Debian - Memory Footprints

v 0.2

Over the last few days, I've been having some fun working out exactly what you can do with the Debian netinstall ISO image.  It doesn't really matter whether you use the Squeeze or Wheezy image, the memory footprints will be about the same.

For the record, I've been using Virtualbox to look at these results.

• In a text-only system as described earlier you could do useful work in under 32 meg.
• With Xorg and a simple window manger like Openbox, Fluxbox, Fvwm or the like, 64 meg.
• Xfce 128 meg

Remember, these memory footprints are minimums ... I had an Openbox session using 28 meg - then I opened Iceweasel and it went to 60 meg.  Even a terminal session will add 5 meg to your memory requirements.

Now we come to more complex stuff.  A Linux system has many processes operating in the background and the memory observations above probably simplify that a little too much.

So, a broad observation:

• 1 gig ... use KDE or Gnome if you like (they are not for me)
• 512 meg .. Xfce
• 256 meg ... Xfce will do, but you will have more fun with Lxde / Openbox / Window Maker
• 128 meg .. Openbox / Window Maker / Fluxbox / Fvwm will make you happy.
• 64 meg ... Same as above but you will just have to be frugal.
• 32 meg .. restricted use of window mangers or use the command line (ie no Xorg)

Enjoy




Later ...........