Linux on an iMac G3 350

[benjgvps]

I want to know what version of Linux would run my iMac G3 350 with 64 MB of ram. It would be nice if it had Good Wifi Support like Puppy Linux does. I tried Finnix but I have no idea how to boot into a GUI (Or if it even has one). I have the entire hard drive backed in a bootable format up so I don't mind (Much) if my data gets deleted though I would prefer a Live-CD to test first.

 

[QuadSix50]

Well, Finnix isn't meant to be run as a production distribution. It's only meant for troubleshooting other systems and is meant to be run using a command line only. While you could try and install an X server onto it, you would still need to configure it properly.

You might want to give Debian a run on that but make sure that you don't tax your iMac with a heavy desktop environment. See about doing a manual package installation and just have the base installation along with Xorg and a light WM like Fluxbox.

Granted, the more RAM you put into it the better your options for running a beefier desktop environment, but I would imagine it's still doable with only the 64 MB.

 

[benjgvps]

Would there be an option in the installation that would allow me to select a window manager and is Debian easy-ish to install?

 

[QuadSix50]

There's an option at the Yaboot prompt where if you hit tab, you're given a bunch of option for bootup and installation. One of them is "expert" which allows you to manually select the files you need. If you select the default, you only get the options such as the following:

[ ] Graphical system

[ ] Web server

[ ] File server

[ ] Desktop system

Picking any of those installs a preset group of packages, which might be more than what you need. The default GUI installed is GNOME but there's an option you can pass at the Yaboot prompt that will make the default GUI something like KDE or something else.