With the emergence and popularity of Knoppix, a universal “run-from-CD” Linux distribution, it is too easy to forget about all other Linux-on-CD projects. And there are plenty of them. Some are designed to demonstrate the power of Linux to unsuspecting users of other operating systems, while others are highly specialised projects useful even to experienced Linux gurus. They range from emergency rescue and system diagnostics CDs to multimedia oriented projects that transform a diskless or OS-less computer into a full home theatre. Each of these projects has a unique feature, a merit and a niche to fill. Let’s take a brief look at each of them.
Roundup of CD-based Linux Distributions
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Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
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I never tested Knoppix myself (am I the only person in the world that haven’t used it?), but I have used Demolinux and Byzantine OS. I was positively impressed with Byzantine OS; they seem to have a great future.
Anyway, any CD-based distro should be praised. Hats off to all of them!
CD-based distros were the first linux distros I used. I provided me with the security that none of my data would be harmed, yet allowed me to play around with linux. These are a great to get people interested in linux without complications of repartitoning their harddrives. Thanks to all that make CD-based distros.
Could someone who used one of these distros tell me how long it takes to boot one of these?
I’ve got the feeling that it will take a pretty long time to boot a cd based OS.
Knoppix seems to be on a par with a regular HD install.
What I’d like to see is a distro that will boot a PS2 from CD. Who wants to spend as much as the console cost just to buy a Linux kit, if you can find one that is. Just slap a copy of MAME on a bootable disc and I’m in arcade heaven!
> Could someone who used one of these distros tell me how long it takes to boot one of these?
Of all the distros mentioned, I’ve only tried the SuSe Evaluation so I can only speak to its boot time. The total boot took about 5-7 minutes on my 1.5 GHz Athlon. I was impressed enough with it that I passed it along to some people who were interested in Linux.
Now if only SuSe provided downloadable ISOs of their actual releases… then I might actually consider using it for real.
Can’t leave home without it. I’ve used it as a rescue disk, network diagnostics and such. I always make sure I have a copy of it inside my laptop bag. Heck, I can even play divx files from an HD/network with it.
> Could someone who used one of these distros tell me how long it takes to boot one of these?
On my Athlon 1000 mhz, 512 MB sdram, Knoppix CD start a little faster then Mandrake 9.0 or Redhat 8.0.
Applications start fast too.
Its resonably easy. Im developing a small distribution to Brazilian users called Kurumin (172 MB at present time) and a documentation project (im Portuguese) explaining how to personalize the distribution, including more prograns, etc.
The ISO is available here: http://www.guiadohardware.net/linux/kurumin/
The personalization project: http://www.guiadohardware.net/tutoriais/77/
You can for example develop a base distribution to install in all PCs of your network at minus than 10 minutes per PC with automatic hardware detection!
The original how-to (in English): http://www.knoppix.net/docs/