DSL, The smallest Linux distribution for USB pen or virtual machine
DSL, or Damn Small Linux, is a portable Linux distribution that I follow now for over 3 age.
Since this is a very light disto (mount even a kernel 2.4!), no one can expect a very inviting look and feel, especially for those used with KDE or GNOME. DSL, in fact, mounted fluxbox, that as the other “lightweight” window managers, is fairly basic in appearance.
There are, however, all the tools that can be expected to use “Basic” Computer, both for emergency, DSL by starting from a usb stick on a computer no longer starts with your operating system, for testing, by running a virtual machine.
As it says on the site, In fact, official, the list of programs included is varied:
xmms (MP3, CD Music, and MPEG), FTP client, Dillo web browser, Netrik web browser, FireFox, spreadsheet, Sylpheed email, spellcheck (US English), a word-processor (Ted), three editors (Beaver, Vim, and Nano [Pico clone]), graphics editing and viewing (Xpaint, and xzgv), Xpdf (PDF Viewer), emelfm (file manager), Naim (AIM, ICQ, IRC), VNCviwer, Rdesktop, SSH/SCP server and client, DHCP client, PPP, PPPoE (ADSL), a web server, calculator, generic and GhostScript printer support, NFS, Fluxbox and JWM window managers, games, system monitoring apps, a host of command line tools, USB support, and pcmcia support, some wireless support.
Especially the function to act as a server ssh / ftp / http natively can be very convenient, making it virtually their computer a real “Server” in seconds.
The multimedia section is entrusted to XMMS (care of Erede, Audacious, I have already spoken the absolute latest version, Few days ago, blog), simple player that follows the style of Winamp.
FireFox, is currently in version 1.x, but from what I read, in 2009 moving to 2.x is in the plans (in addition to a likely increase by 50 for a 100mb iso), xchat and ensures the ability to communicate and navigate the web. Pity about the lack of a client as amsn, but I understand that perhaps the presence of gtk excessively weigh down the distro.
For the followers of supermucca (leggi apt debian-like), in the panel configuration is the possibility to install apt, and thus have access to additional repositories to install new software (obviously you are going to install ram).
There is also a picture viewer, pdf of a, vnc to login remotely to another machine.
There is also a small office suite, to open documents, although I would not swear on the compatibility with Office documents more… processed.
Spreader is download the latest version at this address (at the time when the article is drawn, 4.4.10).
HOW TO USE WITH A VIRTUAL MACHINE AS FREEWARE QEMU?
Qemu virtual machine is a lightweight and free, downloadable this address.
Here is a handy batch file (.BAT) I use DSL to start with a click:
REM Start qemu on windows.
@ECHO OFFREM SDL_VIDEODRIVER=directx is faster than windib. But keyboard cannot work well.
SET = SDL_VIDEODRIVER windibREM SDL_AUDIODRIVER=waveout or dsound can be used. Only if QEMU_AUDIO_DRV=sdl.
SET SDL_AUDIODRIVER=dsoundREM QEMU_AUDIO_DRV=dsound or fmod or sdl or none can be used. See qemu -audio-help.
SET QEMU_AUDIO_DRV=dsoundREM QEMU_AUDIO_LOG_TO_MONITOR=1 displays log messages in QEMU monitor.
SET QEMU_AUDIO_LOG_TO_MONITOR=0qemu.exe-L . -M 128 -cdrom dsl-4.4.10.iso -soundhw all -localtime -smp 2 -k it -full-screen
The-smp 2 is recommended for those who use a dual core cpu.
For booting via USB PEN refer to the forum official.
Here is a screenshot of DSL as a function:
