don't i build a server!"

i'll see...
it turned out that the hd i was planning on using had bad sectors, so i'll have to get a new one, hopefully by tommorow.

[lengthy_brochure]

I have deleted the contents of this post

[TheMatrix]

Personally, I would have gone through with it. It would have been a challenging, yet interesting and intriguing project.
i'm gonna continue, it's just that my dad thinks it's a waste of time.
--------
darn! no hd yet...
guess that means i'll have to search the house for a working drive...

[MariettaNate1995]

The RAM is a bit low for most distros. I've tried running a VM on that little before and it doesn't really work. Good luck though, it does sound like a fun project.

[TheMatrix]

i kinda gave up on it - there weren't any ide drives available, only scsi. and that old motherboard probably can't boot from that.
instead, i bought 2GB of ram for the-matrix(my main computer).

maybe i can run a faster virtual server with that.