Well, I got netBSD running on a 150mhz system with 64MB of RAM. I don't have it with X yet but will look into that soon. On Saturday 08 January 2005 13:45, Alan Dayley wrote: > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > On Saturday 01 January 2005 10:59 pm, Craig White wrote: > > On Sat, 2005-01-01 at 21:58 -0700, Alan Dayley wrote: > > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > > > Hash: SHA1 > > > > > > A non-profit agency has recieved a donation of older computers. > > > Something along the lines of 200 MHz for the processor. I don't know > > > all the details of the five systems yet but they all have CD-ROM drive, > > > a few GB hard drive and a decent monitor. The key here is that I don't > > > know the amount of RAM in them yet so I am planning (hoping) for at > > > least 128MB. They were all running Windows 98 before being wiped clean > > > prior to donation. > > Checked out the computers today. They are 133MHz with 8MB of RAM! > Originally the programs used on them were all DOS apps. Any sort of > stand-alone "modern" OS on these boxes is out the window (Heh!). > > > You dismiss the best idea out of hand as being too expensive but you > > cannot overlook practicality and usefulness of a well conceived solution > > that undoubtedly will cost less in the long run and probably short run > > too. > > > > LTSP is the way to go - no question about it. A system with the right > > hardware for the server could probably be done on the cheap. > > LTSP is the only way to make use of these boxes, as Craig said. So, I have > a couple of final questions from the understanding that they will be > running as terminals: > > 1. Do we need to find more RAM to use them as terminals? In other words, > is 8MB local RAM too little even for a Linux terminal? > > 2. We'll need to get a box for a server. What is the minimum server speed > and RAM needed to run 3-4 terminals? I plan on using K12LTSP as the distro > (http://www.k12ltps.org). I hoped to get one of those $200-ish boxes with > extra RAM to use as the server. Keep in mind that these terminals will be > used for basic word processing and web surfing. > > They have the network infrastructure to support the wiring. We will have > to get 100MB PCI netword cards for each terminal box and another switch to > have the terminals and server on their own subnet. A total budget of > around $350 for a server, switch and NICs is painful but probably > acceptable to them. Cheaper than buying 3 or 4 stand-alone computers. > > I'll keep reading up on this but if anyone has any input or comments, I'll > gladly take them. > > Alan > > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v1.2.4 (GNU/Linux) > > iD8DBQFB4EZa0VxxIfjPXe4RAgGLAJ9z4x30+U/GRJ1IpUqGJtxxWlZHZwCgh3x4 > RLYOLVMdJZXUNu4xFzBVeAE= > =aS1w > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change you mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change you mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss