Help with a distro decision

**mrhobbeys** · 05-12-2005

Hey guys this seemed like the best place to put this one. I am going to put Linux in my truck and I need to know what distro I should go with?

Short description;

I have an 88 Chevy 1500
I will be putting a Linux system in it
It will be a data logger to start with but in the end it will be the ECU
I have a touch screen that I know nothing about that I need to make work.
This is a pre curser project to a kit car that will be built in about 4 years and the entire car will be run by Linux.

More details for those still with me;

I have many computers to chose from the one that I wouldn’t mind as much to take a risk with is a Compaq with a 333 Celeron with 256 ram 20 gig HD I don’t know what board is in there it is what ever came with it originally. After I get things figured out and know I won’t be frying anything I have an ASUS P2B F with a 500 PIII and 1 gig ram 80 gig HD.

It will start out as a data logger so I know what is going on with the stock ECU I have a tester unit that allows me to connect to the car and see what is going on but it is not mine so I can use it, destroy it, or even take it apart. After I know what is going on I will start to add features until the system runs the entire car.

The truck is an 88 Chevy 1500 with a 305 TBI and a 700R4. I had actually started researching this project when I had a 93 Mazda MX-6 (it was destroyed by a drunk driver) and the more I find out the better off I think I am that I have a much simpler system to work with now but I do miss my car.

Right now I am just looking the “right” distro to use I have experience with Red Hat, Debian, Slackware, and SuSe.
The touch screen came from a super market thing and I have to find out how to make that work too. It’s a Sharp and I will post the model number later if anyone knows about them and thinks they can help.

Thanks for any help
Spencer Heckathorn

**jaboua** · 05-12-2005

Maybe trying LFS? Seems like the distro would be very customized anyway, so why not strip away what you don't need?

**zachtib** · 05-12-2005

http://www.dashpc.com
I'm working on a similar project into my 94 Saturn.
I'm currently working on building a distro from Linux from scratch that will use the dashpc interface and will function as a DVD player/ gps navigation/ wardriving tool, etc, though ive still got a long way to go.

**Salient** · 05-12-2005

PCLinuxOS ... check it out if you get some time ... I have ran alot of distro's looking for one i like - i am keeping this one.

Linux -blog and Mrs.Devnet gave it a 10 out of 10 - even beat out Mepis.
http://linux-blog.org/index.php?/arc...al-Rating.html

**adrenaline** · 05-12-2005

Originally Posted by Salient

PCLinuxOS ... check it out if you get some time ... I have ran alot of distro's looking for one i like - i am keeping this one.

Linux -blog and Mrs.Devnet gave it a 10 out of 10 - even beat out Mepis.
http://linux-blog.org/index.php?/arc...al-Rating.html

I agree it is a great starter distro and you can test it because it is also a live cd

**mrhobbeys** · 05-14-2005

Maybe trying LFS? Seems like the distro would be very customized anyway, so why not strip away what you don't need?

I was kinda confused but what you are saying???

As for the PCLinuxOS fans I will check it out and tell you what I think.

And to zachtib sounds cool but that would be my last step and I acctually would have all of the entirtainment stuff on another computer. This is due to the fact that the ecu is so critical to safe operation that I wont be running anything but that on one PC (I had cd before the edit LOL).

**zachtib** · 05-14-2005

all right, its gonna be a good year at least before my distro is ready to use, anyway

LFS is something called Linux From Scratch, and Its used for building very specific and customized distros. If you're up to it, that would probably be your best bet for what you want to do. www.linuxfromscratch.org

**VashOnFS** · 05-14-2005

And here I was, not even knowing I could put Linux in a car...

**zachtib** · 05-14-2005

Originally Posted by VashOnFS

And here I was, not even knowing I could put Linux in a car...

Not only can you put linux in a car, but if you do, your car will probably crash less.

**mrhobbeys** · 05-18-2005

Well I have been reading about the LFS and that sounds very much like the one I am going to use. I think it will take longer but I can say that because I dont think there is a chevy truck distro lol...

Well I will be back later to post what is going on.

Thanks for the help.

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