Jerry Geis wrote: > Hi all, > > Is it possible to take the 686 CentOS 5, install that in virtual machine, > install a custom kernel that is the 486 flavor, take that image and > put it on a 8G CF card - insert that into a small form factor 486 class > machine and have that work? > > I am hoping the extra instructions in a 686 (MMX, SEE etc) are not used > by any libraries > that I would be using (just standard stuff) and the new 486 compiled > kernel would not be > using those instructions either. > > Can this possible work? I am hoping to not use debian i386 basically. > first, you'd need to reconfigure that linux running in a VM to run in whatever hardware your embedded platform provides (network, disk, etc). second, you'd not only need a new kernel, but also any usermode packages that are -i686 or -i586 would need recompiling. there's more than you might think. check out http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/ that will run on nearly -anything- with very minimal resources. the standard version fits on a 50MB live mini-CD (those credit card shaped things).