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    Linux on 8GB SSD?

    Discussion in 'Linux Compatibility and Software' started by Starlight5, Jan 1, 2015.

  1. Starlight5

    Starlight5 Yes, I'm a cat. What else is there to say, really?

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    I might purchase the cheapest mSATA SSD available (which turns out to be 8GB) for some project. If it survives, I would want to use it, and the only option I see is an OS drive. Hence the question - are there any Linux distros around that would occupy less than 7GB of space with necessary for the laptop in signature drivers, audio&video players with all codecs, torrent app, and graphical remote access from Android?
     
    Starlight5, Jan 1, 2015
    #1
  2. Teraforce

    Teraforce Flying through life

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    I've installed older versions of ubuntu (9.10) on my 16-year-old Dell Dimension XPS R400 with plenty of room to spare on its 12GB hard drive for other things. It obviously didn't have remote graphical access from Android, but Android had barely even existed then. If you want to go super-extreme, there's always DSL (D*** Small Linux), which clocks in at just 50MB! (before drivers, A/V players, codecs, apps, etc.)

    Have you tried searching for "Lightweight Linux Distros" on the internet?
     
    Teraforce, Jan 1, 2015
    #2
  3. Primes

    Primes Notebook Deity

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    I just looked and my Linux Mint 17 Cinnamon install is using 6.04gb and that's with libreoffice installed. I would think most mainstream distros could be installed with your size requirement. You'll have to go with no swap space, or make it really small.
     
    Primes, Jan 1, 2015
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  4. tmpfs

    tmpfs Notebook Enthusiast

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    A trimmed down version of Debian would certainly satisfy your requirements. You see, OpenWrt, also a Linux distro, can perfectly perform with several hundred of megabytes.
     
    tmpfs, Jan 3, 2015
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  5. PlaneRider404

    PlaneRider404 Notebook Guru

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    Another option is to boot/run your Linux from a USB memory-stick. You can easily get a 32gb or 64gb USB memory stick and install your linux on it, if you don't mind having to plug-in a USB key when you want to run Linux.
     
    PlaneRider404, Jan 3, 2015
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  6. tareyza

    tareyza Notebook Consultant

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    Ubuntu 14.04.1 recommends at least 6.5GB on their official website (the OS itself is I believe ~4GB), which is less than 8. Although you wouldn't have much room for additional programs. :p
     
    tareyza, Jan 3, 2015
    #6
  7. ajkula66

    ajkula66 Courage and Consequence

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    Not a direct answer to your question, but...

    A 24-32GB mSATA can be had for less than $20 nowadays, and that would give you an abundance of space for just about any *nix install.

    Edit: just looked at my CentOS install and it's 5.1GB...but I still wouldn't want it on anything under 24GB...
     
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2015
    ajkula66, Jan 3, 2015
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  8. Starlight5

    Starlight5 Yes, I'm a cat. What else is there to say, really?

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    Thanks for suggestions everyone. :)
     
    Starlight5, Jan 5, 2015
    #8