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Install Linux distro on 256MB memory VPS
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Install Linux distro on 256MB memory VPS

Hi folks:

I recently got a KVM virutalized VPS but only got 256MB memory. I tried serval linux distro like Debian 9, 10, 11 (x86-64) and they both can not boot into the installer due to lack of memory. I use netboot.xyz to launch the install via PXE.

Which linux distro can be installed on those true "low-end" VPS? And am I using the wrong method for those type of install?

Comments

  • Do not use netboot.xyz as it loads the entire ISO into your memory.

    You can install the OS on a VM with more memory and use dd to clone the entire disk bit by bit. Or you can use methods like “vps2arch” to install using some magic.

  • Alpine?

    256MB is tight for the major distros these days, even on OVZ or LXC with a shared kernel, let alone KVM.

    Thanked by 1ehab
  • +1 alpine, as @Kousaka mention before you need install it on vm and dd entire disk after that.

  • angstromangstrom Moderator

    @devops01001 said:
    Hi folks:

    I recently got a KVM virutalized VPS but only got 256MB memory. I tried serval linux distro like Debian 9, 10, 11 (x86-64) and they both can not boot into the installer due to lack of memory. I use netboot.xyz to launch the install via PXE.

    Which linux distro can be installed on those true "low-end" VPS? And am I using the wrong method for those type of install?

    I think that an original Debian netinstall ISO would work. In addition, I would try to use i386 instead of amd64.

    (As @Kousaka said, netboot.xyz requires a lot of RAM.)

  • AdvinAdvin Member, Patron Provider
    edited April 2022

    @cochon said:
    Alpine?

    256MB is tight for the major distros these days, even on OVZ or LXC with a shared kernel, let alone KVM.

    256MB works fine on LXC, KVM is way too tight though

  • jsgjsg Member, Resident Benchmarker

    Alpine.

  • ErisaErisa Member

    Install Alpine virt, be happy.

    Thanked by 1ehab
  • i think you can try this
    https://github.com/veip007/dd

    DD debian 10
    bash <(wget --no-check-certificate -qO- 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/veip007/dd/master/InstallNET.sh') -d 10 -v 64 -a

    password MoeClub.org

  • use a sane linux distro, like Alpine or Tinycore that is not bloated or consider a BSD

  • Debian 9, 10, 11 installs without problems on 256 MB. Just contact support to mount the appropriate ISO.

    Thanked by 1devp
  • @devops01001 said:
    Hi folks:

    I recently got a KVM virutalized VPS but only got 256MB memory. I tried serval linux distro like Debian 9, 10, 11 (x86-64) and they both can not boot into the installer due to lack of memory. I use netboot.xyz to launch the install via PXE.

    Which linux distro can be installed on those true "low-end" VPS? And am I using the wrong method for those type of install?

    Doesn't your provider have pre-made images? If no just make one yourself locally then upload it

    Thanked by 1devp
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