[Test Report 2] Minimum RAM required to install 'saucy-desktop-i386.iso' from LiveCD

Tue Jun 18 22:59:44 UTC 2013

Hi again,

This is my 2nd Test Report :D
One of the best tests in my whole life!

*Information:*

   - Test for: saucy-desktop-i386.iso
   - Daily build: 17-June-2013
   - Media: LiveCD
   - Burned: using Xfburn at 10x Speed
   - Tested on: Real Hardware

*Machine Hardware Details:*

   - Desktop Computer
   - Intel Motherboard
   - CPU: Hyper Threading 64-bit Intel Pentium 4 @3.06GHz
   - Cache: L1: 16KB - L2: 1MB
   - RAM: DIMM DDR 200 MHz 512MB
   - Graphics: Radeon Xpress 200 Host Bridge (built-in)
   - HDD1: Seagate IDE 80GB - *Disabled/Not used*
   - HDD2: Samsung IDE 20GB - *Wiped and has no partitons at all*
   - CD/DVD Drive
   - *From BIOS*: http://i44.tinypic.com/a4ug5s.jpg

*Test Case A - 242MB RAM*
*
*
*Information:*

   - RAM used by the OS: 242MB only -- Onboard Video Memroy Size = 256MB [
   http://i44.tinypic.com/a4ug5s.jpg]
   - HDD: Samsung 20GB IDE wiped with no partitions at all
   - Installation Media: LiveCD
   - LiveCD Booting Menu: Selecting 'Install Lubuntu' From the LiveCD Boot
   Menu
   - Installation Type: 'Something Else' - I wanted to create two
   partitions manually.
   - Partitions: Two Partitions (Root and SWAP).

*
*
*Notes:*

   - Installation Period (time): From Selecting 'Install Lubuntu' from the
   Boot Menu until the last reboot at the end of the installation process, the
   time period of this installation was 40 minutes.
   - The installation Process was *'slow' *at the 7 steps of installation,
   specially the Keyboard Layout Step and Who Are You Step but *usable*. It
   was NOT very slow.
   - On the very same machine, I have previously installed older releases
   and I can tell for sure adding zRAM by default have doubled the speed.
   Before, I was waiting for so long time until my mouse moves. Now, I need to
   wait 1-3 seconds Maximum and only on the previous two steps I have
   mentioned above.
   - The installer never crashed during any step whatsoever - this is a one
   try test.

*Results:*

   - The installation has been done successfully - *100% PASS*
   - Time Rating: *LONG* - *40 - 45 minutes* from the very beginning
   (booting, menu, etc) to the very end (taking the LiveCD out and reboot).
   - Slowness Rating: *SLOW but Usable* - IMHO, it was slow on two steps as
   mentioned above and a bit slow on the other steps.
   - zRAM Rating: *100% Helpful* - it was a very wise decision to add it.
   zRAM has made a great noticeable difference.

*My Recommendation:*

   - Overall Rating for this experience/test is *6.5/10*.
   - *I do recommend to set the limit of 256MB RAM as the Minimum RAM required
   to install Lubuntu 13.10 From the Desktop ISO using a LiveCD.*
   - My Test is done on 242MB RAM, not 256MB and IMHO, the 14MB difference
   could make a bit of improvement to the time (less than 40mins) but I *do
   NOT* recommend to set the Minimum RAM required to install Lubuntu 13.10
   to anything below 256MB. That should be the Red Line.
   - 256MB is NOT going to be the recommended option for New Users, but
   rather the Minimum. IMHO, we should mention clearly:

   1. *Minimum* RAM required to install Lubuntu 13.10 is 256MB
   2. *Recommended* RAM required to install Lubuntu 13.10 is 384MB - I will
   explain later why :)

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
= = = =

*Test Case B - 368MB RAM*
*
*
*Information:*

   - RAM used by the OS: 368MB only -- Onboard Video Memroy Size = 128MB [
   http://i44.tinypic.com/a4ug5s.jpg]
   - HDD: Samsung 20GB IDE wiped with no partitions at all
   - Installation Media: LiveCD
   - LiveCD Booting Menu: Selecting 'Install Lubuntu' From the LiveCD Boot
   Menu
   - Installation Type: 'Something Else' - I wanted to create two
   partitions manually.
   - Partitions: Two Partitions (Root and SWAP).

*
*
*Notes:*

   - Installation Period (time): From Selecting 'Install Lubuntu' from the
   Boot Menu until the last reboot at the end of the installation process, the
   time period of this installation was 25 minutes.
   - The installation Process was *'normal' and 'smooth' but *slow on the
   Keyboard Layout Step ONLY.
   - Almost as twice as fast from Test Case A above.
   - The installer never crashed during any step whatsoever - this is a one
   try test. Was so smooth.

*Results:*

   - The installation has been done successfully - *100% PASS*
   - Time Rating: *NORMAL* - *25 minutes* from the very beginning (booting,
   menu, etc) to the very end (taking the LiveCD out and reboot).
   - Slowness Rating: *NORMAL* - I'm attracted to call it fast but that
   might be exaggeration.
   - zRAM Rating: *100% Helpful* - it was a very wise decision to add it.
   zRAM has made a great noticeable difference. zRAM almost provide twice as
   fast from Test Case A which means, obviously, the more RAM, the much better
   performance.

*My Recommendation:*

   - Overall Rating for this experience/test is *8/10*.
   - *I do recommend to set the limit of 256MB RAM as the Minimum RAM required
   to install Lubuntu 13.10 From the Desktop ISO using a LiveCD.*
   - While 256MB is the Minimum RAM required to install Lubuntu 13.10, the
   Recommended option, IMHO should be:

   1. *Minimum* RAM required to install Lubuntu 13.10 is 256MB
   2. *Recommended *RAM required to install Lubuntu 13.10 is 384MB - now,
   you know why :)

*Conclusion/Summary*

   1. Lubuntu 13.10 can be installed 'successfully' on 256MB of RAM *(and a
   bit below but we are NOT going below 256MB)* from LiveCD without
   problems, without crashes, etc.
   2. The Minimum RAM Required to Install Lubuntu 13.10 from a LiveCD is
   256MB.
   3. The Recommended RAM to install Lubuntu 13.10 from a LiveCD is 384MB.
   4. Adding zRAM was very very very helpful and it was a wise decision :)

Thank you so much for reading this report :)

P.S.
Imagine what could a LiveUSB do on the same above scenario ;)

-- 

"All of us are smarter than any one of us."

*Best Regards,*
*amjjawad <https://wiki.ubuntu.com/amjjawad/>*
*Start Ubuntu<https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Lubuntu/CommunicationsTeam/WOWLubuntu/StartUbuntu>
*
*
*
*Test Machine1: ASUS F3F Laptop - Intel Core Duo T2350 @ 1.86GHz with 489MB
RAM*
*Test Machine 2: Desktop - Intel P4 Hyper Threading (2 Logical CPUs) @3GHz
- 512MB DDR 200MHz RAM*
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