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| Newer page: | version 2 | Last edited on Sunday, November 28, 2004 1:05:22 am | by AristotlePagaltzis | Revert |
| Older page: | version 1 | Last edited on Friday, June 7, 2002 1:07:29 am | by perry | Revert |
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-
-
-Saving Space mini-HOWTO
-
-
-
-----
-
-!!!Saving Space mini-HOWTO
-
-!!By Guido Gonzato,
-mailto:guido@ibogeo
.df.unibo.itv1..1, 7 April 1999
-
-
-----
-''This mini-HOWTO gives you directions for squeezing your Linux installation
-into the least possible space. It's particularly aimed at notebook users.''
-----
-
-
-
-
-!!1. Introduction
-
-
-
-
-!!2. Software requirements
-
-
-
-
-!!3. The procedure
-
-
-*3.1 Removing the Kernel Sources
-
-*3.2 Pruning Out Applications
-
-*3.3 Stripping Binaries
-
-*3.4 Compressing with upx
-
-*3.5 Gzipping around
-
-
-
-
-
-!!4. A Real Life Example
-
-
-
-
-!!5. The End
-
-
-*5.1 Copyright
-
-*5.2 Disclaimer
-
-----
-
-!!1. Introduction
-
-
-
-
-
-I've got a notebook I installed Linux on, beside Windows 95 that was
-pre--installed. I squeezed the Windows partition to 500 Mb, making space for
-a 240 Mb Linux one. Small though the latter may seem, I've managed to
-install a fairly complete Linux system on it, based on Red Hat 4.1 and some
-magic to save as much space as possible.
-
-
-If you're in need for space, the indications you'll find in the following
-sections will free up a considerable chunk of hard disk. The only caveat I'm
-giving you is: don't blame me if something goes wrong! We'll be using a
-couple of programs that worked fine for me, but are inherently dangerous.
-You've been warned.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-----
-
-!!2. Software requirements
-
-
-
-
-
-You need:
-
-
-
-
-
-* a fully working Linux system (any version should be OK);
-
-*
-
-* the common gzip compression utility, or alternatively bzip2
-that you find on
-ftp://sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/utils/compress;
-this tool compresses better than gzip, but it's also a wee bit slower
-and consumes a lot of memory;
-
-*
-
-* the upx executable compressor, whose home page is at
-http://cdata.tvnet.hu/~ml/upx.html and
-http://wildsau.idv.uni-linz.ac.at/mfx/upx.html;
-
-*
-
-* the zlibc package, available on
-ftp://sunsite.unc.edu:/pub/Linux/libs/compression. It's
-called zlibc-X.X.tar.gz, where X.X is the latest version.
-
-*
-
-
-
-There are other executable compressors. One is gzexe (forget it), while
-tcx was probably the best before upx became available; yet another
-is tzx, in theory better than tcx. The thing is, it screwed
-everything up when I tried it on a spare PC, though I'm not sure if I did
-something wrong. You had better stick with upx: it's reliable,
-efficient, and very handy.
-
-
-There are kernel patches that provide transparent file system compression a
-la Stacker, but as of this writing none of them has yet a reputation for
-stability and reliability. For safety's sake, steer clear.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-----
-
-!!3. The procedure
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-!!3.1 Removing the Kernel Sources
-
-
-
-
-
-
-The kernel sources take up more than 20 Mb, and you may want to remove them.
-If so, I suggest that you compile a new kernel that is tailored to your
-machine once and for all, then get rid of the sources. Take care, though.
-
-
-I ''don't'' recommend that you remove the kernel sources unless you are
-sure that your machine is properly configured. Besides, you need the kernel
-#includes to compile C programs. Think twice!
-
-
-If you do decide so, ''do not'' remove the include/linux tree
-unless you know you'll never compile applications on your machine.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-!!3.2 Pruning Out Applications
-
-
-
-
-
-
-Now, decide which applications you ''really'' need. Some may prove
-redundant: for instance, are you sure you can't live without emacs? You
-could use jed instead.
-
-
-It's up to you to decide what you want to keep. Some general points:
-
-
-
-
-
-* gcc is a fairly large package. It's needed to recompile the
-kernel and all the applications for which there are no pre--built Linux
-binaries. It's also needed, of course, if you write your own C or Fortran
-(with f2c or g77) programs; consider your needs before removing it.
-Other compilers like lcc are fine, but not up to gcc level. I
-suggest that you keep it;
-
-*
-
-* X11 is awfully large, but it's a nice thing to have. If you decide
-you can't give it up, at least try to make do with as little as necessary:
-only the right X server, one simple window manager, only one
-xterm, no 100 dpi fonts, and so on;
-
-*
-
-* TeX and accompanying packages are very large indeed. Giving up LaTeX
-and sticking to plain TeX saves a lot of space; giving up X11 previewers
-like xdvi and ghostview is possible if you use dvitty,
-dvivga and some such. Eliminating the need for X11 dviware could even
-make X11 redundant;
-
-*
-
-* games are never ``necessary''.
