YARMALDT: Need a distro to run on an `semi-embedded` system

[statik213]

The HW:
VIA ITX MB w/ a C3 1GHz CPU (~ P3 900 MHz), 512 MB DDR, 2GB Flash/Micro Drive.

Needs to run:
Gnome/KDE GUI to work on a LCD touchscreen, Java 5, our own Java app that works off the serial port (using the rxtx lib), possibly SSH Server and apache/tomcat.

So, what's a good distro? I'm most familiary w/ fedora and still a newb w/ linux.

 

[nweaver]

I would move to a minimalist install of something like Debian or Gentoo. I would also steer clear of KDE/Gnome and go with something like XFCE4. Debian and Gentoo both have the ability to boot of CF I know.

 

[statik213]

totally forgot about xfce4, will look in to it.
Which is easier to learn for someone familiar w/ fedora, debian or gentoo?

 

[nweaver]

Depends, if you know linux fairly well, Debian. If you need hand holding documentation, Gentoo (some of the best documentation of any distro imho)

I like debian's package managment, as it's MUCH quicker then Gentoo's emerge (although I still love that too).

Gentoo has a flash card specific package I think, I was looking a flash booting some ssl accelerators that were abandoned (without licenses, so unusable as ssl accels) in the office for routers/nat/firewalls.

 

[statik213]

Well, how much would you consider 'fairly well'. I'm comfortable using the command line, can configure/make/install stuff, use apt-get and stuff.... been meaning to try out debian. Gentoo is looking good as well 'cos it has a flash specific distro...
anything else to consider?

 

[nweaver]

Gentoo takes longer to get up, but (imho) is a bit more costomized, esp if you want to REALLY strip it down.