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djangofan
Asked: 2009-11-24 13:41:57 +0800 CST

Small 64-bit linux server distro with low memory footprint?

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I am looking for a linux server distro with a low memory footprint. I usually use Ubuntu but I need something with a smaller footprint in order to run a large Java JVM service inside of it and also run X-windows. Any ideas? The Java service needs to handle a 3GB memory heap and so I require a 64-bit OS and JRE.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Linux_distributions

I am thinking that ArchLinux is the only one that I can find right now. It uses 250MB out of the box (without X-win). Any better suggestions?

linux

5 Answers

  1. what about debian [ although you might say it's almost ubuntu ] ? but as in the case of ubuntu - it's up to you to disable [or not to install] unnecessary services/features. maybe you can run your app / x in headless mode?

    edit: indeed screen seems to be much much wiser and less memory intensive solution - if you dont need actual x's... go console!

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  2. To add to the other answer:

    i want X because my Java server runs in multiple Console sessions and I like to be able to watch and see all the console output when I am logged into the machine with VNC. – dj

    Have you tried GNU Screen (part of almost every distro)? It lets you use multiple terminal sessions from one terminal. Switch between multitple sessions, split the screen, save logs etc.. It's really awesome. Might be just what you need. Intro here:

    http://www.debian-administration.org/articles/34

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  3. If you're comfortable with ubuntu you could try the Ubuntu Server JEOS version. This is a minimal ubuntu server installation, ostensibly targeted at virtual machines but presumably you can install it directly on hw as well.

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  4. Best Answer

    ArchLinux turned out to be exactly what I was looking for as the answer to this question, although it turns out that I eventually ended up using 32-bit CentOS with Gnome also also considered XUbuntu with Xfce because it was fairly lightweight.

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  5. I use Puppy Linux's 64 bit distro FatDog 511.

    uses default access as root, but browser runs as limited user.

    Set up with full server for ISP and Samba.

    http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=63281

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