[lubuntu-devel] Call for testing for alternate images (WAS: Architecture EOL plans for Lubuntu)

[Simon Quigley]

Hello everyone,

On 08/16/2016 03:08 PM, Bryan Quigley wrote:
<snip />
> In my VM testing with various memory amounts a Lubuntu LiveCD having
> selected "Install Lubuntu" option operates in *less* memory than the
> Alternate installer.
> 
> I was able to install Lubuntu i386 Desktop CD in just 218 MB of ram, by
> selecting - "Install Lubuntu" and choosing no updates when installing or
> 3rd party stuff.   The key part is not to boot the Live session and just
> go directly to Ubiquity.
> 
> The Alternate i386 installer fails completely until about 240MB but even
> then be install didn't succeed.  
> 
> Both tests we're done using 16.04.1 medium.  I'm guessing it's Zram that
> makes the LiveCD works so well.  I'm actually surprised by the results
> myself, but I don't see where I could have made a mistake in my testing.

We really need to confirm what Bryan is saying. If he is correct and
Lubuntu Desktop really takes less resources than Lubuntu Alternate,
there is no use in keeping Alternate images.

We need someone on real hardware from each architecture (amd64, i386,
AND PowerPC) to test limits on their hardware. Here's what you have to
do to help.
 1. Grab the following images:
  a. Yakkety Daily Alternate
  b. Xenial Daily Alternate
  c. Yakkety Daily Live
  d. Xenial Daily Live
 2. Boot an image of your choice setting the mem=<NUMBER>MB boot
parameter. Here's a guide on doing that:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/KernelBootParameters
 3. Select "Install Lubuntu"
 4. Install the operating system on your computer.
 5. Repeat steps 2-4 decreasing the amount of RAM until you get a
failure due to the lack of available RAM.
 6. Repeat steps 2-5 with all of the images.
 7. Respond reporting your results.

Also, now's the time to make your case for keeping alternate images. If
the results turn up that Desktop takes less resources, we will ask for
it to stop being produced unless we have a good reason to keep it.

Have a nice day, and get testing! :)

-- 
Simon Quigley
tsimonq2 at ubuntu.com
tsimonq2 on freenode and OFTC