List of LiveDistros

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This is a list of LiveDistros, which is a generic term for an operating system distribution that is executed upon boot, without installation on a hard drive. Typically, it is stored on a bootable medium, such as a CD-ROM (Live CD), DVD (Live DVD), Floppy (Live floppy), and USB flash drive (Live USB), among others.

The term "live" derives from the fact that these distributions are a complete, runnable—i.e., "live"—instance of the operating system residing on the distribution medium, rather than the typical case of a collection of packages that must first be installed on the target machine before using the OS.

[edit] Rescue and Repair LiveDistros

RIP: (R)ecovery (I)s (P)ossible is a Linux-based CD with partition tool and network tools (Samba), based on the 2.6.17 kernel.
SystemRescueCD is a Linux-based CD with tools for Windows and Linux repairs, based on the 2.6 kernel.
Trinity Rescue Kit - Mandriva Linux-based CD for use on a Windows or Linux based system
Hiren's Boot CD - DOS-based computer rescue CD (partition, filesystem, and Windows tools)
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com - DOS-based computer rescue CD (partition, filesystem, and Windows tools)

[edit] BSD-derived

BSDanywhere, based on OpenBSD
Anonym.OS, an OpenBSD-based disk for secure anonymous web browsing
DesktopBSD (as of 1.6RC1, based on FreeBSD & FreeSBIE)
DragonFly BSD
FreeNAS (based on m0n0wall)
FreeSBIE (based on FreeBSD)
Ging - Ging is based on Debian GNU/kFreeBSD
m0n0wall (based on FreeBSD)
pfSense (based on m0n0wall)

[edit] Linux-based

See also: Comparison of Linux LiveDistros

[edit] Debian-based

DemoLinux (versions 2 and 3) - one of the very first Live CDs
Finnix: a small system administration Live CD. A PowerPC version is available.
Freeduc-cd, an educational live CD using Xfce realized with the help of UNESCO
gnuLinEx: includes GNOME
Gnoppix: includes GNOME
GNUstep: works on i386, AMD64, and PowerPC
Kanotix: installable Live CD.
Knoppix, the "original" Debian-based LiveDistro.
MEPIS: installable Live CD.
Parsix GNU/Linux - includes GNOME and is focused on the Persian language
sidux, sidux^[1] based on Debian unstable (Sid), installable Live CD.
Tuquito, created in Argentina
Damn Small Linux, very light and small with fluxbox, installable Live CD.
ULAnux/ULAnix, created in Mérida, Venezuela and available on CD/DVD and USB forms.

[edit] Ubuntu-based

There are based at least partially on Ubuntu, which is based on Debian

gNewSense: supported by the Free Software Foundation, includes GNOME
gOS a series of lightweight OS's based on Ubuntu with Ajax based applications and other Web 2.0 applications, geared to beginning users. installable Live CD.
LinspireLive (formerly LindowsLive), a trial version of Linspire
Linux Mint: installable Live CD.
openGEU: installable Live CD.
Ubuntu, installable Live CD.
Edubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, installable Live CD.

[edit] Knoppix-based

A large number of live CDs are based on Knoppix. The list of those is in the Variations section of the Knoppix article.

[edit] Gentoo-based

iloog
Jollix
Kororaa
Pentoo
SabayonLinux - MiniEditions are full-featured Live CDs
SystemRescueCd
VidaLinux
Ututo

[edit] RPM-based

PCLinuxOS, installable Live CD. for desktop computing use.
PLD Live CD and PLD RescueCD, based on PLD Linux Distribution.
SAM Linux: installable Live CD. based on PCLinuxOS 2007 and Xfce.
PCFluxboxOS: Lightweight distro based on PCLinuxOS with Fluxbox as the default window manager.
openSuSE installable Live CD. Live-DVD
Linguas OS: PCFluxboxOS-derived industry-specific distro for translators.

[edit] Mandrake/Mandriva-based

MCNLive, mid-sized (300 MB) and for multimedia
DemoLinux (version 1)
Mandriva Linux, installable Live CD. GNOME and KDE editions available

[edit] Red Hat Linux/Fedora-based

Berry Linux
Fedora installable Live CD. (GNOME or KDE)
CentOS installable Live CD.

