setting up router

donkey42 · 11-03-2008, 09:29 PM

trying to config my router, after a lot of pleading with my carer, i now have 2 machines working on my desk (looks a mess)

i'm wanting to connect the new router to the old machine (P200 + 64Mb Edo) & researching the correct settings on my usual machine, now the question, which distro would run ok on an old P200 & 64Mb ?

Anti-Trend · 11-03-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donkey42

...which distro would run ok on an old P200 & 64Mb ?

Well, I'd say "not Ubuntu".

If it was me, I'd do a minimal Debian installation with one of either Windowmaker, IceWM, or Blackbox for the desktop environment. With only 64mb of RAM, even Xfce wouldn't be extremely comfortable, though it would work. Gnome or KDE are right out, as they'd cause your system to swap with only 64mb.

donkey42 · 11-03-2008, 09:10 PM

was looking around the net like a lost kid, because i didn't know what OS to use, i know *buntu requires 256Mb, so, i knew that was out

BTW: thankies AT, u da man, thanks

Anti-Trend · 11-03-2008, 09:57 PM

If you choose to go with Debian, here's a link to an Etch net install image: http://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/...86-netinst.iso

donkey42 · 12-03-2008, 02:52 PM

yes, i did go with debi, but, the net install wouldn't work, because, the crappy system is connected to my new router, but, is not connected to my ADSL line, so, i DLed debian-40r3-i386-xfce-CD-1.iso, however, more problems, the following error is repeated & scrolling over & over & covering the screen

Code:

Out of Memory: Kill process 2 (ksoftirqd/0) score 0 a children.

now if i analyse the error message

Out of memory: obvious - not enough RAM, even though debi with xfce should work with even with only 32Mb
Kill process 2: unknown, presumably the process assigned to process 2 has being terminated for some reason
(ksoftirqd/0): presumably the "ksoft" refers to "KDE" even though the iso includes "xfce" & the "irq" refers to an interrupt request somewhere
d/0: unknown
score 0: unknown
and children - obviously (i think) this refers to the dependants of "ksoftirqd"

this error has being constantly occurring for about 5 hours

i would like help with the debugging of this error message, because, i want to use my new router

i've searched google & apparently i need more RAM (128 Mb) so, i'll ask my carer tomorrow to add more RAM (from another system i got off Freecycle), i'll update when i've added more RAM, but, in the meantime, i'd appreciate help with this error

Edit: after a bit more googleing i found this error refers to onboard NIC on this crappy Dell Optiplex Gn+,

BTW: i did enable memory hole (15 - 16Mb) because it was disabled, but, i think that refers to graphics

still searching

Anti-Trend · 12-03-2008, 07:04 PM

After you put in the disc and the splash screen for the installer comes up, type

Code:

lowmem

It will try to be as conservative as possible with your RAM during the install, thus reducing the required amount of RAM for the installation dramatically.

donkey42 · 12-03-2008, 07:30 PM

thankies, i need to learn all these CLI tags, anymore words of wisdom from the master ?

donkey42 · 12-03-2008, 07:45 PM

more problems, debi couldn't find the lowmem kernel

BTW: searching net

Anti-Trend · 12-03-2008, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donkey42

thankies, i need to learn all these CLI tags, anymore words of wisdom from the master ?

At the bootup screen, you can use the F1 key to get a help index of "cheat codes" to use in order to start off the installer the way you want. BTW, I think my memory was a bit off on the low memory installation. You only need 16mb of RAM to use the debian installer, at least the non-graphical one. You would start the installer using the following:

Code:

expert

When you get a bit further, you'll be asked which installer components you want to load. Find the low-memory option in the list and select it before proceeding.

donkey42 · 12-03-2008, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AT

At the bootup screen, you can use the F1 key to get a help index of "cheat codes"

already looked there

BTW: i can be a nosey tw4t

Quote:

Originally Posted by AT

You only need 16mb of RAM to use the debian installer

& 32Mb to install a usable GUI, correct ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by AT

Find the low-memory option in the list and select it before proceeding.

like the lowmem kernel

BTW: thankies AT

what are things like the lowmem tags actually called, so, i can look them up on wiki ?

donkey42 · 12-03-2008, 08:33 PM

guess what, it didn't work, after it verifies the image is initramfs it just starts scrolling the same error as before

Quote:

Out of Memory: Kill process 2 (ksoftirqd/0) score 0 a children.

BTW: still searching

Fred · 12-03-2008, 10:08 PM

I'm not super familiar with your particular problem, but here are some words from debian on the matter: Installations on Systems with Low memory

Anti-Trend · 13-03-2008, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred

I'm not super familiar with your particular problem, but here are some words from debian on the matter: Installations on Systems with Low memory

It's been a long time since I've had to install Debian on a PC that low-end, so I decided to do a mock low memory install in Virtualbox. I gave the virtual machine only 64mb of RAM to split between the system and the video card. When the Etch installer started, it automatically told me it would go into low-memory mode since the machine didn't have much RAM.

One thing you can do to see perhaps more symptoms of what's going wrong is to switch to another VT during the time when the problem occurs. If there is something interesting in the logs, you can potentially see it there on one of the first few VTs (VTs 3&4 if memory serves -- VirtualBox doesn't yet have a mechanism to catch the hotkeys in order to switch VTs for a guest OS). To switch virtual terminals, you'll need to use the multi-key keystrokes of Ctrl+Alt+F# where F# = one of the function keys at the top of your keyboard. I realize that if you don't have full use of both hands this would be very difficult, so you might have to use an implement like a writing utensil held in the mouth to complete the keystroke. Sorry!

