On Wed, Jun 7, 2017 at 12:13 AM, Russell Coker <russell@coker.com.au> wrote:
On Tuesday, 6 June 2017 6:37:29 PM AEST cory seligman via luv-main wrote:
> does anyone have experience putting older linux distros (specifically
> Ubuntu 10.04 LTS) on newer hardware?
>
> I have a VM running 10.04 that has a large amount of installed packages and
> tweaked installation details and I need it to be running natively on
> hardware.

Why do you need it running natively?  A VM is usually much easier for such
things.  If you are worried about performance then keep in mind that a VM on
new hardware will often outperform running natively on old hardware.

I've considered that. It runs fine in a VM except the required USB devices aren't always picked up by the VM and passed through. It also needs to be managed remotely (China) with no network (phone/email instructions) or be sent back for debugging.

It's a microcontroller mass production programming system that previously ran on 2009 era hardware and has been put into a VM when the hardware went missing.

 

> I'd just install it on an older laptop, but I want a hardware platform that
> has some kind of warranty and the ability to be replaced by just re-imaging.

Laptops are particularly difficult in regard to such things as their hardware
changes faster than desktops and servers.  Why does this have to be a laptop?

It's easier to send a laptop to the production house in China. They don't need to provide a screen or keyboard
 

> Ideally, I'd like to go out and buy a cheap netbook and image my VM onto
> it. What are the chances of this actually Just Working (TM)?

Not too bad as long as you don't need fast video.  If you just want 2D video
most things should just work.

Good answer - the one I was hoping for.


> All I need is basic video and USB. Don't even actually need networking.

There's a good chance that it will just do what you want then.  Why not try
it?

Mostly didn't want to take the risk of buying some new hardware and finding out it was a waste of money.

Thanks for the advice. I've bought one of these, because it's bonkers cheap.

https://www.jbhifi.com.au/computers-tablets/laptops/dell/dell-inspiron-11-3000-11-6-laptop/329999/