On Mon, 5 May 2025 17:46:51 -0400 Jeffrey Walton <noloa...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Mon, May 5, 2025 at 4:39 PM Rafał Lichwała <ra...@siliconet.pl> > wrote: > > > > Is it possible to install Debian on a VERY VERY OLD hardware? If so, > > what "image" should I use? > > > > Hardware spec: > > > > CPU: Intel Celeron 400MHz > > RAM: 32MB > > HDD: 6GB > > BIOS year: 1998 > > CD-ROM, FDD 1,4MB, RS-232, 1x USB 2.0 > > <https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/i386/ch03s04.en.html> > > I think we knew that. We would be looking at a very old Debian. My first server was a P75 running sarge, I can't remember the RAM but I suspect no more than 32MB, as was typical for business P75s of that era, mine of course was ex-corporate. I suspect the OP understands that there will have been no security upgrades for decades, and that this machine cannot be connected to the Net. I don't know if old worms go away and die when they run out of food, but I wouldn't bet that way. We must assume there is a good reason for this, I threw away that P75 a great many years ago, so it is possible there is some valid reason for using it now. I know someone who is now having trouble finding a way to run GPIB software, as he has a fair bit of vintage instrumentation. I had this problem about 20 years ago, as the software to operate a particular ISA A/D converter ran (only) on DOS. DOS simulation on Windows 95 would not do the job. I eventually found an old computer that would do it. Oddly, this particular converter and software was used to calibrate a contemporary digital video recorder. We should not forget that tomsrtbt ran from a single floppy.... -- Joe
