MiniSUSE

From openSUSE

Now it goes, for real

See this message:

 http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-factory/2007-05/msg00122.html

There is a whole class of use cases that belongs to future and to anyone that can capture it first.

USB installed OS.

You carry only USB stick with you, connect it to any computer, boot and you have your portable data management system. Operating system compatibility is gone, you carry all with you. Internet cafe or any other public provider, can employ terminal server, if you don't have your USB OS with you, but if you have it all they have to provide is virtual machine to boot from your USB stick, and you are good to go.

Now when openSUSE goes with this seriously there is no reason not to redefine goals. First would be to help testing minimal configurations.

The openSUSE is changing!

The Core Team is taking steps to improve package management with Patterns, to overhaul SUSEconfig (factory maillist archive), to open future plans to discussion (factory maillist archive), and that seems to be a beginning. The linux is going from "make it work" phase to "optimize it". Optimizing openSUSE for small machines is main reason for MiniSUSE existence.

Boot Time

The Boot time is a new project idea that will try to make SUSE boot really fast. One of the tools that might help is boot process monitor Bootchart ( http://www.bootchart.org/ ).

• User with basic needs, like email, basic Internet browsing to be able to follow links from email, occassionally writing and printing. Setup done by family Linux guru for grandma.
• Low traffic servers. For instance experimental web service, personal web pages, home and small office network server for backup and printing, monitoring station used to monitor other servers that have to be visible from the net, and "give a call" to administrator in case of emergency.
• Big and fast desktop with some very specialized usage that is even faster, because it doesn't use omnipurpose GUI, but lightweight like Xfce.

There are many benefits, some instant and other in a long run.

• A chance for many talented people without access to newer hardware to install, and use openSUSE (formerly SUSE Linux).
• Better handling of software dependencies,
• Many more specialized options during installation,
• Better system responsiveness.

• Visit MiniSUSE Project Discussion page to add ideas and wishes. To discuss content of this page please use Talk:MiniSUSE (this is the same as "discussion" link at the bottom)
• The opensuse@opensuse.org is the place to exchange ideas and experience about openSUSE and MiniSUSE, as part of it. To post you have to subscribe first. For instructions how to subscribe please visit Communicate page.
• In the usenet, group news://alt.os.linux.suse is a good place to find people to discuss all about SUSE, so MiniSUSE will fit there, as long as the topic is kept within technical aspects of minimization. To be able to post to usenet you need news client like KNode, Thunderbird or some other that is included in openSUSE.

Initial Stage

1. Make openSUSE Installer run installation on any 586 computer where operating system will run. This is partially done, see the tweaks page.
2. Advertise existence of project on mailing lists, news groups and on the web.

What we want is to quantify what is the minimum RAM in MB, minimum acceptable CPU speed in MHz, and time in hours and minutes needed for installation.

We are looking, also, for possible tweaks that will allow Installer to run faster with lesser hardware.

Please see MiniSUSE Project Initial Stage for details, other users comments, reports etc.

Once we finish this, we will be able to install SUSE on almost any generic 586.

Text Mode Optimization

What we want is to identify what software is absolutely necessary for running text mode SUSE Linux and what is recommended for different purposes. SUSE developers are doing great job for general purpose operating system that will run fine almost any imaginable task. We are looking for the smallest possible base that can be expanded just to satisfy one purpose.

Adding GUI

Once we have developed methods to control creation of software dependencies on as needed basis, and that is requirement to optimize text mode, we can apply the same to the GUI (X Server, desktop, applications).

Pointers to online and offline references. Please add yours.

Local

• Installation with Little Memory has some tips how to minimize memory usage during installation.
• YaST Remote Logging in Installation is about using another computer as logging facility.
• Logging YaST to USB Stick in Installation is solution if one has no additional computer in network. Literally the same procedure can be used with external hard disk drive as it will be recognized in the same way as USB memory stick.
• MicroSUSE aim is to make very small Linux. Starting with kernel, and continuing with applications. The project is in a very beginning and suitable for developers able to resolve compilation and dependency problems.
• SLICK had bigger aim than MiniSUSE. The number of features would make it completely different distribution, unable to use standard SUSE software and management tools. It was abandoned in favor of 1_CD_Install, with similar goals, that also stopped soon after first iso image announcement.
• MiniSUSE Collection of Articles is index of related information.
• Xfce short article about slick desktop environment
• X11:xfce project by Pnemec
• Boot Time is looking to optimize boot process.

External

• Linux small memory footprint from IBM guys.
• The Linux on iPod has aim to produce open source support for iPod. They advanced pretty far by now. They gave proof of concept and answer on question how small can be a Linux system.
• Make your own Live CD from any distribution you like using the script from this site.
• The SLAX is Slackware based live CD produced with above mentioned script.
• http://www.bootchart.org/ is the home of tool that can help to optimize boot process.

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