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v47
August 8th, 2017, 04:24 PM
I'm looking for some ubuntu version that would be small enough to install on a 2GB drive - tried Xubuntu core 17.04 (xubuntu-17.04-core-i386.iso), but it needs 2.2Gb, wanted to try 16.04 (xubuntu-16.04-core-i386.iso), but couldn't find a valid download anywhere.

Suggestions? Thank you.

texpat
August 8th, 2017, 04:34 PM
You may find something here: https://xubuntu.en.uptodown.com/ubuntu/old

If it does not necessarily have to be Ubuntu, you could go for something like Puppy Linux (http://www.puppylinux.com/) which claims to be "extraordinarily small" (<200MB)

Good Luck
Tx

v47
August 8th, 2017, 05:33 PM
Puppy is not going to cut it, doesn't seem like it's possible to get Firefox and youtube working - that's basically all I need. So yeah, looking for an ubuntu version that has a regular UI and Firefox, and is small enough to fit on a 2GB hdd. Atom based CPU and 4GB ram, so no problems in other departments.

sudodus
August 8th, 2017, 07:09 PM
What 2 GB drive is it - a USB pendrive, a memory card, or a small internal drive?

I would say that 2 GB is really too small for a full size installed linux operating system. See this link:

Installation/FromUSBStick#Notes_about_size (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick#Notes_about_size)

General tips:

You can install a Lubuntu or Xubuntu live system, or better yet, a persistent live system, where approximately 1 GB will be used for the image of the iso file. The remaining drive space can be used for a casper-rw partition to store data (and some drive space will also be used for some 'infrastructure').

Another alternative is to install a super light system from the Ubuntu mini.iso file (or Ubuntu Server iso file), boot into the system and after that install only the most necessary program packages, for example not a full desktop environment, but only a window manager, for example Fluxbox, xinit, xterm and a light-weight web browser (instead of Firefox) plus the necessary multimedia program packages to play youtube video-clips.

-o-

An alternative might be to boot from a separate live-only DVD or USB drive with Lubuntu or Xubuntu and have a casper-rw file or partition on this 2 GB drive.

oldos2er
August 8th, 2017, 07:15 PM
Server + a wm? Haven't checked sizes though.

v47
August 8th, 2017, 07:31 PM
persistent live system sound like something that might do - any step-by-step guide?

sudodus
August 8th, 2017, 07:49 PM
If you want a persistent live system in one single drive, this 2 GB drive, you can try mkusb according to this link (and links from it),

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/mkusb

and more spefically the following link,

mkusb/persistent (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/mkusb/persistent)

Install mkusb and it does the job pretty much automatically for you.

-o-

If you want a persistent live system in two drives, the image of the iso file in one drive and the persistence in the other drive, there are tips at the following link,

Simple Persistence (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/mkusb/sp)

v47
August 8th, 2017, 10:18 PM
ok, I'll try that soon, in the meantime, any chance someone would have xubuntu-16.04-core-i386.iso somewhere? I believe that is what I'm looking for.

oldos2er
August 9th, 2017, 01:52 AM
It's available as a deb file from https://packages.ubuntu.com/xenial/i386/xubuntu-core/download

v47
August 9th, 2017, 09:15 PM
ok, looks like persistent live is the only way to go. checked the links, but it's a bit too much for me to handle I'm afraid - simplified instructions would be much appreciated. so I've got a bootable usb thumb drive with xubuntu 16.04, the iso is on it as well, the target drive is the 2GB ide flash in the computer. what do I do next? boot into xubuntu live, load mkusb? software center doesn't seem to work in livecd mode.


//ok, some tweaks might be needed, but Debian9 core plus Xfce does fit, so I'l be going with that.

sudodus
August 10th, 2017, 08:23 AM
Which way do you want to go:

1. a persistent live system in one single drive, this 2 GB drive?

2. a persistent live system in two drives, the image of the iso file in one drive and the persistence in the other drive?

*. How big is the usb thumb drive, how many GB memory? (An alternative might be to have a persistent live system in the usb thumb drive or i combination of the two methods in order take advantage of the available drive space.)

-o-

Details about alternative 1:

There is a quick start manual for mkusb at these links (try the second link, if the first link does not work),

mkUSB-quick-start-manual.pdf (http://phillw.net/isos/linux-tools/mkusb/mkUSB-quick-start-manual.pdf)

alternate link to mkUSB-quick-start-manual.pdf (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/mkusb?action=AttachFile&do=view&target=mkUSB-quick-start-manual-12.pdf)

Details about alternative 2:

Don't forget the following link,

Simple persistence (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/mkusb/sp)

-o-

How to install mkusb into an Ubuntu family operating system

The method works in installed systems as well as live-only and persistent live systems:

If you run standard Ubuntu, you need an extra instruction to get the repository Universe. (Kubuntu, Lubuntu ... Xubuntu have the repository Universe activated automatically.)


sudo add-apt-repository universe # only for standard Ubuntu

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mkusb/ppa # and press Enter
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install mkusb mkusb-nox usb-pack-efi