Re: Best Distro For The Job

On Tue, 23 Oct 2007 10:20:41 +0000, emailaddress wrote:

I'm looking for the best (minimal, not everything-plus-kitchen-sink)
distro of linux based on the following variables.

- Via chipset CLE266 plus Via C3 CPU. Video/sound/ not important,
it's a NAS-like box.
- 256MB system memory
- RT8169 Gigabit NIC
- Fileserver/NAS, incl. Samba
- Possible Apache (nothing fancy, VERY basic webserver functionality)
- Possible software RAID card (SiI0680) use. Support for two
identical cards = even better.

- Remote control (via HTTP, browser interface preferred, but any TCP/
IP access would be considered)

- Minimal footprint on OS drive, looking to run this from ~512MB CF
card but could go larger (but frankly for my needs I don't feel I
should need to). For now, pretend I didn't mention the CF card, only
the 512MB (roughly, a ballpark figure) size or less.

- Desktop GUI not important, ok if it stays within design limit of
512MB total space for OS, otherwise excessive
- Must be reasonably reliable WRITING and reading NTFS. Really I
mean completely reliable, what are the limitations here?
- Support for logical soft-RAID1 (not a soft raid controller, I mean
via software on motherboard non-raid controller ports) highly
desirable.
- ACPI power management for HALT-IDLE state
- Power management for graceful shutdown from an APC UPS currently
using Powerchute software is a plus.
- Continual monitoring of HDD fitness / health is a plus
- This needs no advanced security, filtering, etc. Filesharing with
windows 2K/XP clients is a priority, as well as monitoring fileshare
drive fitness.

Essentially, I'm looking for a NAS OS on steriods. It MUST support
reliable use of NTFS for storage. All due respect, I'm not interested
in arguments for other methods, other filesystems, only on how to
achieve this and most of the other goals.

I realize this must seem quite picky but it doesn't seem such a tall
order for a fileserver or NAS, seems like a common enough goal that
there might be something tailored towards doing this.

I'm not overly concerned about some ready-made method of installing
this to a compact flash card. If it'll install to a hard drive (< 2GB
total space including swap) that's fine I can do the rest.

Maybe I'm being too picky, but if anyone would mention some
alternatives and what (as far as they know) would have to be given up
from above list for that alternative, that would be a great start.

I realize, many distros can do this given some reconfiguration and
packages. I'm asking what is streamlined enough to not have much
excess functionality and yet, a little excess is ok if it comes closer
to meeting more of the core requirements.

Gentoo - build from scratch, include only what you want.

.

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