Light Linux Distributions - Hardware Testing (RAM)

[lbrty]

Last Update: 2011-02-25

I have read and researched about light Linux distributions and decided to test each distribution for hardware requirements (specifically RAM). So far, I have tested the following distributions on VMware Player. They are sorted from lowest RAM usage with default installs and no modifications. I have added links of screenshots for reference.

Please supply feedback, experiences, or new distributions.

Results
Kolibri 0.7.7.0
6MB RAM
http://kolibrios.org/ (No search results on http://distrowatch.com/)
Screenshot: http://use.com/6MB_RAM_Kolibri_0_7_7...30d77faac24042

Damn Small Linux (DSL) 4.4.10
20.2MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=damnsmall
Screenshot: http://use.com/20_2MB_RAM_DSL_4_4_10...4149b41062caf3

Puppy Lucid 5.1.0
30MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=puppy
Screenshot: http://use.com/30MB_RAM_Puppy_Lucid_...e88ceae4a16b5d

Tiny Core Linux 3.1
32.9MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=tinycore
Screenshot: http://use.com/32_9MB_RAM_Tiny_Core_...2b004ed36de746

antiX M8.5
33.5MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=antix
Screenshot: http://use.com/33_5MB_RAM_antiX_M8_5...084afa0fb03ed6

SliTaz 3.0
35MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=SliTaz
Screenshot: http://use.com/35MB_RAM_SliTaz_3_0_cea69e863d31ef7bc3bb

Lubuntu 10.04
52MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=Lubuntu
Screenshot: http://use.com/52MB_RAM_Lubuntu_10_0...61f977a767dfc0

CrunchBang 9.04.01
63.07MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?dis...ion=CrunchBang
Screenshot: http://use.com/63_07MB_RAM_CrunchBan...d971e8270daace

wattOS R2
71.3MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=wattos
Screenshot: http://use.com/71_3MB_RAM_wattOS_R2_...2d257748eaaf15

Linux Mint 9 Fluxbox
76MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=mint
Screenshot: http://use.com/76MB_RAM_Linux_Mint_9...89775d4a2467f0

Linux Mint 9 LXDE
80MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=mint
Screenshot: http://use.com/80MB_RAM_Linux_Mint_9...c09fc2052ec63d

Peppermint One Respin 08042010
80MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?dis...ion=peppermint
Screenshot: http://use.com/80MB_RAM_Peppermint_O...c575f7df0285b7

Xubuntu 10.04
99.4MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=Xubuntu
Screenshot: http://use.com/99_4MB_RAM_Xubuntu_10...37d8a3b79af663

Linux Mint 9 XFCE
99.6MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=mint
Screenshot: http://use.com/99_6MB_RAM_Linux_Mint...9208b4071048dd

Fedora 13 LXDE Spin
106MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=fedora
Screenshot: http://use.com/106MB_RAM_Fedora_13_L...76459f1a5e8f94

Debian 5.06 LXDE
109.73MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=debian
Screenshot: http://use.com/109_73MB_RAM_Debian_5...65b2f133fe7677

Ubuntu 10.04.1 Lucid Lynx
115.4MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=Ubuntu
Screenshot: http://use.com/115_4MB_RAM_Ubuntu_10...13300814b16478

Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat
116.4MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=Ubuntu
Screenshot: http://use.com/116_4MB_RAM_Ubuntu_10...2d01699a38514a

Fedora 13 GNOME
117.8MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=fedora
Screenshot: http://use.com/117_8MB_RAM_Fedora_13...3383bd97f42994

Linux Mint 9 GNOME
119.5 RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=mint
Screenshot: http://use.com/119_5_RAM_Linux_Mint_...02c48f322bd473

Ylmf OS 3.0
125.9MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=ylmf
Screenshot: http://use.com/125_9MB_RAM_Ylmf_3_0_...e43d4ca8f65d29

Absolute Linux 13.1.5
160.42MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=absolute
Screenshot: http://use.com/160_42MB_RAM_Absolute...1c31dfa4b94b4f

Unity Linux 2010 Final
172.6MB RAM
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=unity
Screenshot: http://use.com/172_6MB_RAM_Unity_Lin...41a0cdb1ee77f2

[snowpine]

Very nice work! Thank you so much for running these tests; it is good to have solid numbers when making a decision.

[lbrty]

Thanks! I just wanted to give back to this great community! =)

[snowpine]

If you are taking suggestions for further testing, I suggest Debian + LXDE. I'd be curious to see how it stacks up to Lubuntu.

[mörgæs]

Good work. Bookmarked!

Maybe a comment or two for each distro would be helpful. Damn Small Linux seems to be a stalled project, for example.

[lbrty]

@snowpine
Thanks for the reply! That is a good idea! =) I am downloading the .iso file now.

@mörgæs
Thanks for the reply! I thought about doing so, however just wanted to keep the information as simple as possible. What type of comments would you put? =) Thanks!

[whoop]

tiny core

[lbrty]

@whoop
Thanks for the reply! The main reason I did not include Tiny Core Linux is do to the following statements from tinycorelinux.com:

It is not a complete desktop nor is all hardware completely supported.

The core runs entirely in ram...

I definitely like the idea of the OS, however was looking for light distros that offered more out-of-the-box and could install to a hard drive or flash device. What is your experience with Tiny Core Linux? Do you like the OS?

[whoop]

@whoop
Thanks for the reply! The main reason I did not include Tiny Core Linux is do to the following statements from tinycorelinux.com:

I definitely like the idea of the OS, however was looking for light distros that offered more out-of-the-box and could install to a hard drive or flash device. What is your experience with Tiny Core Linux? Do you like the OS?

Didn't really use it. I actually never "hands on" use these light distros. I installed it on some old hardware once to showcase some ancient code, that's about it...

For me it's basically, rich desktop or no desktop, so I guess I'm not the guy to ask.

[jmszr]

lbrty,

Thanks much for making the time and effort to run these tests. This information should prove quite useful.