strip GNOME and all it's CRONIES down to X ONLY

[misteralexander]

I installed Ubuntu on my PS3. Obviously, it's the PPC version.

in any case, I QUICKLY found that GNOME + NAUTILLUS and all the other "filler" or "fluff" that comes with a stock Ubuntu is WAY, WAY, WAY to resource intensive for a smooth run on the PS3.

First off, the PS3 only has 256MB XDR @ 3.2Ghz ~ w/ 25.6GB/s (http://www.rambus.com/us/products/ps3.html) memory bandwidth . . . punny ammount with TERMINATOR muscle. But still not the right "mindset" for a "real" computer.

I am wondering, without building from scratch, does anyone know how to (from command line) completely UNINSTALL GNOME? I mean, GNOME, ALL GNOME REQUIRED APPS, GDM . . . all of it, so I'm basically just left with the OPERATING SYSTEM and X. I want to install the most aggressively lighweight apps and/or managers.

I have searched around here & googled, but all answers seem to not actually tell you how to fully un-install, instead telling people to just install something like XFCE . . . okay, that's great . . . I've done that . . . now how do I get rid of GNOME and all it's cronies?

Thanks!
Alex.

[lisati]

And what do you propose using as a desktop manager instead of Gnome?

[misteralexander]

And what do you propose using as a desktop manager instead of Gnome?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_X_window_managers

there are LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS.

there are more lightwieght file managers than NAUTILUS too:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_file_managers

Any help is still help,
thanks,
Alex.

[krazyd]

Have you tried this? Simply install a command-line-only system then add whatever Window Manager or Desktop Environment you want.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/LowMemorySystems

[earthpigg]

I am wondering, without building from scratch, does anyone know how to (from command line) completely UNINSTALL GNOME? I mean, GNOME, ALL GNOME REQUIRED APPS, GDM . . . all of it, so I'm basically just left with the OPERATING SYSTEM and X. I want to install the most aggressively lighweight apps and/or managers.

look at every package installed, what it does, what it depends on, what depends on it, and remove them one by one. apt-get autoremove could potentially help you out, but it will still be a huge pain and you will likely end up in reverse depenceny hell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependency_hell).


backing your stuff up and doing a fresh command line install would be much quicker and easier:


sudo apt-get install Xorg

if you are looking for a super lightweight DE that still manages to be a complete DE, i suggest LXDE. ubuntu command line install + LXDE will use about 60mb of ram at boot.

[louieb]

I've done that in the past just to see what happens. Easier to do if you just do a minimal install, then install X on top. What I found out is X without a window manager is pretty useless.

Like the others have suggested you will want some window manager installed on top of X.

[snowpine]

Follow these instructions to completely remove Gnome and replace it with Xfce:

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/purexfce

(skip the last step 'sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop' if you want a different window manager)

Good luck!

[misteralexander]

Thanks for all the good suggestions, I ended up choosing to just reinstal with a command-line. That seems to have worked great, but now i'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Please review my other post in the "SECURITY" section, if you're instrested. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1255598

Elsewise, thank-you so much for your time & help.

-Alex.