Choosing a Linux distro for a virtual machine

[jeorge_kabbi]

i use parallels software on windows 7 host machine . for security reasons (yes i browse porn sites) i would like to use a linux distro inside a parallels virtual machine to access the internet.

what Linux distro has :
1- firefox or chromium browser.

2- can establish ssh tunneling (porn are not allowed in our country so i have to use ssh tunnel to bypass that) . i use the following terminal command to do that
ssh -p22 -D3000 -C -N username at address

3- as lightweight as possible.

thank you

[jayd512]

Hello and Welcome!

In order, as best as I can answer:

1. Both browsers are either included, or easily installed. Either way, one of them is the default.
2. Any modern distro can handle ssh. It's a standard package.
3. This one is a little more difficult... see below

Lightweight might mean cutting a few corners, and then you may need to install certain programs after the fact.
But for true lightweight... antiX, MEPIS, SlackWare or Debian.
Others come to mind, but would require some command line skills or the desire to dig around with your system.
So on that note... CRUX, Arch or Gentoo.

[Leeky]

I'd recommend Debian. Do a netinstall, and just install the standard utilities and not graphical environment. Then install XFCE4 (as root, apt-get install xfce4 xfce4-goodies) and that'll give you a lightweight, reliable Linux installation with a low memory footprint. From there you can install any web browser you prefer.

[jeorge_kabbi]

I'd recommend Debian. Do a netinstall, and just install the standard utilities and not graphical environment. Then install XFCE4 (as root, apt-get install xfce4 xfce4-goodies) and that'll give you a lightweight, reliable Linux installation with a low memory footprint. From there you can install any web browser you prefer.

the beauty of Linux is the sheer magnitude of customization available at your arsenal. i am perfectly aware that i can make a customized Linux distribution tailored to my needs ,even 100% matching my needs if i want.
however unfortunately i neither have the technical knowledge nor the time to learn how to do so.

thank you very much for your response ,highly appreciated.

[jayd512]

Actually...
Considering the requirements that you listed above, those steps are the best thing that I could offer, as well!

[Jonathan183]

just install Debian Xfce version ... use the xfce CD for i386 see here

[jeorge_kabbi]

Actually...
Considering the requirements that you listed above, those steps are the best thing that I could offer, as well!

mate , i wish i have the technical level you have . i would LOVE to play with linux but i rather have other stuff to do.

[jeorge_kabbi]

just install Debian Xfce version ... use the xfce CD for i386 see [******************************"]here[/URL]

while following the links mentioned in jayd512's signature i came across "browserlinux" ,it is a distro made for browsing the internet and it have got firefox as a browser and very lightweight. i tried it and it is perfect except that i have to install "parallels Tools" software so that the mouse will become smooth moving.
unfortunately i could not install that due to some error regarding non presence of gcc compiler which means i have to be super hero to install that software.

i wish that windows XP is purchasable

but thanks i will try this and get back.

[MikeTbob]

You probably just need to use the package manager for "browserlinux" and use that to install GCC. No super hero needed or required but if you have one, that would be a bonus.

[jonyo]

3- as lightweight as possible.

you can run a ~ 100mb pup iso in vmware easy, 2 unknowns though...

dunno if the running in root brouhaha bothers you,

dunno what the story is with pup & 'establishing ssh tunneling'

might work for you also -> 7z ~ 313mb
ht tp://browser.shell.tor.hu/

Overview
The Browser Appliance is a ready-to-use virtual machine, which allows to:

browse the World Wild Web without ever worrying of being 0wned by a malicious web page,
start experimenting with an Enterprise-class Linux distribution without rebooting or installing anything else than the vmplayer.

The Operating System and Browser are encapsulated in a disposable virtual machine.
If anything goes wrong, delete and start over again; your underlying Operating System will not be modified.

ht tp://browser.shell.tor.hu/

-Build Date /Browser Version /Linux Distribution /Kernel Version /VMware Tools /MD5sum

-Nov10,2011 /Firefox 8.0 /Scientific Linux 6.0 /2.6.32-131.17.1.el6 /8.3.12-493255
/3b30c5f910f160a39bfd88ebc5f5ab8b