*nix on "classic" systems

[davis]

Tim Shoppa wrote:

>"Ensor" <classiccmp at memory-alpha.org.uk> wrote:
>  
>
>>I've recently been looking at setting up an old HP Vectra P-90 to run Linux 
>>(or some form of *nix) and started wondering what ports exist for "classic" 
>>systems.
>>
>>Looking around I see that "NetBSD" in particular supports quite a few 
>>architectures including VAX, SGI, NeXT etc etc, but I've struck out 
>>regarding Linux ports.
>>
>>So, can anyone point me at a website listing Linux ports to architectures 
>>other than PC's.
>>    
>>
>
>bash-3.00$ cd /usr/src
>bash-3.00$ ls
>linux-2.6.17.4	linux-2.6.17.4.tar.bz2
>bash-3.00$ cd linux-2.6.17.4
>bash-3.00$ ls
>COPYING        MAINTAINERS     arch	fs	 kernel  scripts
>CREDITS        Makefile        block	include  lib	 security
>Documentation  README	       crypto	init	 mm	 sound
>Kbuild	       REPORTING-BUGS  drivers	ipc	 net	 usr
>bash-3.00$ cd arch
>bash-3.00$ ls
>alpha  cris   i386  m68k       parisc	s390  sparc    v850
>arm    frv    ia64  m68knommu  powerpc	sh    sparc64  x86_64
>arm26  h8300  m32r  mips       ppc	sh64  um       xtensa
>
>  
>
>>And what modern *nix ports, if any, do other list members 
>>use on their classic iron?
>>    
>>
>
>FBOFW, modern "free" *nix ports tend to use gcc, and gcc is such
>a resource hog for anything smaller than a VAX. Even on a VAX it's
>colossaly slow.
>
>Not on a VAX, but small and spritely, is Minix. The Amsterdam
>Compiler Kit wasn't free, though! The thought of a Unix without
>a compiler is not very well accepted in hackerdom (or, at least by
>me), even though I despise C compared to high level languages like
>SNOBOL and FOCAL.
>
>Tim.
>
>  
>
Hi Tim,
The old distros e.g: slackware with gcc (which is OT)  from the mid 90's 
worked great on systems as small as 1 MB.
Just don't expect to run X or any of that other candy in one meg. You 
needed 4 meg to get it up.
Jim. (remembering when one meg was HUGE.)