List of live CDs

This is a list of live CDs. A live CD or live DVD is a CD or DVD containing a bootable computer operating system. Live CDs are unique in that they have the ability to run a complete, modern operating system on a computer lacking mutable secondary storage, such as a hard disk drive.

Rescue and repair live CDs

• Billix – A multiboot distribution and system administration toolkit with the ability to install any of the included Linux distributions
• Boot Repair Disk - One-click repair disk featuring 'Boot-Repair' for Linux and Microsoft Windows Systems
• Inquisitor – Linux kernel-based hardware diagnostics, stress testing and benchmarking Live CD
• Kaspersky Rescue CD - A live CD "to scan, disinfect and restore infected operating systems." by the antivirus editor
• Parted Magic – Entirely based on the 2.6 or newer kernels
• Recovery Is Possible (RIP) – A Linux kernel-based CD with partition tool and network tools (Samba), earlier versions were based on the 2.6.17 kernel
• System Folder of Mac OS on a CD or on a floppy disk – Works on any media readable by 68k or PowerPC Macintosh computers
• SystemRescueCD – A Linux kernel-based CD with tools for Windows and Linux repairs
• Trinity Rescue Kit – Mandriva Linux-based CD for use on a Windows or Linux system

BSD-based

FreeBSD based

• DesktopBSD – as of 1.6RC1 FreeBSD and FreeSBIE based
• FreeBSD – has supported use of a "fixit" CD for diagnostics since 1996
• FreeNAS – m0n0wall-based
• FreeSBIE (discontinued) – FreeBSD-based
• GhostBSD – FreeBSD based with gnome GUI, installable to HDD
• Ging – Debian GNU/kFreeBSD-based
• m0n0wall – FreeBSD-based
• PC-BSD – FreeBSD-based
• pfSense – m0n0wall-based

OpenBSD based

• Anonym.OS (discontinued) – an OpenBSD-based disc for secure and anonymous Web browsing
• jggimi - a OpenBSD 5.0-release LiveCD / LiveDVD for x86 and AMD64 in 6 variant: basic, Firefox, fluxbox, xfce, gnome and kde.

Other BSDs

• DragonFly BSD

DOS-based

• FreeDOS – the official "Full CD" 1.0 release includes a Live CD portion
• Ultimate Boot CD (UBCD)

Hurd-based

• Arch Hurd A live CD of Arch Linux with the GNU Hurd as its kernel.

Linux kernel-based

See also: Comparison of Linux distributions § Live CDs/DVDs/USBs

Arch Linux based

• ArchBang – An OpenBox preconfigured Arch Linux Live CD AND distribution
• Archie is a live CD version of Arch Linux.
• DidJiX – A live Linux distribution focused on Mixxx
• FaunOS – a portable, fully integrated Linux distribution based on Arch Linux, which can run from a USB Flash Drive or a DVD
• Manjaro – It is a primarily free software operating system for personal computers aimed at ease of use.

Debian-based

These are directly based on Debian:

• aptosid based on Debian unstable (Sid), installable Live CD, DVD
• BackTrack – A penetration testing toolkit
• Debian Live – Official live CD version of Debian
• Finnix – A small system administration Live CD, based on Debian testing, and available for x86 and PowerPC architectures
• grml – Installable Live CD for sysadmins and text tool users
• HandyLinux - A French/English Linux distribution derived from Debian designed for inexperienced computer users
• Instant WebKiosk – Live, browser only operating system for use in web kiosks and digital signage deployments
• Kali Linux – A penetration testing toolkit
• Knoppix – The "original" Debian-based Live CD
• LinuxBBQ - installable Live CD based on Debian Unstable (Sid)
• PureOS – Based on Debian testing, installable Live CD/USB
• siduction based on Debian unstable (Sid), installable Live CD, DVD, fork of aptosid
• Tails - An Amnesic OS based on anonymity and Tor
• Webconverger - Kiosk software that boots live in order to turn PC into temporary Web kiosk

