Running Damn Small Linux Within Windows XP
DSL (Damn Small Linux) is a very lightweight desktop Linux distribution having approximately 50 MB. It can run as a LiveCD, from a USB drive and within Windows operating system. DSL provides a complete desktop and various command line utilities.
Even it has a low size on disk, DSL provides a wide range of common used desktop applications like web browsers (Dillo, Firefox and Netrick), word processor (Ted), SSH/SCP server and client, PDF viewer (Xpdf), file manager(emelFM), email client, games and others.
In order to install DSL, you have the possibility to choose from four types of DSL: the standard ISO version that can be used for LiveCD or hard drive installation, syslinux.iso that is compatible with older hardware unsupported by standard ISO DSL, the DSL-embedded which allows the booting of DSL inside a host operating system (Linux or Windows) based on Qemu emulation and finally DSL-vmx, a DSL type that is able to run in VMware.
If you are using the Windows XP operating system, the DSL-embedded ZIP archive must be downloaded on your desktop for example. After you extract the content of the archive to a folder called DSL, then you must double click the dsl-base.bat file existing in the new created DSL folder. After the booting screen you will be able to access the applications by double clicking the Apps/ folder icon. For example, in the new window that will appear you can find applications for web browsing, ftp, instant messaging, telnet, email and more in the folder net/. There is also another rapid method to access any application: by holding the left mouse button, you can navigate through a hierarchical menu to the desired application.
The windows can be resized, moved and closed like the ones existing in the Windows operating system. The overall operating system graphical user interface is very friendly and easy to use. As you noticed the running of DSL within Windows XP operating system (DSL also works with Windows Vista and earlier versions of Windows) does not require the restart of computer. The desktop configuration can be saved in order to be used in another session.
If you have problems in running DSL from within Windows operating system open the qemu folder from the DSL directory you just have created and right clicking the qemu executable select the optimal compatibility mode for your computer as well as other display settings. The amount of available free RAM will influence the running speed of DSL applications. The running of DSL from within Windows does not require the installation of additional applications. DSL performs optimal when a higher amount of free RAM is available.
The DSL was tested on two different PCs: one having a 1.6 Intel processor with 1 GB of RAM and Windows XP Home Edition SP2 operating system and another one with an AMD K6-2 300 MHz processor, 64 MB RAM and Windows 2000 SP4 operating system. DSL runs acceptable on the PC having a 300 MHz processor, but a higher performance was noticed in case of PC having Windows XP operating system. If you want to use DSL on a USB drive, it is recommended to try DSL from within a Windows or a Linux operating system. DSL is also available for free download from downloadtube website.
