Very mini linux [OT]

[Thomas Beckett]

Sorry if this is too off topic for the ubuntu list.

I have been asked if it is possible to create a linux boot floppy
similar to the rescue floppies (tomsrtbt hal91 etc) that simply boots,
ftp folders from the fat16 drive to a site on our network and shuts
down.

The problem is that the machine it is to run on is an old leco
chemistry automation machine. This machine is based on a 286 (i think)
and only has 3MB ram so HAL91 for example will not work as they
require at least 8mb for the ram drive.
I understand the basics of making boot floppies but all the ones ive
made in the past have used a ramdrive and this cant happen in this
case.
Does anybody know anything about making VERY small floppy systems. It
will need to have the file system uncompressed on the floppy and I
imagine just be a very skinny kernel (will using a 2.0 or 2.2 series
kernel make it smaller?), the nic module, the vfat module and then the
ftp program and busybox.

Ive tried googling for mini distros but all i get is reference to
either floppy distros that i cant use or damn small linux etc.

Does anybody know of any resources that might be able to help me?

Many thanks

Tom