Knoppix-based

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

Ubuntu-based

These are based at least partially on Ubuntu, which is based on Debian:

• CGAL LiveCD – Live CD containing CGAL with all demos compiled. This enables the user to get an impression of CGAL and create CGAL software without the need to install CGAL.
• Emmabuntüs is a Linux distribution derived from Ubuntu and designed to facilitate the repacking of computers donated to Emmaüs Communities.
• gNewSense – Supported by the Free Software Foundation, includes GNOME
• gOS – A series of lightweight operating systems based on Ubuntu with Ajax-based applications and other Web 2.0 applications, geared to beginning users, installable Live CD
• Linux Mint – Installable Live CD
• Mythbuntu – A self-contained media center suite based on Ubuntu and MythTV
• OpenGEU – Installable Live CD
• PC/OS – An Ubuntu derivative whose interface was made to look like BeOS. a 64 bit version was released in May 2009. In 2010 PC/OS moved to a more unified look to its parent distribution and a GNOME version was released on March 3, 2010.
• Pinguy - An Ubuntu based distribution designed to look and feel simple. Pinguy is designed with the intent of integrating new users to Linux.
• Puredyne – Live CD/DVD/USB for media artists and designers, based on Ubuntu and Debian Live
• Qimo 4 Kids – A fun distro for kids that comes with educational games
• Super OS (formerly Super Ubuntu) – Installable Live DVD, can be converted to a Live USB using the built-in cd2usb or usb-creator
• TurnKey Linux Virtual Appliance Library – Family of installable Live CD appliances optimized for ease of use in server-type usage scenarios
• Ubuntu and Lubuntu – Bootable live CDs.
• Security Onion - is a Linux distro for IDS (Intrusion Detection) and NSM (Network Security Monitoring).

Other Debian-based

• AVLinux – AVLinux is a Linux for multimedia content creators.
• CrunchBang Linux – Installable Live CD, using Openbox as window manager
• Damn Small Linux – Very light and small with JWM and Fluxbox, installable Live CD
• DemoLinux (versions 2 and 3) – One of the very first Live CDs
• Dreamlinux – Installable Live CD to hard drives or flash media * This distribution has ceased support *
• Freeduc-cd – An educational live CD using Xfce realized with the help of UNESCO
• gnuLinEx – Includes GNOME
• GNUstep – Works on i386, AMD64, UltraSPARC, and PowerPC
• Kanotix – Installable Live CD
• MEPIS – Installable Live CD

Gentoo-based

• Calculate Linux
• FireballISO – VMware virtual machine that generates a customized security-hardened IPv4 and IPv6 firewall Live CD.
• Incognito – includes anonymity and security tools such as Tor by default
• Pentoo
• SabayonLinux
• SystemRescueCD
• Ututo
• VidaLinux

Mandriva-based

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

openSUSE-based

• openSuSE – official Novell/SuSE-GmbH version – installable Live CD GNOME and KDE versions available

Red Hat Linux/Fedora-based

• Berry Linux
• CentOS – installable Live CD
• Fedora – installable Live CD, GNOME or KDE
• Korora – installable Live USB (recommended over DVD); Cinnamon, GNOME, KDE, MATE, or Xfce
• Network Security Toolkit – installable Live CD/DVD, GNOME or Fluxbox

Slackware-based

• AUSTRUMI – 50 MB Mini distro
• BioSLAX – a bioinformatics live CD with over 300 bioinformatics applications
• NimbleX – under 200 MB
• Porteus (operating system) – under 300 MB
• Salix
• Slax – modular and very easy to remaster
• Vector Linux (Standard and SOHO Editions)
• Zenwalk

Other (Linux kernel-based)

