@whitequark consider #toybox if it has what you need.

https://landley.net/toybox

• Granted it doesn't have #telnet and the head maintainer @landley explicitly endorsed #dropbear (a lightweight #SSH server & client) instead, but in my experiements ( @OS1337, based off @w84death 's #Floppinux ) allowed me to quickly cobble together a <1.440kB boot image (incl. >200kB for #ISOLINUX alone!) that does an 80×25 MDA console both on VGA & Serial (@ 9600/8/N1)…

I hope that helps you...

@BestGirlGrace the only reason I use #SSH tunnels is because they work reliably.

• I really need to see if I can use #dropbear with #pwnat to get some public-reachable SSH server persistently through #NAT|s.

@landley @ActionRetro Yeah, I know that one and OFC unless one needs to save every kB of space it doesn't make sense to cut a lot of functionality out of a system.

• #mkroot aims to be a showcase of a #toybox + #musl / #linux system.

• #OS1337 on the other hand trades functionality for size in the CORE "Edition" in order to fit.

OFC that means a lot of tools I want to add won't fit into that envelope either...

• But #dropbear and some basic network drivers to #SSH should be in the cards for a sort-of "SSH-Terminal"...

Also mkroot is IMHO a way better option than what some vendors cobble together with old Debian versions and also way easier than #LinuxFromScratch!