[Rule-list] (no subject)

[Chuck Moss]

Just wanted to drop a note and let you all know my thoughts on the project.
(btw, just suggestions to get the thoughts rolling)

What I would like to see is a modified installer that allows your to
install via a floppy image in less than 32 MB ram.  This would use the
stock redhat CDs.

I think the anaconda installer resides on the boot floppy image.  
I haven't dug into this lately so I am not sure if it is dependent on any
other pieces after the initial boot.

So how about we patch anaconda to do the following:

1. default to text based install
2. ignore dependency checking - we would be able to generate the rpm list
with a manual install then dump a list of installed packages.
3. read packages from file rather than UI. (kickstart?)

Then we can concentrate on developing canned configs for special purposes.
e.g. 
firewall
webserver
file server
email server
dns server
small desktop (icewm, blackbox, fvwm)
etc.

The potential user could acquire redhat 7.2 CDs, download an applicable floppy
image, then boot with the floppy to perform a base install.
(if missing a CDRom a network install could be attempted)

After the base install got the box on the network users could install other
packages with up2date or other rpm based tools.

I think these days it would be close to impossible to get a usable redhat
install without a CDrom or network card.

I need to review the original enigma thread myself to see what actually
uses up all the resources.


What do you think?


-- 

Chuck Moss