on Sun, Nov 18, 2001 at 08:59:01PM -0500, Peter Christensen ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote: > I started with Debian 2.1 on my Pentium 200 MHz with 32 MB of memory, > then upgraded with apt-get to Potato. I recently replaced the single > 32 MB SDRAM with two 128 MB SDRAMs. > > When I installed Debian I created a 32MB swap to match the size of the > memory. Should I now increase the size of the swap to match the new > memory?
As the discussion's indicated, it's not so much a matter of must you as
whether or not this would be a good thing.
My PoV is that you're likely to be better expanding your swap to
something roughly proportional to your memory size (my rule of thumb is
2-3x physical RAM). In your case, if 256 MB is at or near the
capacity of the system, I'd probably stick in the 1-2x range -- part of
the rationale for 3x is to provide room for expansion, as it's easier to
add memory cards than it is to repartition a disk in most cases.
The reason for swap is to hold programs that aren't currently being
executed. If you tend not to run much, you don't need swap. If you run
too many programs, you're going to be swapping excessively...but I
probably don't need to tell you what this is like. However, swap is
cheap insurance against running out of memory, and as such is likely
useful.
> I wouldn't mind wiping my hard drive clean and re-installing
> everything. Now that I have learned a little about Debian I realize
> that the install option of "dial-up workstation" (if that's what it
> was called) installed many software packages that I will never use,
> for instance lots of games and window managers.
$ apt-get remove foo [bar [baz...]]
...will remove packages foo (and bar (and baz)), and any packages
dependent on them.
To get a list of currently installed packages:
$ dpkg --get-selections
...which you can save to file. If you want to, you can request removal
of specific packages and see what else gets selected for removal. You
can cancel the process at this point.
For package descriptions:
$ apt-cache show foo
For contents:
$ dpkg -l foo
You can also use the "cruft" package to identify software (largely
libraries) you don't need on your system.
> So, two questions:
>
> Should I change my swap partition to 256MB, to match the new memory?
Recommended.
> -and-
>
> When I re-install Debian, how do I do it so that I get only the minimum
> required for internet access?
Don't. Instead, pare down your existing install.
If you do plan to go this route, you'll want ppp support, and probably
firewall/masquerade, as well as basic workstation packages:
xfree86-server, a window manager or desktop package (wmaker, gnome,
kde), and an application set.
> Is this even possible with my Debian 2.1 CDs?
Yes. But not required.
> As I recall, the dselect process was very confusing, and that was why
> I chose a pre-set package.
The Debian installation is somewhat daunting. However, the daunting
part is the same toolset that you use for ongoing maintenance -- apt,
dpkg, and various front-ends that constitute package management.
My suggestion for *new* installs is to create a bare-bones system, then
add software as needed to create the system that fits your needs. Once
you've determined what these needs are, you can save the output of 'dpgk
--get-selections' to a file and feed it to another system:
$ dpkg --set-selections < file
$ apt-get update
$ apt-get dist-upgrade
...making "cloning" fairly straightforward.
> Would it be better if I ordered a new set of CDs, perhaps waiting for
> Woody to be released?
Not particularly.
> Has the installation process been improved since Slink? (I think that
> was the name for 2.1...) What I'd like to do is just get internet
> access going, upgrade to Potato, then pick and choose applications
> with apt-get.
Probably. But you've got a working base, you can upgrade from it. See
/etc/atp/sources.list and corresponding manpage.
Peace.
--
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