Linux "LIVE" CD Distro???

Gandalf23

Hi all

I have been using Knoppix from a live CD (old laptop with no HDD space) for a while now, and I think its fantastic.

I got boot CD's of Mandriva and the IFSO's Linux distro at ICT Expo earlier today. Just playing around with these now.

I was just wondering if all Linux distros are available as live CD?

If not, what distros are available, and which one(s) would you recommend?

hostyle

I think you mean Live CD, rather than Boot CD. A Live Cd runs the distro without being installed on your hard-drive. Whereas a Boot CD just means its um "bootable" Installation disks are also bootable. Damn, its a bit early for actual thinking.

seanos

The Mandriva & IFSO Cds handed out at the Linux.ie stand at ICT Expo, were both "Live CDs", which are inheriently bootable...

All linux distro's at this point are available on bootable cds (put cd in drive, boot computer, installer opens), however live cds do not install the distribution to your HD - you don't even need a HD in the machine - so it is useful for people who wish to try out/see linux, but maybe not delve into the depths of it completely.

Mandriva disk contains the Mandriva distribution, (aka Mandrake, they changed their name), and the IFSO CDs contain and oldish (Around last September/October) version of Morphixx (based on Debian), and also some free software applications for windows/mac (putty and the like).

As I mensioned, both these were 'Live CDs', so no changes made to the hard drive.
The Ubuntu disks being handed out are not Live CDs, but install to your hard disk, they are however bootable

Gandalf23

Thanks guys... I was mixing up my "lives" with my "boots"... typical newbie huh? Appropriate edits made to the initial post.

Silly question, but what is the best way to get the live CD's of SuSE, Debian, Gentoo, Red Hat etc?

Do you recommend any other Live CD distros? (I dont mind if they are fairly complex... I'm getting around Knoppix OK at this stage).

seanos

Suse - Don't have one
Debian - Don't have one directly, however morphixx/ubuntu etc are based on debian (ubuntu does have a live-cd version)
gentoo : I believe has one ? .... although could easily be wrong
RH : doesn't have one.

Check the respective websites

p.s. knoppix also based on debian

parasite

there is a suse live cd /dvd : anseo

seanos

Ah ok, sorry, wasn't aware of it.

Gandalf23

Comprehensive list of Linux live CD's here...

http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=cd

oscarBravo

The Ubuntu CD sets that were sent out include live CDs (for x86, not for PPC).

briano

If you have time on your hands, or just want to get to know linux *really* well you could always try to make your own.

http://heanet.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/souptonuts/instructions_boot_system.txt

tomk

A couple missing from that Distrowatch list:

ATmission - fedora-based
Kanotix - a Knoppix variant, said by some to be better than the original

nadir

im going to make my own live distro, got some mini dvd's there the other day.

Ste-

nadir wrote:

im going to make my own live distro, got some mini dvd's there the other day.

I was thinking of this aswell.
I was thinking of putting on tools to manage your mp3 player aswell. Such as gnomad2 and gnupod and other such tools. so that if all things go heads up you can back up music and data to your mp3 player, for of us with 1 cd-rom drive it makes things handy.

I know most mp3 players are mass storage but the creative ones aren't (pain in the ass) so gnomad2 would be great on a live cd.