>On x86, 400 MB is the minimum to run the window system on the miniroot; >running the GUI installer under Java takes us up to about 500 MB as the >minimum right now. Much of that excess space is a result of needing to >unpack it onto the in-memory miniroot rather than running it off of >media, which is necessary in order to keep CD 1's size down to fit >what's needed to install and then reboot and continue the install from >the additional media. We could do things to lower the memory >requirements, but they'd require more extensive re-engineering of the >current miniroot and product structure, and at this point they haven't >been judged to be cost-effective.
One way to make the installer use much less memory after install has started is enabling the swap device as soon as it is possible. (You can then reclaim all the unpacked stuff in /tmp) Casper
