From: torvalds@klaava.Helsinki.FI (Linus Torvalds) Subject: Re: BURNING QUESTION - Reference Model Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 21:25:14 GMT
In article <1rkql3$2gq@woody.apana.org.au> ernie@woody.apana.org.au (Ernie Elu) writes:
>
>WHAT SORT OF SYSTEM DOES LINUS DEVELOP THE KERNEL ON ?
Caps-lock problems? :-p
>What is the harware config, including cards etc.?
>
>Running X-Windows, olvwm etc.?
>
>Networking?
>
>Type of Linux file partitions?
Ok, here's the official (for now) "linux reference machine":
486-66DX2, 16MB memory (I had 20MB, but Lasu needed the 4MB more than I
did). The "original" linux machine was a 386-33 with 4MB, but that got
upgraded (first with a 387, then to 8MB RAM and finally to the current
setup).
Disk: 2 * 80MB IDE drives (Connor). Again, I originally had 2 * 40MB,
but I'm now happily running in twice that due to the people at Cistron
in the Netherlands (Danny ter Haar & co).
Video: no-name ET4000 at 1024x768x256 (on a 14" display interlaced -
ouch, but I can't live with bad resolution), and yes, I run olvwm (or
occasionally just 100x40 text-mode, but that's getting pretty rare these
days). I only actually use a few X-apps: xterm, xload and seyon (and
xeyes, of course).
Two serial lines: one for my 2400 bps modem (seyon + term - unbeatable
combination) and the other for the mouse. No printer, no tape, but 2
3.5" floppies (which get very little use - if I have anything I consider
important enough to back up, I prefer to put it out for ftp :-)
No networking - loopback for occasional minor tests, but not for any
real use (except when I get lonely enough to "talk" to myself, which
isn't really that often :-).
Filesystem: 30-char minix mainly. Some (very quick) tests with ext2fs
and xiafs when I upgraded the disks, but I like to use a filesystem that
I know well enough to edit by hand if I do something stupid (like delete
the kernel subdirectory by mistake - this happened once, and I was able
to get it all back by hacking 'fsck' to do it).
As you can see, a lot more money has gone into processing power than
anything else - I want my compiles to go fast, and can live with slow
down- and up-loads as long as the kernel recompiles in less than 7
minutes.
Linus