What Is Debian GNU/Linux? ************************* Debian GNU/Linux is a complete and powerful Unix-compatible operating system for IBM PC and compatible machines with an 80386 or faster processor. In effect, it is a preliminary release of the GNU operating system, integrating the available parts of GNU with the Linux kernel. Computer Requirements (CPU and Architecture) ******************************************** In general, Debian GNU/Linux will run on most IBM PC and compatible machines with ISA, EISA, VLB, or PCI architecture and an 80386, 80486, or Pentium processor. This includes both desktop and laptop systems. Linux will not run on machines with IBM's proprietary Micro Channel Architecture (MCA)--most notably, this means that Debian GNU/Linux will not run on the IBM PS/2. Disk Space Requirements *********************** A minimal installation of Debian GNU/Linux requires slightly over ten megabytes of disk space. This minimal system includes everything needed to install and run a Debian GNU/Linux system, but it will be difficult to do anything beyond that without installing additional software packages. A typical installation without the X Window System requires approximately forty megabytes of disk space, and a typical installation with the X Window System requires approximately sixty megabytes of disk space. The actual disk space requirements will depend greatly on which optional software packages you install, of course. RAM Requirements **************** Debian GNU/Linux requires at least four megabytes of RAM during installation and normal system use, and eight megabytes of RAM when running the X Window System. In general, the more memory installed in the machine, the faster it will run. For comparison, adding memory to a machine running MS-DOS will not result in much of a performance increase, but adding memory to a machine running Debian GNU/Linux will have a noticeable effect on performance. More Information **************** For more information about Debian GNU/Linux, please visit the World Wide Web page http://www.debian.org/.