I have succesfully installed LXDE – Linux X11 Desktop Environment. I have updated the packages in the repo’s from source, and I am now looking at a 45.62 MB ram usage upon startup!
Update: Ram usage after firing up: 39.98 MB ram usage!
From Ubuntu to Debian
My main goal was to use the Ubuntu minimal install as a base/core for the install, but after several attempts and hiccup due to a somewhat unreliable Hardy Heron, I went for Debian Lenny. Ubuntu is based upon Debian, so I don’t think I will loose anything significant.
I started with Debian Etch rc3 network installation cd. This allowed me to only install the base of Debian. I did this by booting with expertgui to get full control. This allows me to choose between su and sudo – the latter being preferred.
Etch to Lenny
I then update my /etc/apt/sources.list and changed Etch to Lenny (stable to testing), and then:
$ sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
You may also upgrade to Sid (unstable) if you like. Now I added the debian repo from lxde.sf.net and installed lxde. Gdm is now added as default – fair enough, though I may change this to Slim. Xarchiver, GPicView and Leafpad are also added.
The Basics
I installed Conky, and compiled updates from latest source (using auto-apt and checkinstall where feasible + dependencies: gtk+2 dev, gettext gnu, pkg-config) ; lxappearance, lxtask. LXtask is based on Xfce4-taskmanager. It is lightweight and gives you some information regarding the running tasks.
I then installed Iceweasel (Firefox), Abiword, Gnumeric, Xchat which caused a long list of added dependencies and installation candidates. It was quite late when I did this yesterday, so I accepted without much thought. I may have to recheck if all of them are necessary.
The result
I now run Debian Lenny with LXDE at a staggering 39.98 MB ram usage upon startup! This is very satisfying! The boot-time is also very fast, despite of GDM as a Login manager. Maybe it’s faster than I initially thought.
However, I believe I have a lot of installed packages I really don’t need. Disk usage is as high as 1.59 GiB. Not a big problem though.
I will have to change my myUbuntu page and iBuntu page to something more fitting – maybe LEX!
I wanted to thank you for writing this out. As a Linux noob, I found it to be a great help and resource in setting up an old Cyrix P166+ CPU, 128M RAM, with Debian and LXDE. An ancient machine for sure, but with this software setup one that seems quite usable on each mouse click without the constant “hurry up and wait” disk paging!
Thank you for taking the time to write a response
You might also want to monitor the new wiki for the LXDE. http://wiki.lxde.org
Hey Firmit, great blog.
I have a question to you, Ken or any one else who sees this. I’ll post my story first, and the question later.
Like Ken, I want to revive an old laptop. 1999 Compaq, 375 MG RAM, P700 processor.
Installed Ubuntu Hardy base, with ICEWM for the GUI. Custom install of applications. Very fast and efficient, except for one problem: streaming video. Still very choppy, and CPU clocks at 100% when watching YouTube. Local video files run fine. Audio fine.
I evaluated the pros and cons of all the web browsers, and chose Seamonkey for a good combo of speed/features/ease of configuration. (Puppy Linux uses this browser too.) Installed the ubuntu-restricted-extras, which uses Flash 9.
So….I don’t think this is a RAM problem, as my usage is similar to the numbers posted by Firmit. I also stress tested the system and rarely get above 125 MG RAM usage.
Question: If I replace ICEWM and my custom apps with the LXDE “suite,” would I save enough (any) CPU resources to have better video playback? Or am I simply at the mercy of an old PC and Adobe’s bloated Linux-specific player? (I’ve heard the Windows one is more efficient)
(My question is dealt with extensively on other websites, but I want to ask directly and relate my specific story…)
Thanks for any tips….
Hi Bill
Thank you for your post! Isn’t it fun reviving old computers!
I have little experience with IceWM, but I do know, it’s one of the less resource hungry WM’s out there. I am very satisfied with Openbox and how easily it configures.
Honestly, I don’t think you will gain all that much by switching WM. I would rather try installing Flash 10, with Intrepid Ibex as the core, and see how that goes. Maybe the hardy-kernel includes some speed-bumps… All I know, is that the Ibex impressed me.
I hope you get some answers out in the cloud, and maybe even from other posters!
Good luck Bill
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