Hello everyone,
I am interested in building a Linux blackbox. The typical distros that I switch between are Slackware and Debian. When I do a typical install of these distro, I pretty much install everything. Once I configure a system for a specific need I would like to strip off the unnecesary "stuff". For example, the Web server, GCC compiler need not be on this black box anymore. It is easy to remove them as well. How do you determine the dependency chain for the "removable" tools?
I do think leaving the GCC compiler on it is important since there are patches and kernel updates to be installed frequently.
Regardless the function of the blackbox, what are the minimum set of tools that need to be left alone on a black box system?
Thank you in advance for any information.
On Tue, Jul 29, 2003 at 07:38:38AM -0400, Subba Rao wrote:
I have not done something like this, but let me take a guess anyway.
How do you determine the dependency chain for the "removable" tools?
If you use Debian, you can choose to install only the base packages, which are installed and ready to work when you reboot _during_ the installation process. If you abort the process at that stage, you have a complete working Debian box, with only basic things like shell(s), editor(s), various scripts related to the working of the system, etc.
So now if you want a box for a very specific task, simply "apt-get install" that particular software, APT will take care of the dependencies involved.
cruft, orphaner, foster - interesting tools that won't do the job for you, but that come in handy.
Regardless the function of the blackbox, what are the minimum set of tools that need to be left alone on a black box system?
That would depend on how low you want to bend to reach into the operating system itself, right? Just a shot in the dark ... maybe something like LFS or Gentoo might provide more flexibility than any "higher level" distro, including Debian. I have never tried either of these, so wouldn't really know.
Sameer.
On Tuesday 29 July 2003 17:08, Subba Rao wrote:
Hello everyone,
I am interested in building a Linux blackbox.
What is it's function. That wolud decide what packages go into it.
Regardless the function of the blackbox, what are the minimum set of
tools
that need to be left alone on a black box system?
Single floppy distros exist which give u everything u wanted (without paying for hardware). I had run 2.2.14 with 12 MB ram on a 486. uclinux based stuff runs off 8MB flash and 16MB ram - 3 chips if u use M68k based device.
rgds jtdsouza@yahoo.com
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J. T. D'souza -
Sameer D. Sahasrabuddhe -
Subba Rao