• Acronis Rescue Media – to make disk images from hard disk drives
• CHAOS – small (6 MB) and designed for creating ad hoc computer clusters
• Devil-Linux – for services such as firewall/router (and many others), no graphical interface, can run from CD or USB
• dyne:bolic – for multimedia production (especially for media activists, artists and creatives)
• EnGarde Secure Linux – a highly secure Linux based on SE Linux
• 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.
• Granular – installable Live CD based on PCLinuxOS, featuring KDE and Enlightenment
• Lightweight Portable Security – developed and publicly distributed by the United States Department of Defense’s Software Protection Initiative to serve as a secure end node
• Linux From Scratch Live CD – used as a starting point for a Linux From Scratch installation
• Nanolinux – 14 MB distro on an installable Live CD with BusyBox and Fltk, for desktop computing
• PCLinuxOS – installable Live CD for desktop computing use
• Plop Linux - Live CD designed to rescue data, can use as server and as desktop Linux.
• Puppy Linux – installable Live CD, very small
• SliTaz GNU/Linux – installable Live CD, one of the smallest available with good feature set
• Tiny Core Linux – based on Linux 2.6 kernel, BusyBox, Tiny X, Fltk, and Flwm, begins at 10 MB
• XBMC Live – a self-contained media center suite based on Embedded Linux and XBMC Media Center

Mac OS X-based

• BootCD from Charlessoft for Mac OS X up to 10.3 (including PowerPC Macintosh)
• DasBoot by SubRosaSoft.com
• OSx86 (x86 only)

Microsoft Windows-based

Microsoft representatives have described third-party efforts at producing Windows-based Live CDs as “improperly licensed” uses of Windows, 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.

• BartPE (Windows XP/2003) – allows the creation of a bootable CD from Windows-install files
  • Reatogo-X-PE – based on BartPE
  • Ultimate Boot CD for Windows (UBCD4Win) – a BartPE based Live CD with lots of recovery/system tools
• Microsoft Windows Preinstallation Environment
  • Windows PE (Windows 7) – the official tool from Microsoft to create a bootable image based on the Windows 7 kernel. It is part of the Windows Automated Installation Kit 3.0.
  • Windows PE – Free eScan Rescue Disk
• VistaPE – a Live CD version for Windows Vista
• WinBuilder (Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista) – allows the creation of a bootable CD from Windows-install files

OpenSolaris-based

Systems based on the former open source "OS/net Nevada" or ONNV open source project by Sun Microsystems.

OpenSolaris-based

• BeleniX – full LiveCD and LiveUSB distribution (moving to Illumos?)
• MilaX small opensolaris based LiveCD and LiveUSB
• OpenSolaris – the former official distribution supported by Sun Microsystems based on ONNV and some closed source parts
• SchilliX started as the first OpenSolaris Live CD distribution.

Illumos-based

Illumos is a fork of the former OpenSolaris ONNV aiming to further develop the ONNV and replacing the closed source parts while remaining binary compatible. The following products are based upon Illumos:

• Nexenta OS – combines the GNU userland with the OpenSolaris kernel.
• OpenIndiana – since OpenIndiana 151a based on Illumos

Other operating systems

• AmigaOS 4 – Installable Live CD
• AROS – Offers Live CD for download on the project page
• BeOS – All BeOS discs can be run in Live CD mode, although PowerPC versions need to be kickstarted from Mac OS 8 when run on Apple or clone hardware
• Haiku – Haiku is a free and open source operating system compatible with BeOS running on Intel x86 platforms instead of PowerPC.
• Hiren's BootCD
• Minix
• MorphOS – Installable Live CD
• OpenVMS – Installable Live CD
• OS/2 Ecomstation Demo
• Plan 9 from Bell Labs – Plan 9 has a Live CD, which is also its install CD (and the installer is a shell script).
• QNX
• ReactOS
• SkyOS
• Syllable Desktop Live CD

See also

• List of tools to create Live USB systems
• Windows To Go

External links

• The LiveCD List
• Linux: Distributions: Live CD at Curlie