List of live CDs

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.

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)

BSD-derived

• 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)

Linux-based

See also: Comparison of Linux LiveDistros

Debian-based

• DemoLinux (versions 2 and 3) - one of the very first LiveCDs
• Finnix: a small system administration LiveCD. 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: includes GNUstep and works on i386, AMD64, and PowerPC
• Kanotix: installable LiveCD.
• Knoppix, the "original" Debian-based LiveDistro.
• MEPIS: installable LiveCD.
• Parsix GNU/Linux - includes GNOME and is focused on the Persian language
• sidux, sidux based on Debian unstable (Sid), installable LiveCD.
• Tuquito, created in Argentina
• Damn Small Linux, very light and small with fluxbox, installable LiveCD.
• ULAnux/ULAnix, created in Mérida, Venezuela and available on CD/DVD and USB forms.

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 Rocket: a very lightweight OS based on Ubuntu with the Enlightenment desktop and Googles Ajax based applications, geared to beginning users. installable LiveCD.
• LinspireLive (formerly LindowsLive), a trial version of Linspire
• Linux Mint: installable LiveCD.
• openGEU: installable LiveCD.
• Ubuntu, installable LiveCD.
• Edubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, installable LiveCD.

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.

Gentoo-based

• Jollix
• Kororaa
• Pentoo
• SabayonLinux - MiniEditions are full-featured LiveCDs
• SystemRescueCd
• VidaLinux
• Ututo

RPM-based

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

Mandrake/Mandriva-based

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

Red Hat Linux/Fedora-based

• Berry Linux
• Fedora installable LiveCD. (GNOME or KDE)
• CentOS installable LiveCD.

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)

Other (Linux-based)

• Archie is a LiveCD 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 LiveCD. very small.
• 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.

OpenSolaris-based

• BeleniX
• SchilliX is the first OpenSolaris LiveDistro distribution.

GNU-based

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

Mac OS-based

• BootCD from Charlessoft for Mac OS X
• System Folder of Mac OS on a CD or on a floppy disk

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.. 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.

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).

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

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 LiveCD. which can be also used as independent from any existing MorphOS installations.
• AROS - Offers live-CD for download on the project page
• OpenVMS - installable LiveCD.
• Plan 9 from Bell Labs - All Plan 9 CDs can run in LiveDistro mode in PC systems.
• QNX
• ReactOS
• SkyOS
• Syllable LiveCD
• MenuetOS - live floppy written in assembly for x86 and x86-64
• KolibriOS - a fork of MenuetOS

External links

• FrozenTech‘s LiveCD List (more than 200)