Smallest Debian distro?

[Spyro543]

I'm looking for the Debian base distro with the smallest download size. Nothing special, doesn't need all the preloaded software and doesn't really need a GUI (I could just install this stuff later). The main reason I want the Debian base is because of Synaptics packages and apt-get. Soooo...any suggestions?

[haqking]

I'm looking for the Debian base distro with the smallest download size. Nothing special, doesn't need all the preloaded software and doesn't really need a GUI (I could just install this stuff later). The main reason I want the Debian base is because of Synaptics packages and apt-get. Soooo...any suggestions?

http://www.debian.org/distrib/netinst

and to use synaptics you will need a GUI, it is a GUI based package manager

[keithpeter]

+1 for netinstall

You download a small bootable image, then any extra packages are downloaded when you install. The total download is smaller than a full live cd as you are not downloading 700Mb and then updating 300Mb+ of that!

As the name suggests, you need an Internet connection while installing - I always used a wired network connection into the router.

If you 'unselect' all the package groups when presented with the choice by the text installer, you will have a base system with apt-get. You can then tailor xorg, window manager &c to your requirements. Best to make a shopping list first.

As mentioned by haqking, a base install is command line only, you won't get synaptic until you install xorg and a window manager.

My personal Debian Squeeze setup is described at

http://sohcahtoa.org.uk/pages/linux-dwm-window-manager-on-debian.html

and that was installed using netinstall image on a desktop with a wired connection.

[collisionystm]

I'm looking for the Debian base distro with the smallest download size. Nothing special, doesn't need all the preloaded software and doesn't really need a GUI (I could just install this stuff later). The main reason I want the Debian base is because of Synaptics packages and apt-get. Soooo...any suggestions?

DSL haha

http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/

[haqking]

DSL haha

http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/

note the ha ha ;-)

Dont use this, it is way out of date and no longer supported.

Though i still have it in a run it in a windows config on a 128MB USB stick somewhere lOL

[collisionystm]

Debian editions of Puppy Linux

http://puppylinux.org/wikka/dpup

[Bachstelze]

http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/oneiric/main/installer-amd64/current/images/netboot/mini.iso

26M

[haqking]

Light Linux Distros (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1582027)

[el_koraco]

http://daily.grml.org/

[Gremlinzzz]

Barry Kauler has announced the release of Puppy Linux 5.2 "Wary" edition, a small, fast and very light distribution designed for old and low-resource computers: "This is a massive upgrade relative to the 5.1.x series. All of the base packages were recompiled in T2. Certain choices were made in T2 with the plan of seamless upgrading from X.Org 7.3 to 7.6 - that is, the default Wary system has X.Org 7.3, but it is planned that Wary can be upgraded to X.Org 7.6 by installation of a single PET package, and all applications will work before and after. This required some very careful configuration. The idea is to 'have our cake and eat it too' - X.Org 7.3 for old hardware, easy upgrade to 7.6 for newer video hardware. The plan actually seems to be working. As usual, huge changes yet only a small version-number change. Many bug fixes, upgrades, new packages.:popcorn:

http://distrowatch.com/

[Majorix]

Antix.

[snowpine]

Debian netinstall.

You might also find the smxi script helpful for updating/customizing your minimal Debian system: http://smxi.org

[Spyro543]

http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/oneiric/main/installer-amd64/current/images/netboot/mini.iso

26M
Looks promising! What does it include? Just Ubuntu and apt-get?

[el_koraco]

Looks promising! What does it include? Just Ubuntu and apt-get?

minimal kernel with some wireless and wired drivers, the installer itself, and a network config utility. apt and gang are downloaded and set up after selecting the mirror.

[BrokenKingpin]

++netinstall...gives you a base debian system, and then you can just install what you need.

[nothingspecial]

Nothing special, doesn't need all the preloaded software and doesn't really need a GUI

You're right I don't :P

+1 for Ubuntu minimal.

[krapp]

There's the Debian business card .iso, which isn't really a system, so much as a way of distribution:


This image has a size of up to 40 MB. It is small enough to fit on business card-shaped CDs (available in differing sizes, e.g. 58×75 mm/2.3×3"). This image contains just the bare necessities to start a Debian installation, i.e. those parts of the installer which are necessary to configure networking and download the rest of the installation system.

http://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/

[koleoptero]

http://daily.grml.org/

Ah, got here before me I see... :D