Date: Mon, 10 Oct 1994 14:37:43 +0100
From: "Th. Eifert" <EIFERT AT reze-1 DOT rz DOT rwth-aachen DOT de>
Subject: Re: Moving to Linux -- questions
To: djgpp AT sun DOT soe DOT clarkson DOT edu
Reply-To: eifert AT rz DOT rwth-aachen DOT de
Organization: Rechenzentrum RWTH Aachen

> A number of people in my department are planning to experiment with
> Linux as a cost effective alternative to the high priced UN*X
> versions -- esp. if we can run them on our PC's, (486DX, 486DX2
> with 8 meg., 340 Meg HD, and connected together (Novell) and CD-ROM on
> network.)  We also have similar machines at home, most of us with
> double speed CD ROM drives.
> 
> From comments I have seen, running Linux directly from the CD-ROM
> (as can be done in most of the versions sold) is not something you
> would want to do -- slower than molasses on a glacier -- unless
> you a just testing something prior to installation.
> 
> I have read that one needs a separate hard disk partition on which
> to install Linux.  The question is "How big?"  Before we start going
> repartitioning our hard disks (and deciding what DOS/Windows software
> we are going to sacrifice), it would be good to know how much space
> to allocate in separate Linux partition -- big enough to do useful work
> (i.e., binaries for the operating system, compilers, and commonly used
> tools, but not the source   or any on-line text documentation that could
> be left on the CD-ROM).  Any suggestions from experienced users of
> Linux?  You can write to me directly or post to the list, as you see
> fit.
> 

You need approx. 100 mb to get a reasonable System up and running
(bin, X11, swap ...), but of course, there will be not very much left
for Your own software.
If several PC are linked together via ethernet, all these machines
can share their disks among each other, thereby saving vast amounts
of disk space (of course, a minimum has to be present on the local disk
to get the system - and the network - up).
BTW, novell won't help You anything! Of course, the network-adaptor and
cables are used, but novell being DOS-oriented, there will be no use
for a UNIX-System.

Thomas Eifert
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 | Thomas Eifert                                                    |
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