How long does Gentoo take to install?

[roadgeek9]

I have been sitting in front of my desktop since about 4:15 (it is 6:03 now), and I am finally installing the additional packages. For some reason, I think this should be taking a LOT less time. Here is some (useful) information about the configuration being used...

Computer: Compaq Deskpro EN/P550 (c. 1999)

Processor: Intel Pentium III 550 MHz (c. 1999)

Memory: 448 MB PC100 (c. 2001)

Hard Drive: 40 GB Seagate IDE (c. 2003)

CD Drive: LG 16x48 IDE DVD-ROM drive (2004)

Network Card: Intel PRO/100 PCI (c. 1999, only included because parts of the install are online)

Internet Connection: COX High Speed Internet Connection, ~1 Mbps

[Oompa]

Most likely about 43 more hours.

[Beastage]

Yeap, assuming you did everything right it will still take a very long time on your machine because gentoo requires compiling and your cpu isnt really what makes compiling short.

[roadgeek9]

Yeap, assuming you did everything right it will still take a very long time on your machine because gentoo requires compiling and your cpu isnt really what makes compiling short.

Is there another distro I can use?

I have the following distros on hand...

Ubuntu/Xubuntu 7.10

Fedora Core 2/3/7

OpenSuSE 10.1/10.3

Gentoo 2007

[pyther]

You're right around the right time mark. Compiling on a PIII is why its taking you so long. If you want something like gentoo, but with binary packages I suggest trying my personal favorite, archlinux, or slackware. Gnome or KDE will probably take at the very least 12+ hours to compile.

Edit: I recommend trying archlinux as it has a far superior package manager compared to the little slackware offers.

This is a very nice guide to get you started with Arch: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Beginners_Guide

[roadgeek9]

It's too slow for me to put up with. I am going to install Fedora 3 and see what happens.

[NiteJammin]

It's too slow for me to put up with. I am going to install Fedora 3 and see what happens.

The point behind Gentoo is to be fast AFTER the install, not during. You can install Gentoo from packages (Read the manual), which would take maybe an hour depending on how fast your connection is or if you have all of them on CD first but updating is generally done from compiling or you recompile the system while your running the precompiled one to gain the benefits of having a running system and then a faster system once its done. I run a Gentoo server that takes about 4 hours to compile everything for but its not running anything in X or hardly anything at all in general. Its fast though, almost as fast as my OpenBSD machine which is highly optimized as well.

[MR_Candyman]

You're right around the right time mark. Compiling on a PIII is why its taking you so long. If you want something like gentoo, but with binary packages I suggest trying my personal favorite, archlinux, or slackware. Gnome or KDE will probably take at the very least 12+ hours to compile.

Edit: I recommend trying archlinux as it has a far superior package manager compared to the little slackware offers.

This is a very nice guide to get you started with Arch: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Beginners_Guide

personally, i love swaret. I know it doesn't come with slack, but install it then you're good to go.

[Elv13]

Fedora core 3 is too old, you will not ba able to install recent application, the base system is too old (gcc, glibc, binutils). Fedora in general is heavy, probably too heavy for a P3. +1 for arch linux, ont of my friend use it as primary Os an a pentium II 400 mhz with DWM and few apps.

Personally, one my old Pentium I 100mhz _32 mb ram laptop, I installed Debian Etch, after a lot of tweek (that everybody able to install gentoo can do) my system take 5.4mb of ram (including X) on boot and all application (ok, I did make my choice in function of speed) take less than 4 second to start. If you want a pentium 3 faster than a core 2 quad, do that:

-install debian base system, using floppy is easy and will not install any junk.

-do not install any additional apps from the installer once the base system is installed (after setting up the account, quit the installer)

-install xfbdev or xvesa as X windows system, not Xorg, you will be able to find .deb around the net.

-download and configure and compile manually your kernel like in gentoo manual)

-install DWM from source as windows manager if you are able to use it, fluxbox or jwm if you want something more windows-like.

-about application: xpdf (pdf), midori(complex internet), dillo(basic internet), gvim(text editor), abiword(work processor), gnumeric (spreadsheet), feh(image viewer), thunar(file manager), mtpaint(quick image manipulation), xmms(audio player), gmplayer(video player), iDesk(icon on desktop)

With these apps, you will get a boot time of around 30 second to a functional desktop ans all application at the exeption of midori, abiword and gnumeric will start faster than 4 second.

Without gentoo, it is the best you can do to get speed.

[markwolfe Veteran]

Fedora core 3 is too old, you will not ba able to install recent application, the base system is too old (gcc, glibc, binutils). Fedora in general is heavy, ...

Snipped all the jabbering.

Fedora isn't "heavy". GNOME may be. KDE may be. But I ran Fedora with fluxbox for many years, and it isn't heavy.

It is a pet peeve of mine how some people mix window managers with distros - like there is no choice.

I would not use an old version of any distro, however. Pick a current Fedora/SUSE/Ubuntu/Arch/Slack/Whatever, and use a light window manager. XFCE at tops. Try one of the *boxes maybe or IceWM. There are many other options, too.

[Spacce]

I use to like gentoo as a desktop but too much time involved honestly

still love it as a server though

Yeah lighter desktop environments is the way to go, Fluxbox or XFCE is good

to test these btw, i usually download knoppix and it has options to see which one you like.. just to test that is..