-
-*
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-!!3.3 Stripping Binaries
-
-
-
-
-
-
-Let's start reducing the size of binaries. Move to /usr/bin and
-issue the command
-
-
-
-
-
-machine:/usr/bin# strip *
-
-
-
-
-which will do away with symbols embedded in binaries. Repeat this
-step in /usr/X11R6/bin/ and other directories containing
-executables you may have (don't forget to locate TeX's and gcc's
-binaries), but ''do not'' run it under /sbin,
-/bin, or /usr/sbin/ if you value your installation!
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-!!3.4 Compressing with upx
-
-
-
-
-
-
-First, install upx and read its documentation. Then go to
-/usr/bin and run it with the command upx *; it will
-compress all executables, including suid ones (tcx wouldn't). Repeat
-this step in other directories as seen above.
-
-
-Remember to compress the executables whenever you install a new package!
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-!!3.5 Gzipping around
-
-
-
-
-
-
-There are lots of other files that can be compressed once and for all. Let's
-start with /usr/doc/; move to this directory and issue the
-command
-
-
-
-
-
-machine:/usr/doc# find . -type f -exec gzip -9 {} \; 2> /dev/null
-
-
-
-
-Remember to compress the docs whenever you install a new package!
-
-
-Repeat this step in the directory containing the documentation for TeX (on
-my system, /usr/lib/texmf/texmf/doc/. If you're
-''really sure'', remove these directories altogether.
-
-
-Now, install zlibc and compile it. If your system is like mine, the
-compilation process will abort complaining about a missing (static) libc.
-Never mind; you'll find a file called uncompress.o that is what's
-needed. Move it to /usr/local/lib/ and add this line to your
-/etc/profile:
-
-
-
-
-
-export LD_ELF_PRELOAD=/usr/local/lib/uncompress.o
-
-
-
-
-Now, you can compress with gzip not only documentation, but also data
-files: the applications that use them will be able to use them nonetheless.
-In theory, the trick should work with most applications, but in practice
-your degree of success may vary. Mine was rather unimpressive.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-----
-
-!!4. A Real Life Example
-
-
-
-
-
-This is what I got applying the above procedure to one of my machines.
-Before the treatment, df reported I used 398,798 1024--blocks:
-
-
-
-
-
-* I didn't remove the kernel sources and the kernel headers;
-
-*
-
-* I uninstalled several applications and all of the games, but I left
-X11, X11 development, C and Fortran development, Tcl/Tk, networking tools,
-and a few other standard applications. df reported 244,668 used blocks;
-
-*
-
-* I ran upx on /usr/bin,
-/usr/X11R6/bin, /usr/lib/texmf/bin/i586-linux,
-and /usr/lib/gcc-lib/i386-linux/2.7.2.1. 226,270 used blocks;
-
-*
-
-* I compressed the documentation under /usr/doc and
-/usr/lib/texmf/texmf/doc: 198,745 used blocks.
-
-*
-
-
-
-To sum up, I started with 398,798 blocks and finished with 198,745. Think of
-the stuff you can shove in those 200,000 spared blocks! I would have saved
-even more if I had used bzip2 instead of gzip.
-
-
-On average, if you are careful from the beginning and install only the
-necessary applications, compressing executables and documents will save you
-some 20 Mb. On a notebook, this can be a lifesaver.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-----
-
-!!5. The End
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-!!5.1 Copyright
-
-
-
-
-
-
-Unless otherwise stated, Linux HOWTO documents are copyrighted by their
-respective authors. Linux HOWTO documents may be reproduced and distributed
-in whole or in part, in any medium physical or electronic, as long as this
-copyright notice is retained on all copies. Commercial redistribution is
-allowed and encouraged; however, the author would like to be notified of any
-such distributions.
-
-
-All translations, derivative works, or aggregate works incorporating any
-Linux HOWTO documents must be covered under this copyright notice. That is,
-you may not produce a derivative work from a HOWTO and impose additional
-restrictions on its distribution. Exceptions to these rules may be granted
-under certain conditions; please contact the Linux HOWTO coordinator at the
-address given below.
-
-
-In short, we wish to promote dissemination of this information through as
-many channels as possible. However, we do wish to retain copyright on the
-HOWTO documents, and would like to be notified of any plans to redistribute
-the HOWTOs.
-
-
-If you have questions, please contact Tim Bynum, the Linux HOWTO
-coordinator, at tjbinum@sunsite.unc.edu via email.
-
-
-
-
-!!5.2 Disclaimer
-
-
-
-
-
-
-``Saving Space mini-HOWTO''was written by Guido Gonzato,
-REMOVE_MEguido@ibogeo.df.unibo.it.
-
-
-This document is provided ``as is''. I put great effort into writing it as
-accurately as I could, but you use the information contained in it at your
-own risk. In no event shall I be liable for any damages resulting from the
-use of this work.
-
-
-Feedback is welcome. For any requests, suggestions, flames, etc., feel free
-to contact me.
-
-
-Enjoy Linux and life,
-
-
-Guido =8-)
-
-
-
-----
+Describe [HowToSavingSpace] here
.
