B][U]Hardware Requirements[/U][/B]
What kind of system is needed to run Linux? This is a good question;
the actual hardware requirements for the system change periodically.
The Linux Hardware-HOWTO gives a (more or less) complete listing of
hardware supported by Linux. The Linux INFO-SHEET provides another
list.
At the very least, a hardware configuration that looks like the
following is required:
Any ISA, EISA or VESA Local Bus 80386 or 80486 system will do.
Currently, the MicroChannel (MCA) architecture (found on IBM PS/2
machines) is not supported. Any CPU from the 386SX to the 486DX2 will
work. You do not need a math coprocessor, although it is nice to have
one.
You need at least 4 megabytes of memory in your machine. Technically,
Linux will run with only 2 megs, but most installations and software
require 4. The more memory you have, the happier you'll be. I suggest
8 or 16 megabytes if you're planning to use X-Windows.
Of course, you'll need a hard drive and an AT-standard drive
controller. All MFM, RLL, and IDE drives and controllers should work.
Many SCSI drives and adaptors are supported as well; the Linux SCSI-
HOWTO contains more information on SCSI.
Linux can actually run on a single 5.25" HD floppy, but that's only
useful for installation and maintenance.
Free space on your hard drive is needed as well. The amount of space
needed depends on how much software you plan to install. Most
installations require somewhere in the ballpark of 40 to 80 megs.
This includes space for the software, swap space (used as virtual RAM
on your machine), and free space for users, and so on.
It's conceivable that you could run a minimal Linux system in 20 megs
or less, and it's conceivable that you could use well over 200 megs or
more for all of your Linux software. The amount varies greatly
depending on the amount of software you install and how much space you
require. More about this later.
Linux will co-exist with other operating systems, such as MS-DOS,
Microsoft Windows, or OS/2, on your hard drive. (In fact you can even
access MS-DOS files and run some MS-DOS programs from Linux.) In
other words, when partitioning your drive for Linux, MS-DOS or OS/2
live on their own partitions, and Linux exists on its own. We'll go
into more detail later.
You do NOT need to be running MS-DOS, OS/2, or any other operating
system to use Linux. Linux is a completely different, stand-alone
operating system and does not rely on other OS's for installation and
use.
You also need a Hercules, CGA, EGA, VGA, or Super VGA video card and
monitor. In general, if your video card and monitor work under MS-DOS
then it should work under Linux. However, if you wish to run X
Windows, there are other restrictions on the supported video hardware.
The Linux XFree86-HOWTO contains more information about running X and
its requirements.
In all, the minimal setup for Linux is not much more than is required
for most MS-DOS or MS Windows systems sold today. If you have a 386 or
486 with at least 4 megs of RAM, then you'll be happy running Linux.
Linux does not require huge amounts of diskspace, memory, or processor
speed. I (used to) run Linux on a 386/16 MHz (the slowest machine you
can get) with 4 megs of RAM, and was quite happy. The more you want to
do, the more memory (and faster processor) you'll need. In my
experience a 486 with 16 megabytes of RAM running Linux outdoes
several models of workstation.
he is mastermind of open source section 