[edit] Slackware-based

Austrumi - 50 MB Mini distro
GoblinX
MoviX, eMoviX and MoviX² - specifically designed as a standalone multimedia player
NimbleX - under 200 MB
SLAX - A Slackware derivative, modular and very easy to remaster
- BackTrack, a penetration testing toolkit
- De-ICE.net, live CDs used as penetration testing targets
SLAMPP
STUX
Vector Linux (Standard and SOHO Editions)
Wolvix
Slackel - a multilingual Slackware-based live CD with compiz, kde and graphical hard disk installer developed in Greece.

[edit] Other (Linux-based)

Archie is a Live CD version of Arch Linux.
Ark Linux Live, a Live CD version of Ark Linux
CHAOS, small (6 Megabytes) and designed for creating ad hoc computer clusters
dyne:bolic, for multimedia production (especially for media activists, artists and creatives).
EnGarde Secure Linux - A highly-secure Linux based on SE Linux
FaunOS - a portable, fully integrated Linux distribution based on Arch Linux, which can run from a USB Flash Drive or a DVD.
GeeXboX - A self-contained media center suite based on Linux and MPlayer
GoboLinux - an alternative Linux distribution. Its most salient feature is its reorganization of the filesystem hierarchy. Under GoboLinux, each program has its own subdirectory tree.
Puppy Linux, installable Live CD. very small.
SliTaz GNU/Linux - Installable Live CD, one of the smallest available with good feature set.
tomsrtbt - A small distribution available on a single floppy disc (1.44 MB disc reformatted to a larger capacity)
Autoclave - A bootable floppy specifically intended for formatting IDE disks, currently unmaintained.

[edit] OpenSolaris-based

BeleniX
SchilliX is the first OpenSolaris LiveDistro distribution.

[edit] GNU-based

Free software Portal

Nexenta OS, a Debian-based GNU/Solaris
Ging, the first live CD distribution based on Debian GNU/kFreeBSD

[edit] Mac OS-based

OSx86 ^[2]
BootCD from Charlessoft for Mac OS X
System Folder of Mac OS on a CD or on a floppy disk

[edit] Microsoft Windows-based

BartPE (Windows XP/2003): Allows the creation of a bootable CD from Windows-install files.
WinBuilder (Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista): Allows the creation of a bootable CD from Windows-install files.
Microsoft Windows Preinstallation Environment
Ultimate Boot CD for Windows: BartPE-based recovery/rescue CD.

Microsoft representatives have described third-party efforts at producing Windows-based LiveDistros as “improperly licensed” uses of Windows^{[citation needed]}, unless you use it solely to rescue your own, properly licensed Installation. However, Nu2 Productions believes the use of BartPE is legal provided that one Windows license is purchased for each BartPE CD, and the Windows license is used for nothing else.^[3]

The Microsoft sanctioned MS Windows Preinstallation Environment product is linked above, but only WinPE version 2.0 is available freely for general use (it is part of the Windows Automated Installation Kit).^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Early microcomputer disk operating systems

Several floppy disk operating systems for microcomputers allowed live running from a bootable floppy disk, although this was considered to be the normal way to work rather than a special feature. Some earlier operating systems did not support a hard disk. Amongst others:

CP/M and CP/M-86
Apple DOS for Apple II
MS-DOS itself and most variants and clones.
OpenDOS
FreeDOS

[edit] Other operating systems

BeOS - all BeOS discs can be run in LiveDistro mode, although PowerPC versions need to be kickstarted from Mac OS 8
OS/2 Ecomstation Demo
Minix
MorphOS - installable Live CD. which can be also used as independent from any existing MorphOS installations.
AROS - Offers live-CD for download on the project page
OpenVMS - installable Live CD.
Plan 9 from Bell Labs - All Plan 9 CDs can run in LiveDistro mode in PC systems.
QNX
ReactOS
SkyOS
Syllable Live CD
MenuetOS - live floppy written in assembly for x86 and x86-64
KolibriOS - a fork of MenuetOS