Skip site navigation (1)Skip section navigation (2)
Date:      Thu, 27 Aug 1998 18:17:46 -0400 (EDT)
From:      The Classiest Man Alive <ksmm@threespace.com>
To:        freebsd-newbies@FreeBSD.ORG
Subject:   Re: Back on topic...
Message-ID:  <Pine.BSI.3.95.980827180806.25264A-100000@shell1.cybercom.net>
In-Reply-To: <3.0.3.32.19980827152357.009063e0@honk.org>

next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
Netscape is an extreme case in FreeBSD.  It uses more memory than anything
I've seen, but there's nothing I know of that can replace it (i.e., I'm
glad there *is* a Netscape for FreeBSD).  32 MB RAM minimum, 64 MB if
possible.

For a minimum system running X Windows, I think a fast 486 with a good
video adapter would be sufficient.  This is how I started running XFree86,
and I don't ever recall wanting for more speed at the time.  16 MB RAM
would do, but I'd recommend 32 MB.

For a non-graphical environement, virtually any 486 is sufficient.  Disk
I/O might suffer at this point, but most console apps work fine.  16 MB
should do the trick.

Storage-wise, I can take up 1.75 GB or more with one of my "package happy"
installations.  When space or time dictate that I do otherwise, I can get
by with around 500-600 MB for a good development system with X, or about
half that without the comprehensive development tools (a user system).  I
did once install a working FreeBSD 2.2.x system onto a zip cartridge, but
it only had tools enough to administer the system (not much fun to use).
Plus the speed left something to be desired. :-)

K.S.



On Thu, 27 Aug 1998, Martin Poulin wrote:

: I know the Handbook says at least a 386DX with 8MB of RAM is 
: the recommended minimum, but let's be a little more realistic.
: 
: What would you consider to be the minimum system to have a 
: decent installation of FreeBSD running? Also, what do you 
: think would be a good amount of disk space to set aside for
: FreeBSD (I guess that depends on what you plan to install).
: 
: For that matter, what do you consider a "decent installation"?
: 
: I am currently running 2.2.7-release with full sources, X, and
: a few ports (Netscape, XFMail, FVWM2, XMame, rxvt...) on a 
: 486DX4 100 with 16MB RAM and 540MB HD.
: 
: I find that I am running into 2 problems: 
: 
: - X runs VERY slowly at times - especially running Netscape and XMame.
:   (I never realized Pac-Man could be soooo slow).
: 
: - I have run out of disk space.  (95% capacity in /usr if I delete
:   my Netscape cache - otherwise 106% capacity!!)
: 
: So in my case, a 486 with 16 MB ram is way too slow, and I need tons
: more disk space.  If I wasn't running X, it would be a different story.
: 
: The first time I installed FreeBSD, I installed 2.2.5-release on 250MB.
: (The same 486 system dual-booting with win95)
: No sources, no X, just a bare-bones install that worked quite nicely.  
: I even had room to install a few of my favorite apps (pine, lynx etc.)
: 
: So in my opinion, you can definitely run FreeBSD quite well on a small
: system, as long as you do a small install.
: If you want a kick-ass install, you simply need a bigger system.
: 
: Funny - the reason I got this little system to begin with was to use it
: as a firewall for the bigger system that I planned to buy to run Windows. 
: Now I still want the bigger system, but not for Windows any more!
: 
: m.
: 
: 
: To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org
: with "unsubscribe freebsd-newbies" in the body of the message
: 


To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org
with "unsubscribe freebsd-newbies" in the body of the message



Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?Pine.BSI.3.95.980827180806.25264A-100000>