Syslinux - Mar 2017 - Linux distribution targeted at 32-bit hardware

David Christensen wrote:
> It seems that most Linux distributions I look at are dropping support
> for 32-bit hardware.
Aren't you using Debian? AFAIK jessie supports i586, so if Pentium is
old enough for you you're good to go for likely at least two more
years.

After that I guess I'd be using old unsupported Debians for the
ancient ones. I don't have this old hw on the internet.


-- 
MartinS

> David Christensen wrote:
> > It seems that most Linux distributions I look at are dropping support
> > for 32-bit hardware.
> 
> Aren't you using Debian? AFAIK jessie supports i586, so if Pentium is
> old enough for you you're good to go for likely at least two more
> years.
> 
> After that I guess I'd be using old unsupported Debians for the
> ancient ones. I don't have this old hw on the internet.
> 
> 
> -- 
> MartinS
 
 
With the purpose of reducing the amount of "noise", I am replying in 
this one email to several posts.

"Pentium 4" is _not_ the same as "Pentium".

"Pentium 4" is _at least_ i686, certainly not i586.

Debian 8.x "Jessie" is supposed to support at least i586.

Debian 9.x "Stretch" is supposed to support at least i686.

I already posted, in a very recent email, possible Linux distributions 
that support 32-bit. The (non-exhaustive) alternatives, mostly ignored, 
included Antix, which specifically aims at old systems (and it is based 
on Debian).


Regarding Debian's installer not being able to continue at a certain 
point of the process, it is probably not finding the packages. D-I 
needs to know where that (list of) packages are. The content of the 
original ISO image needs to be "somewhere" (hint: the USB device if 
formatted as FAT32, thus it can be written). There might be some option 
/ parameter to "APPEND" to the kernel line, or there might be some 
other method in order to indicate to Debian's installer: "hey, the 
packages are at this/that (additional) location".

The above topics are off-topic in the Syslinux Mailing List, and yet, 
kind replies were provided. Such topics might have a place in some 
Debian mailing list or somewhere else.

Regarding the code to help troubleshooting isolinux.bin issues in 
isohybrid images (posted by Martin), I wish it would be available in 
some binary form, posted somewhere __outside__ the Syslinux Mailing 
List (not attached). A bonus would be to have also its source code, a 
patch (perhaps based on 6.04-pre1) and clear instructions for common 
users (usage, limitations, expected output/behavior, to which version 
of ISOLINUX it applies...).

Then David could help by testing the binary in his "problematic" 
system(s), and report back.

Hopefully now we can focus on the diagnostic code (Martin's or 
alternative ones), and receiving feedback, on its own (new) email 
thread.

Regards,
Ady.
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On 03/19/2017 01:12 AM, Ady Ady via Syslinux wrote:
> Regarding distros for older computers, there are several. The
> problem, at least at this point, is bootability. Although Antix is
> for older computers, it is also based on Debian and the latest
> ISOLINUX will also be bigger than 32KiB. Perhaps Knoppix or some (of
> the many) PuppyLinux would still use ISOLINUX 4.xx or older. SUSE
> derivatives also use v. 4.xx. Slackware derivatives too. DSL used to
> provide a floppy-emulation ISO image, but it is no longer maintained
> and not suitable for USB either.

On 03/21/2017 02:04 AM, Ady Ady via Syslinux wrote:
> I already posted, in a very recent email, possible Linux
> distributions that support 32-bit. The (non-exhaustive) alternatives,
> mostly ignored, included Antix, which specifically aims at old
> systems (and it is based on Debian).
Yes, I read your post.  There is a saying, "If you don't have anything 
nice to say, then don't say anything at all".  Since you seem to expect
a reply, it follows.


Debian is pulling the plug on 32-bit Linux.  So, distributions based on 
Debian are out:

1.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knoppix

KNOPPIX (/kn?p?ks/ KNOP-iks)[2] is an operating system based on Debian


2.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppy_Linux

Puppy 6 is built from Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty Tahr packages,


3.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_%28operating_system%29

Ubuntu (/??bu?nt?/ uu-BOON-tuu, stylized as ubuntu)[11] is a 
Debian-based Linux operating system


4.  http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/

Transform into a Debian OS with a traditional hard drive install


SuSE tries to hide everything behind GUI's (much like Windows).  I 
prefer the UNIX way -- plain text files.


I tried (and failed with) Slackware once.  It left me with the 
impression that Slackware is learner adverse.

> Regarding Debian's installer not being able to continue at a certain
>  point of the process, it is probably not finding the packages. D-I
> needs to know where that (list of) packages are. The content of the
> original ISO image needs to be "somewhere" (hint: the USB device
if
> formatted as FAT32, thus it can be written). There might be some
> option / parameter to "APPEND" to the kernel line, or there might
be
> some other method in order to indicate to Debian's installer:
"hey,
> the packages are at this/that (additional) location".
>
> The above topics are off-topic in the Syslinux Mailing List, and yet,
>  kind replies were provided. Such topics might have a place in some
> Debian mailing list or somewhere else.
I am the blind man who is being led through a zoo of creatures far 
larger than elephants.


The Debian exhibit sent me here.


This exhibit is sending me back to Debian.


I'm starting to see where this is going...


David