[oclug] Oldest Linux install?

[Frank Stratton - VE3YY]

Hi All,

The oldest Linux install I have ever done was in 1995.  It was the SLS
version.  Kernel Level 0.99 Patch Level 113.  It came on 80 1.44 floppies.
That's right 80 floppies. I installed it on a 386 with 12 MB memory and a
math co-processor.  The 386 was a screaming 16 MHz and the video card had 1
MB on board.  I had three NICs installed and had to recompile the kernel to
remove some of the features make it fit in the 12 MB of memory.  It could
run X if you were willing to wait 2 minutes for the login screen to appear.
After signing in, almost any message/screen/menu was cause for celebration.

It supported a limited number of video and NIC cards.  My boss at the time
lost his video card to the Linux system. I switched the video cards at night
and I don't think he ever noticed.

Some regrets.  I wish I had kept the 80 floppies.  I'll bet I could get a
fortune for them on EBAY.  The computer was a case that looked like a
breadbox.  I wish I had kept that as well.

Note. Linus was one of the support guys.  Someone on the newsgroup was
talking about implementing Plan 9 on Linux.  It took some time to figure out
what they were talking about.

One day, he asked me what I was doing, I told him about the new operating
system called Linux.  I then made the fatal mistake of telling him it would
take over the world and kill Microsoft.  He asked me how much one had to pay
for this "killer" system so we could sell it and make money.  I told him it
was free.  To this day I can still the wails of laughter as he went back to
his office, believing I think, that he has hired a nut case (I realize I
leave myself wide open here.).

It's hard to soar with the penguins when you work with turkeys.

I'm now feeling really old,
Frank

-----Original Message-----
From: oclug-bounces at lists.oclug.on.ca
[mailto:oclug-bounces at lists.oclug.on.ca]On Behalf Of Peter T.
Sent: February 25, 2005 10:57 PM
To: oclug at lists.oclug.on.ca
Subject: [oclug] Oldest Linux install?


What was your oldest Linux install?

Mine was Red Hat 5.1 on a 586. circa 2000-2001.


Peter Timusk B.Math Just trying to stay linear
www.crystalcomputing.net >blog>logbook.crystalcomputing.net
www.webpagex.org >blog>notebook.webpagex.org

--
OCLUG general discussion list
OCLUG at lists.oclug.on.ca
http://www.oclug.on.ca/mailman/listinfo/oclug