DSL Linux
DSL Linux albeit an old operating system is very lightweight with working audio and network under Limbo. Being an old operating system makes its package manager obsolete and doesn't offer security updates so it might not be your best choice unless you want to play around and learn Linux. Below you'll find a guide to configure limbo and make several tweaks to it to make it more usable on your Android device.
Official Website: http://www.damnsmalllinux.org
Download ISO: https://www.damnsmalllinux.org/download.html
Other versions: https://distro.ibiblio.org/damnsmall
Official Website: http://www.damnsmalllinux.org
Download ISO: https://www.damnsmalllinux.org/download.html
Other versions: https://distro.ibiblio.org/damnsmall
Limbo Configuration
- Machine: Default
- CPU: Default or n270
- RAM Memory: 128+ MB
- Graphics: std (you can also use cirrus but it might hang)
- Audio: sb16 (needs SDL interface)
- Network: User (You can use TAP if you have file permissions to device /dev/tap)
- Network Card: ne2k_pci (recommended)
- Host Forward: tcp:22221:21,tcp:22222:22,tcp:22280:80
Known Issues with Limbo
Mouse support:
DSL Linux only supports a relative mode mouse pointer like "ps2" and "usb". You won't be able to use the touch screen with "usb-tablet" mode and the external mouse will not align with the virtual machine pointer. Without any other options the only mouse mode you can use will be the trackpad with "ps2" and "usb" mice options.
DSL Linux only supports a relative mode mouse pointer like "ps2" and "usb". You won't be able to use the touch screen with "usb-tablet" mode and the external mouse will not align with the virtual machine pointer. Without any other options the only mouse mode you can use will be the trackpad with "ps2" and "usb" mice options.
Mouse workaround:
To workaround the above limitation you can try disabling the mouse acceleration by typing from a terminal within the virtual machine:
To workaround the above limitation you can try disabling the mouse acceleration by typing from a terminal within the virtual machine:
xset m 1
Then calibrate the mouse by moving to all 4 corners of the desktop. Even though this will attempt to temporarily "align" the mouse pointer it's by no means a perfect solution. If you still want to use the "usb-tablet" device you should try Slax Linux instead.
Tweaks
Set the following within the virtual guest for better performance:
Desktop Resolution: DSL Control Panel -> 800x600x16 or lower
Desktop Manager:
Start Menu -> Desktop -> Icons -> xtDesk
Start Menu -> Desktop -> Menu -> no Icons
Open .xinitrc with an editor (ie nano, or vi) and comment the following lines to reduce the processes on startup:
#dillo /user/share/doc/dsl/getting_started.html &>/dev/null &
#torsmo 2>/dev/null &
Instead of running from the live CD you can install dsl linux on a hard disk image. Installations steps on how to do a frugal install are here
Utilities
DSL Linux comes with an X window manager and busybox. You can also upgrade to GNU Utils by going to 'Start Menu' -> Apps -> Tools -> "Upgrade to GNU Utils".
Desktop Resolution: DSL Control Panel -> 800x600x16 or lower
Desktop Manager:
Start Menu -> Desktop -> Icons -> xtDesk
Start Menu -> Desktop -> Menu -> no Icons
Open .xinitrc with an editor (ie nano, or vi) and comment the following lines to reduce the processes on startup:
#dillo /user/share/doc/dsl/getting_started.html &>/dev/null &
#torsmo 2>/dev/null &
Instead of running from the live CD you can install dsl linux on a hard disk image. Installations steps on how to do a frugal install are here
Utilities
DSL Linux comes with an X window manager and busybox. You can also upgrade to GNU Utils by going to 'Start Menu' -> Apps -> Tools -> "Upgrade to GNU Utils".
Window Manager
There are couple of choices you can use for Window Manager:
fluxbox: a light weight with a fast navigation menu and a mount tool gui interface.
jwm: a more featureful menu with a familiar bottom tray and a start menu.
You can switch between the two by right click anywhere on the desktop and clicking on the menu Desktop / Window Manager -> Switch Window Manager
fluxbox: a light weight with a fast navigation menu and a mount tool gui interface.
jwm: a more featureful menu with a familiar bottom tray and a start menu.
You can switch between the two by right click anywhere on the desktop and clicking on the menu Desktop / Window Manager -> Switch Window Manager
Package Management
Package Management
There are 3 ways to download and install new software in DSL Linux:
dpkg
apt-get (Aptitude)
myDSL Browser
synaptic (GUI frontend for aptitude)
MyDSL Browser
You can find MyDSL Browser under 'Start menu' -> 'MyDSL' -> 'MyDSL Browser'. On the main window you browse the categories or you can search for software by name / description using the 'text search' button. Keep in mind software with extension uci install temporarily and you have to reinstall next time you reboot.
