Improved Linux Installation Technique For Dialup

[Uriah]

To The Linux Community:

Here is an idea. Instead of downloading an entire 700 MB + iso (iso's) with the chance of transmission errors multiplying as each distro becomes larger with every new release, why not write the core kernel in such a manner that only the basic services are installed to provide basic command line ( and menu ) access to the internet in the 1st install stage. After that the basic slimmed down GNU distro could be installed, rebooted / init'd to provide a basic bridge to the internet for installation of stage 2 with even more elaborate services provided, including a verification mechanism for each new package downloaded to ensure accuracy. Then the second stage of packages could be installed. Then if need be a third, fourth, etc. Each stage's installation could of course be automated. Similar to downloading by Linspire's Click and Run Library although this would install numerous packages for each succeding stage needed. Once each new stage was downloaded and installed the system would be rebooted and revitalized in succession for a increasingly more robust and complete Linux system. I'm sure that this would require a major rewrite of the way the Linux is currently packaged and installed but think of the benefits. One could download and install a major distro like Redhat, SuSe, Debian, Gentoo, Mandriva, etc. with just a minimal system and only dialup internet access. This could make Linux available to a much larger audience then is currently addressed now. Currently most of the major distro's are only available REALISTICALLY online through broadband DSL or Cable and where a dialup download is almost out of the question unless you have weeks to spare and an excellent download manager installed. So instead of the Mega/Giga Byte Monolithic Downloads now required by many distro's why not download and install Linux in stages ? Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

Your Friend, Uriah
Yes, "We are our brothers keeper."

[Roxoff]

I think there are already distributions around that do this. DSL is similar to this to a point - you download a small CD image then you can add to it, and you can add source packages from the internet and build bits onto it.

I thought Knoppix operated this way too, but I could be wrong.

[Uriah]

Thanks Roxoff.

This wasn't exactly what I had in mind. I realize that DSL (Darn Small Linux) is not much more then a 50 MB Compressed Download which of course can be expanded into a larger system which I think is great. Unfortunately if you read their website, DSL plans to stay with the 2.4 kernel for compatability with older systems which may forsake some of the newer features available under the newer 2.6 kernel. DSL says they have no plans to migrate to the 2.6 kernel.

Knoppix I believe is a much larger install which I know is available on Live CD. I am not seraching for a small distro for download purposes, but what I was proposing was a 'New Distribution System', wherby any distro from 1.44 MB floppy distro, 100 MB zip drive, 700 MB CD, or 4 Gigabyte DVD size Distro's could be downloaded and installed by common carrier dialup download 56K, 33.6K, or even 28.8K Modem. The question would not be the size of the distro or the speed of the download, but rather the ability of anyone anywhere to have access to, and be able to automatically install, through a successive series of download and build stages, very large and complete distributions. Including distributions like SuSe 10x, Red Hat 9x, FC 5, etc. It would be a matter of repackaging and installation in stages rather then the current Gigabit Monolithic Download and Install. This would give anyone with standard dialup service access to any size Linux Distribution, AND, 'WITHOUT BROADBAND ACCESS'. I personally think this would be a tremendous achievment. This is one way of 'bridging the digital divide' and I would personally like to be involved with such a project. Remember not everyone has the ability to pay $5, $10 or more for a Linux CD. It may seem cheap to us, but to many in third world countries in Africa where many are starving, any amount of money is out of the question. Some places it might even be difficult or impossible to make a CD delivery by standard post.

Please let me know your thoughts, thanks.

Your Friend, Uriah
Yes - "We are our brothers keeper."

[techieMoe]

From what I can tell, you've just described both the SuSE and Debian Net Install methods. Not exactly a new idea.

[Uriah]

Thanks techieMoe,

I don't believe that I said 'new' idea just 'an' idea. And you are absolutely right about the net installs from SuSE, etc.; Also although not a 'True' Linux there is also Net BSD which we could technically include here which has been around for ages.

I don't know how I got from the Installation Forum Site To The Coffee Lounge but anyway thanks for the invite. I hope you have some fresh Starbucks Coffee brewing.

Your Friend, Uriah
Yes - "We are our brothers keeper."

[techieMoe]

I don't know how I got from the Installation Forum Site To The Coffee Lounge but anyway thanks for the invite. I hope you have some fresh Starbucks Coffee brewing.

I moved it. I generally do that for posts that aren't really questions, more discussions.

[onlinebacon]

There are already distributions like this, gentoo offers a minimal install image, debian does too, that's what you are looking for right, a net install image, does what you want it to.

[budman7]

I moved it. I generally do that for posts that aren't really questions, more discussions.

That explains my confusion.
I read this topic in the Installation forum, then I saw it here, I was all set with my explanation about double-posting, but I couldn't find the original thread.

On topic, doing a net-install via dialup, to me that seems like it would be more work than to download a 700 MB iso.

[cayalee]

i dont really get where your coming from.. at the end of the day, you've still got to get a lot of data down a very slow line, wether its done in seperate stages or one big download.
to be honest, where people dont have food or houses, i doubt they are really in need of computers. and if not, then they can get a free ubuntu disc from that shipit organisation.

[techieMoe]

i
to be honest, where people dont have food or houses, i doubt they are really in need of computers. and if not, then they can get a free ubuntu disc from that shipit organisation.

But since Ubuntu is a bare-bones distro, they'll likely still end up having to download lots of packages over a very slow connection before they can do much with it.