-=> Mike Powell wrote to ALL <=-

 MP> Is there still a stripped down distribution, based on debian,
 MP> which keeps the kernel and security packages updated while
 MP> remaining a version behind, or while stripping the bells and
 MP> whistles?

 MP> A few weeks back I tried upgrading an old Pentium-3 800 machine
 MP> that I use as a server from debian 9 to 10 "Buster."  I had to
 MP> downgrade it back due to issues with it grinding the system to a
 MP> halt, and that is without even installing an x-server.  :)

 MP> I was hoping there might still be some debian-based "lighter
 MP> weight" distros out there.  The ones I remember from a few years
 MP> back have ceased being maintained.

You might give antiX a try, it says it's a lightweight Deb variant
and specifically mentions running on P3's:

https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=antix


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