Byte.com: Running Linux In A DOS Partition

"Turn That Old 486 into a Internet Server AND a Linux Development system -- Also, the JOE editor and solving DNS Woes"

"In my first column, I started to describe some of the problems you will have to overcome in setting up that old 486 box as a Linux-based Internet server and gateway."

"Not the least of these problems is what flavor (distribution) of Linux to choose and how to boot the Linux on your machine for the first time. The new GUI-based Linux distributions are very comprehensive, but they always leave me uneasy. The installer does a superb job working its magic, but I can't help but worry about the level of trust I had when I allowed it to take control of my hard disk. It's like jumping into a swimming pool hoping that you will be able to swim. What if the Linux doesn't boot? Will the 486 have enough power to run both the Linux and the GUI? What if I can't understand what the installer did? What low-level OS tools will it install for me? What if I need to change something subtle in the configuration?"

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