Re: Linux vs. DOS

"Buchanan, James (Jim)" wrote:

> From: "Buchanan, James (Jim)" <jambuch@...>
>
> Hi:
> Just returned form the University surplus equipment sale where I
> purchased a skid of PC gear for $15 because I needed a new paper tray
> for my laser printer. Besides getting a Laser Printer which I have not
> tested yet, I got a PS/2 8555 which is a 386sx 6meg ram and 60mg
> hardrive.
>
> Can I run Linux on this system? If so how do I easly get a copy and
> what version do I need? What additional tools do I need (compilers)? Do
> I need realtime code? If so where do i get it? and what version. My
> plans are to build a stepper motor drive for a small mill. But first I
> just want to run some stepper motors to get a better understanding of
> CAM. I design my parts using Autocad.

Probably not. I don't think MCA systems are supported. Servo
control is out, as the supported servo card is ISA. 6 MB is awfully
small. Linux would probably run (badly), but it really is too small
to do serious work in. The 60 MB hard drive is hopeless.
I was not able to put a reasonable subset of linux on a 600 MB
disk. The kernel and a couple small utilities can fit on a floppy,
but if you want compilers, libraries, help files, kernel source, etc.
then it gets very big. Yes, you need the real-time patch for the
specific version of Linux you would be running.

Most people who have EMC running are using 1 GB + disks,
32 MB ram, and Pentium CPU's. I'm pretty sure you can get
EMC running under X windows in 16 MB, but that leaves little
memory left over for anything else, like another xterm with
emacs.