Topic: Installation on a 486DXII/50Mhz with 20MB memory

[Arthur]

I was trying to install e-Smith SME server on a 486DXII/50Mhz with 20MB memory. Some advised me that this should work although 90 Mhz en 64 MB are advised.
The installation stops at:

    checking for writeable /tmp... yes
    running install...
    running /sbin/loader...
    install exited abnormally  -- received signal 11  (here it appears to go wrong!)
    sending termination signals

After this all kind of processes are terminated to enable me to safely switch off the machine.

On a Dutch newsgroup one advises me that only the installation program needs more RAM than 20M. The running server needs less. He advised me to install on the desired hard disk in a Pentium machine followed by installing the 386i kernel and restoring the hard disk in the 486.
Who has any clue:
- Is the failure caused by low memory or is there an other possible reason (and what is the solution)?
- Is the low memory just an installation problem?

Please let me know.

Kind regards,

Arthur

[Klaus Eckert]

here is my opinion:
do NOT install the SME-server on a machine less than 500 MHz and less than 128 MB.

sure, less resources will be good for the "daily work".
but sometimes you want to change settings via the server-manager.
on a slow machine "your eyes will fall down" while you're waiting for response of the machine.

my server has 350 MHz and 128 MB, that's the absolut minimum to work with.

cheers klaus

[Michael Smith]

I respectfully disagree; my home server is a Pentium II-233 with 256 megs of RAM, and even with 192 megs it performed acceptably.  With 5.6U4, Server Manager takes about 6 seconds to load.  Graphs such as those provided by the SYSMON contrib take about a second each to produce.

But a 486 with 20 megs?  Yeesh, you can go to a thrift or surplus store and get a better machine than that for $20 U.S. ... surely the Netherlands isn't so computer-scarce?  If you're absolutely moneyless, try a bit of trashbin diving ... you'd be surprised what large corporations throw away.  For that matter, try a local computer shop ... they probably have 5 or 6 old Pentium machines running at 166 MHz they'd pay you to take off their hands.  I can testify that a Pentium-166 with 128 megs of RAM makes an adequate router and/or emergency file server.

If you must, you can use that 486 with FreeSCO or Coyote Linux to make a router.  Personally, I'd use it as landfill.

[Klaus Eckert]

Michael,
so i should provide my 350 MHz-server with a bit more RAM?
let's talk about 256 MB, at the moment it has 128 MB and the server-manager ist terribly slow.

cheers klaus

[Bob Todd]

I'm sure the local museum would like that 486DXII. Put it in the skip and buy a replacement. I was able to pick up a P3 400Mhz with 128Mb RAM and 40Gb hard drive for under 100ukp at the local shop, and that was a new hd!

[Brian Barber]

I am running SME Server 5.6 on a Pentium 200 with 64MB RAM and it's running great.  It's the same machine that has been running e-smith since version 4.1.  I encountered the same "Signal 11" error when attempting to upgrade from 5.5 to 5.6 and it definitely in memory related.  An upgrade failed on 64MB, but a fresh install managed to mork fine.  After the fresh installation, I simply restored the backup file I created before attempting the upgrade.

I figure that 20MB is just not enough for the installer.  As mentioned in other replies, you're better off with a Pentium II-class machine with 128MB RAM or better.

Cheers,
BB

[Clint]

SME server realy doesn't require a whole lot to run, but I think you need a bit more than a 486 to run it...

I have run SME on a P166, P2 350, and a P3 600. It ran fine on all of them, but it was a little sluggish on the 166, and wasn't up to more than general internal network fileserving/email duties. I'd imagine that a 486 would be rather slow for it.

If you're realy considering dumpster diving, do be careful, as in some places taking trash from a dumpster can be considered stealing (dunno why).

[Chris]

I use a 233 Mhz PII with 256 MB RAM. On this machine 80 Proccesses are running without Problems.

[Arthur]

Dear all,

Thanks for the helpful replies. I learned that, although people tell the most wonderful stories about a 486 running as simple home-fileserver, I can't use my old PC for this purpose.
I was already looking for a new PC for the "real work" replacing my old Celeron 500.
This Celeron will then fall back to my kids (1,4 and 6 years) and their Pentium 133 will be the new candidate for the server job.
Once again thanks for your comments.

Kind regards,

Arthur