11-03-2008, 09:29 PM	#1 (permalink) Top
donkey42 Paranoid Geeky Geek Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 34 Male Posts: 5,826 Times Helpful: 309 My Mood: Paranoid Status: Offline My Computer	setting up router trying to config my router, after a lot of pleading with my carer, i now have 2 machines working on my desk (looks a mess) i'm wanting to connect the new router to the old machine (P200 + 64Mb Edo) & researching the correct settings on my usual machine, now the question, which distro would run ok on an old P200 & 64Mb ? __________________ GRUB manual \| Google Linux \| Distrowatch \| Linux Chix \| Kubuntu \| My Mini City

11-03-2008, 09:10 PM	#3 (permalink) Top
donkey42 Paranoid Geeky Geek Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 34 Male Posts: 5,826 Times Helpful: 309 My Mood: Paranoid Status: Offline My Computer	was looking around the net like a lost kid, because i didn't know what OS to use, i know *buntu requires 256Mb, so, i knew that was out BTW: thankies AT, u da man, thanks __________________ GRUB manual \| Google Linux \| Distrowatch \| Linux Chix \| Kubuntu \| My Mini City

11-03-2008, 09:57 PM	#4 (permalink) Top
Anti-Trend Nonconformist Geek Join Date: Oct 2003 Age: 27 Male Posts: 4,882 Times Helpful: 538 Status: Offline My Computer	If you choose to go with Debian, here's a link to an Etch net install image: http://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/...86-netinst.iso __________________ See My Desktop \| Try Linux \| Install Linux \| Visit My Server \| Support Hardware Forums \| Easily rip DVDs in Linux \| Remember Everything

12-03-2008, 02:52 PM	#5 (permalink) Top
donkey42 Paranoid Geeky Geek Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 34 Male Posts: 5,826 Times Helpful: 309 My Mood: Paranoid Status: Offline My Computer	yes, i did go with debi, but, the net install wouldn't work, because, the crappy system is connected to my new router, but, is not connected to my ADSL line, so, i DLed debian-40r3-i386-xfce-CD-1.iso, however, more problems, the following error is repeated & scrolling over & over & covering the screen Code: Out of Memory: Kill process 2 (ksoftirqd/0) score 0 a children. now if i analyse the error message Out of memory: obvious - not enough RAM, even though debi with xfce should work with even with only 32Mb Kill process 2: unknown, presumably the process assigned to process 2 has being terminated for some reason (ksoftirqd/0): presumably the "ksoft" refers to "KDE" even though the iso includes "xfce" & the "irq" refers to an interrupt request somewhere d/0: unknown score 0: unknown and children - obviously (i think) this refers to the dependants of "ksoftirqd" this error has being constantly occurring for about 5 hours i would like help with the debugging of this error message, because, i want to use my new router i've searched google & apparently i need more RAM (128 Mb) so, i'll ask my carer tomorrow to add more RAM (from another system i got off Freecycle), i'll update when i've added more RAM, but, in the meantime, i'd appreciate help with this error Edit: after a bit more googleing i found this error refers to onboard NIC on this crappy Dell Optiplex Gn+, BTW: i did enable memory hole (15 - 16Mb) because it was disabled, but, i think that refers to graphics still searching __________________ GRUB manual \| Google Linux \| Distrowatch \| Linux Chix \| Kubuntu \| My Mini City Last edited by donkey42; 12-03-2008 at 03:08 PM. Reason: edit

12-03-2008, 07:04 PM	#6 (permalink) Top
Anti-Trend Nonconformist Geek Join Date: Oct 2003 Age: 27 Male Posts: 4,882 Times Helpful: 538 Status: Offline My Computer	After you put in the disc and the splash screen for the installer comes up, type Code: lowmem It will try to be as conservative as possible with your RAM during the install, thus reducing the required amount of RAM for the installation dramatically. __________________ See My Desktop \| Try Linux \| Install Linux \| Visit My Server \| Support Hardware Forums \| Easily rip DVDs in Linux \| Remember Everything

12-03-2008, 07:30 PM	#7 (permalink) Top
donkey42 Paranoid Geeky Geek Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 34 Male Posts: 5,826 Times Helpful: 309 My Mood: Paranoid Status: Offline My Computer	thankies, i need to learn all these CLI tags, anymore words of wisdom from the master ? __________________ GRUB manual \| Google Linux \| Distrowatch \| Linux Chix \| Kubuntu \| My Mini City

12-03-2008, 07:45 PM	#8 (permalink) Top
donkey42 Paranoid Geeky Geek Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 34 Male Posts: 5,826 Times Helpful: 309 My Mood: Paranoid Status: Offline My Computer	more problems, debi couldn't find the lowmem kernel BTW: searching net __________________ GRUB manual \| Google Linux \| Distrowatch \| Linux Chix \| Kubuntu \| My Mini City

12-03-2008, 10:08 PM	#12 (permalink) Top
Fred Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Age: 23 Male Posts: 659 Times Helpful: 37 Status: Offline My Computer	I'm not super familiar with your particular problem, but here are some words from debian on the matter: Installations on Systems with Low memory

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