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

[Nio Wiklund]

[bottom posting]

Den 2016-08-16 kl. 22:44, skrev 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! :)
>

Hi Simon and all other Lubuntu users,

1. Graphics

There is also an aspect of graphics during installation: It may be 
easier to succeed in text mode. Sometimes but not always nomodeset helps 
in graphics mode. So installing with the alternate installer, and then 
booting the installed system in text mode and install a proprietary 
driver might be the best (only?) way in some old computers.

2. Small margins

I made a similar test some time ago. In my case the alternate installer 
needed slightly less RAM, but the difference was small. I think that the 
graphics hardware, and its usage of RAM can make a significant difference.

3. Encrypted disk

I agree that zRAM helps ubiquity. But there is also a downside with 
zRAM. If you want to install encryption (at least [LVM with] encrypted 
disk), zRAM gets in the way, and must be turned off. So in this case you 
have to 'Try Lubuntu' and turn off zRAM before starting the installer, 
and then you need a lot more RAM, I think in some computers at least 512 
MB. ('Before zRAM' the recommendation for installing in graphics mode 
was to have at least 700 MB).

So there is a reason why the Lubuntu testcases with encryption are using 
the alternate installer.

Best regards
Nio