Damn Small Linux is a distribution GNU/Linux based on the Knoppix, itself based on the system of packages of the system Debian GNU/Linux. Its acronym, usually used to indicate this distribution is DSL. It functions with a LiveCD, it is installable on Hard drive. DSL is regarded as a MiniLinux.

Its basic difference with Knoppix is its size: whereas Knoppix takes the integrality of a CD-ROM (700 Mo), Damn Small Linux makes less than 50 Mo, and can thus hold on CD format “credit card”, or a Clé USB. This reduced size goes hand in hand with the use of Logiciel S not very greedy in the face and computing power.
Aussi, Damn Small Linux is adapted to old PC (Pentium 1 or 486). The recommended basic configuration consists of a PC 486 with 16 Mo of RAM.

Software included

Version 3.0.1 of Damn Small Linux dated June 22nd, 2006.
Voici the list of the application included in this version:

• Navigator Web:
• Mozilla Firefox - In version (but nothing was removed)
• Dillo compacts - light ultra Navigator (modified version supporting SSL, the miter S and the executives).
• Links - Navigator in text mode supporting the tables.

• Tools Internet:

• Sylpheed - Customer of emails
• Gaim: - Customer of Instant messaging
• Gphone: - Customer VoIP allowing to telephone itself between computer

• Office automation:

• Ted - Word processing functioning with the format rtf, with possibility of converting its documents into file pdf.
• Spellcheck - Correct grammatical (American English only)
• Siag - Spreadsheet
• Xpdf - Reader of file pdf

• Multi-media:

• XMMS - audio Reader and video
• VNC
• Engraver of CD
• Plays

• Text editors:

• Beaver
• Vim
• Nano

• Handling of images:

• Xzgv - Visualiseur of files images supporting the miniatures
• Xpaint - an editor of file image close to Microsoft Paint

• Administrative of windows:

• Fluxbox
• JWM

• Tools of administration

• EmelFM - a very powerful manager of file
• APT - Administrative of packages
• Synaptic - Administrative of packages
• Graphics face-end of several functions…

• advanced Tools Internet:

• SQLite - Database SQL
• AxY - Customer ftp
• Monkey web server - a waiter HTTP
• ftp - a waiter ftp

And still full with other applications (support HS, DHCP, PPP, ADSL, USB, GhostScript, printers, PCMCIA, NFS, Wifi)…

In addition, is installed MyDSL, kind of footbridge proposing to the users an installation facilitated for larger applications, like OpenOffice, GNU Compiler Collection, or extensions for XMMS. At dated December 7th, 2004, the MyDSL waiters proposed more than 200 applications, plugins and other extensions for those wishing upgrader their system. Thus, once DSL installed, one can activate the management tools of packages APT . That makes it possible to obtain a system similar to Debian.

Installation

There exists several way of installing Damn Small Linux:

Boot on a key USB

• - To install Damn Small Linux on a key USB since a system under GNU/Linux.
• - To install Damn Small Linux on a key USB since Windows.

Boot on CD (any format)

It is enough to engrave file .ISO directly on your CD, then to start again your computer with CD in the reader.

Installation on the Hard drive

Two types of installation are possible: the " installation; frugale" , and the " vraie" installation. The frugal installation copies the image of CD from a partition of the hard drive, and thus starting on hard drive will be equivalent to a starting with sharp CD. The " vraie" installation on disc decompresses the filesystem of CD and copies it from disc, before regulating some parameters.

Emulation (no installation necessary)

It is a question of the simplest solution to test DSL. The emulation is realizable by no matter whom in a few minutes…
Here procedure for Windows (but that is also possible for GNU/Linux):

• It is initially necessary to download the version embedded (55Mb) at this address: Ftp Heanet
• Then to decompress the file zip does not import or in the PC.
• To click on dsl-base.bat and to admire: DSL starts as if it were installed on your hard drive.

Moreover, if your computer is already connected, DSL-Embedded will recognize your connection automatically.

Alternatives of images CD-ROM (Iso)

• dsl-x.iso : the image standard CD
• dsl-embedded.iso: image CD with system of emulation qemu included for use directly since Windows, ubuntu, Even more need to engrave Cd…
• dsl-vmx: image CD to be used with vmware player. A little like the version above
• dsl-initrd: version with system of boot modified to adapt to material exotics
• dsl-syslinux: Still another type of boot, easily modifiable with a text editor

Versions

• 3.4.4 : October 9th 2007
• 3.4: July 3rd 2007
• 3.3: April 3rd 2007
• 3.2: January 17th 2007
• 3.1: November 28th 2006
• 3.0.1: June 22nd 2006
• 3.0: June 19th 2006
• 2.4: May 16th 2006
• 2.3: March 29th 2006
• 2.2b: February 9th 2006
• 2.2: February 6th 2006
• 2.1b: January 11th 2006
• 2.1: January 9th 2006
• 2.0: November 2005
• 1.5: September 2005
• 1.4: August 2005
• 1.3: July 2005
• 1.2.1: June 2005
• 1.1: May 2005
• 1.0.1: April 2005
• 0.7.2: July 2004
• 0.7.1: June 2004
• 0.6.3: May 2004
• 0.6.2: March 2004
• 0.6.1: March 2004
• 0.6.0: February 2004
• 0.5.3.1: February 2004
• 0.5.2: January 2004
• 0.5.1: December 2003
• 0.5.0: November 2003
• 0.4.10: October 2003
• 0.4.9: October 2003
• 0.4.8: September 2003
• 0.4.7: September 2003
• 0.4.5: August 2003
• 0.4.4: August 2003
• 0.4.3: August 2003
• 0.4.2: July 2003
• 0.3.11: June 2003
• 0.3: March 2003
• 0.1: February 2003

See too

• MiniLinux
• List of LiveCD

External bond

• Official site
• the French Community for Damn Small Linux (do not hesitate to register you and to take part, the community is not yet quite active…)
• Presentation and test of Damn Small Linux
• Capture of screen N°1
• Capture of screen N°2

Random links:

The Hour of the elves | To learn how to shiver | Densha otoko | Radio operator Tirana | Groma (measuring instrument) | Liste_de_comtés_en_Géorgie_(état_d'États-Unis)