ISO's & Archives

[sonicx059]

As you can tell by my post count I am new here, so Hi there! =) I'm sonicx059 ITT Tech student and a fan of linux Distros.

I like trying different linux distros but I have a problem with downloading them. My only connection to the internets is through my school's internet. Everytime I try to download an ISO the school resets the connection. I couldn't even download DSL. The solution; download the iso's that 's been archived. So far the only distro I could download is slax because of the .tar download option.
~P.S. Buying anything is currently out of the question so those suggestions might be ignored.

With that story out of the way do anyone no of a server that has ISO's in an Archive file of some sort. Thanks in Advance

[hugortega]

There are other options:
* Request a free CD from ubuntu
* Use a torrent client (unless it is restricted on your school)
* Somebody who can split the iso file into many pieces, put them available, and when you have all pieces join them into a single iso file.

[oz]

Welcome to the forums!

If they will work for you, I think you can find some img files in some of the mirrors listed here:

ibiblio linux archive



Edit: for instance, there are some img files on this mirror:

ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distribu...x/iso/2009.08/

[sonicx059]

* The free CD from ubuntu, can I request them to give me other ditros? I have copies of ubuntu 9.10 and 9.04 I am looking into trying other distros.

* Yes torrent clients are restricted at my school

* I have hope that someone has the ability to pack an iso in an archive file then make that possible for download.

~ Also I already have several distros on CD including Ubuntu 9.10, Ubuntu 9.04, Kubuntu 9.04, CentOS, Fedora 11. I have a friend getting me a copy of Kubuntu 9.10 and Xubuntu 9.10.

~ Alas the final problem. I will be attempting to run the distros I acquire on some pretty old equipment.
specs:
Laptop
Dell INSPIRON 1100
ram 128mb
Intel 845GL Graphics
2.0 GHz Intel Celeron

Desktop
1.8GHz prossor
ram 448mb
Compaq ?????
graphics ?????
The desktop can run ubuntu but the laptop can not because of ram limitations.

Thanks for the greeting and I am checking out the link already.

[D-cat]

SuSE 10 works okay on the laptop (you have to pre-partition with swap space first though or the installer will tank), but it's slow, the aging and lack of support would suggest you try a lighter distro.

Though I haven't tried it in my now all but completely dead 1100, I'd think that Vector 6 Light (slackware w/ IceWM) would work quite well based on my experience with similarly spec'ed desktops.

You also might want to seek out the Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts ... they've been friendly and receptive to me in the past; you might find a member or two willing to help you out.

[sonicx059]

I am going to seek the Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts. I feel like I should kick myself for not getting their help when I met them at my shool.
Again the school will not let me download Vector 6. I am going to write a letter detailing the reasons they should allow the downloads of linux ISOs.

[D-cat]

...or maybe they could host a local Linux distro mirror for student access. That way they could be sure that the iso downloads are legit and it wouldn't have a major impact on their external bandwidth (the two reasons I can think of for blocking iso downloads... most on the net are pirate Windows programs and their large sizes can lead to large bandwidth bills). Keeping local ISO stores of only the latest versions of the most popular distros should have little effect on storage space in a tech school server.

My list would be Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSuse, CentOS, Knoppix, Puppy, DSL, and Vector. A utility distro like the PartedMagic CD would not be a bad idea either. This covers almost the full range of computers still in operation today and may help in some computer classes (CentOS is effectively rebranded RedHat). They don't have to keep mirrors of the repos and updates (though most of the major tech schools do) since those files are not filtered, just the ISO's should be sufficient. It comes to about 50 GB for just the ISOs (see attachment)... like I said, that's a pin drop for a modern tech school server.

If the netmin(s) doesn't want to host even that little space for what would probably only be a small cross-section of students, they (or you) may consider polling students on campus to find out what they want to see available.

[sonicx059]

Wow, thanks for the detailed response. I only thought they did it to block pirated copies of Windows but you have opened my eyes.

Thanks this also gives me an Idea as a project for the student organization I co-founded.