THE RULE SITE IS UP!

[Marco Fioretti]

Devon,

thanks for your comments. It looks like we *are* starting to have a
clear idea of what can and needs to be  done. Is it  OK for you then
if I present to the list a condensed version of this roadmap (including
the OTHER message I sent to you, any other comments on that?). Any
add-on/whatever?

	Ciao,
		Marco Fioretti

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> On Wednesday 13 February 2002 04:19 am, Marco Fioretti wrote:
> 
> > 1) Red Hat compatibility, at least in the sense that one can upgrade
> >    our system with stock RPMs provided by them, is essential. The
> >    reasons are that we have no resources to do a completely new thing,
> >    and, much more important, that we want the developing country school
> >    to enter Free Software world as a first class citizen: one that can
> >    use the same SW/support forums/online documentation available to
> >    people with 512 MB of RAM, not be relegated to some corner.
> 
> I couldn't agree more. Either way we go, I think we want to stick to 
> RedHat compatible modifications.
> 
> > 2) We should start to distinguish between:
> >
> > 	a) Make today's RH base install fit in <32 MB of RAM.
> > 		this might touch only anaconda, fit on one or
> > 		more floppies, and be eventually adopted by RH
> > 		because it's in their interest, and they got it for
> > 		free.
> 
> I have managed to do this as well, just by rebuilding anaconda with a 
> couple of patches, and booting with 'linux updates' and providing an 
> updated anaconda. To be done properly, it would be good to create a new 
> install class, "low-mem" or something similar, which defaults to a 
> limited package set. In the testing I've done, 165MB of disk space are 
> needed PLUS swap. So, it looks to me like ~200MB disk will be a minimum 
> requirement. I'd also suggest 16MB of ram as a hard coded limit. Less may 
> be possible, but I don't believe the system will be responsive enough to 
> consider it truly functional.
> 
> I'll have to look some more, because I am not sure a new install class is 
> possible unless we get redhat to adopt it. I don't believe that this 
> could be done with an updates disk alone. The updates disk provides a new 
> anaconda script only, and I'm not sure a new install class could be 
> implemented in this way. It looks to me as though it would need to be 
> contained in the stage1 and stage2 images on the install media. I'll 
> spend some time tonight looking into the code some more for how this 
> might work.
> 
> > 	b) Make *our* choice of packages,with comp files and all,
> > 	   and that cannot be anything else than a separate ISO image,
> > 	   as you did.
> > 	   If RH sees it as valid for educating future customers to
> > 	   buy their stuff later instead of MS's, they add the standard,
> >  	   already existing RPMs we choose (Postfix, etc...) comp files,
> > 	   etc..to their first disk, otherwise we just make it
> > 	   available (still guaranteeing compatibility as stated above).
> 
> Personally, I see this as a more viable option, which gives us greater 
> possibilities. The version I put together contains only RedHat provided 
> RPM packages (fully updated), but it could include nearly anything. 
> Custom rpm packages, a custom post install script, etc.
> I was able to install a base system using my new disk, complete the 
> install, and then insert official RedHat 7.2 disks, installing additional 
> packages without conflict.
> Additionally, after the base install, if an internet connection is 
> present, the user would have access to up2date to get any additional 
> packages desired.
> 
> > I was already thinking to post these thoughts to the list, but I'd
> > really like your feedback first, since you have already done so much
> > good work on the installation setup.
> 
> Anyway, like I said, I'll work on whichever we decide to do. I just want 
> to make sure I am working on the same thing as everyone else. :)
> 
> - -D
> 
> (Which is a nickname I am stuck with, by the way. Long story...) 
> My real name is Michael Fratoni.
> 
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