Aptitude
To use aptitude onDSL Linux first you have to enable it by going to 'Start Menu' -> Apps -> Tools -> Enable Apt
Synaptic
Synaptic is a front end for apt-get. You can find it and install it under MyDSL Browser.
Note: Don't install synaptic via apt-get it has unmet dependencies, use MyDSL Browser instead.
There are 3 ways to download and install new software in DSL Linux:
dpkg
apt-get (Aptitude)
myDSL Browser
synaptic (GUI frontend for aptitude)
MyDSL Browser
You can find MyDSL Browser under 'Start menu' -> 'MyDSL' -> 'MyDSL Browser'. On the main window you browse the categories or you can search for software by name / description using the 'text search' button. Keep in mind software with extension uci install temporarily and you have to reinstall next time you reboot.
Aptitude
To use aptitude onDSL Linux first you have to enable it by going to 'Start Menu' -> Apps -> Tools -> Enable Apt
Synaptic
Synaptic is a front end for apt-get. You can find it and install it under MyDSL Browser.
Note: Don't install synaptic via apt-get it has unmet dependencies, use MyDSL Browser instead.
File Manager
Emelfm is a very efficient two-pane file manager that comes with DSL Linux that you might find very helpful. You can copy, move, remove files.
Audio
If you want to enable audio in SDL linux you should attach the emulated sb16 audio card and setup Alsa or if you just want to use it under XMMS you can click on the options within XMMS and set to OSS driver.
Network
FTP, SSH, HTTP servers
DSL Linux comes with an FTP Server, SSH Server, and HTTP Server which you can start any time. You can use the FTP and HTTP services to share files with your Android device and the SSH server to be able to login and use the command line especially if you use VNC interface and have Limbo run in the background.
To start the above servers from the desktop right click anywhere and select System / Deamons from the popup menu. From here you can choose SSH, FTPd, or Monkey Web Server to start or stop the services.
To start the SSH server from the Command line type:
sudo sshstart
FTP client
DSL Linux also comes with an ftp client called gftp which offerse a and useful gui to manage your connections.
Web Browsers
There are a few web browsers that come with DSL linux if you need to browse the internet. These are very basic and will not resemble in any way a modern web browser but will do the job for the most part.
Dillo Web Browser
Dillo is a very basic web browser that you will be able to browse most of the web, it does though have problems with understanding modern encryption certificates.
Glinks is an even simpler web browser which has better support for SSL TLS certificates but with lesser features than Dillo.
An old version of Firefox is also available but it is very slow and it is not recommended.
DSL Linux comes with an FTP Server, SSH Server, and HTTP Server which you can start any time. You can use the FTP and HTTP services to share files with your Android device and the SSH server to be able to login and use the command line especially if you use VNC interface and have Limbo run in the background.
To start the above servers from the desktop right click anywhere and select System / Deamons from the popup menu. From here you can choose SSH, FTPd, or Monkey Web Server to start or stop the services.
To start the SSH server from the Command line type:
sudo sshstart
FTP client
DSL Linux also comes with an ftp client called gftp which offerse a and useful gui to manage your connections.
Web Browsers
There are a few web browsers that come with DSL linux if you need to browse the internet. These are very basic and will not resemble in any way a modern web browser but will do the job for the most part.
Dillo Web Browser
Dillo is a very basic web browser that you will be able to browse most of the web, it does though have problems with understanding modern encryption certificates.
Glinks is an even simpler web browser which has better support for SSL TLS certificates but with lesser features than Dillo.
An old version of Firefox is also available but it is very slow and it is not recommended.
Programming
GNU gcc: You can install the gnu gcc compiler from myDSL Browser:
Open MYDSL Browser.
Type gcc1-with-libs.dsl on the package search
Click on the name then click Install from the menu
Java You can install a very old JDK from the terminal and play around with compiling and running your old java programs:
sudo apt-get install jdk1.1-dev
Python is available via apt sources, to install type from a terminal:
sudo apt-get install python
Games
There are couple of great games you can try. We recommend the use of the Key Mapper on landscape mode. Make sure you use SDL interface to enable sound.
Abuse is a open source version of doom bundled with the wad shareware version.
To install lxdoom type from a terminal:
To install lxdoom type from a terminal:
sudo apt-get install abuse.sdl
Lxdoom is an open source version of doom bundled with the wad shareware version.
To install lxdoom type from a terminal:
To install lxdoom type from a terminal:
sudo apt-get install lxdoom