Linux Distros

See also:

• Linux Overview
• Documentation about Linux
• Building Routers with Linux
• Running off a Flash Drive
• Linux and SAMBA
• Replacing a Windows NT4 Server
• Configuring Debian 3.1 (Sarge)

Distributions

• 2010-Jul-01: Some Interesting Linux Distros including some small footprint ones. [9270]
• 2010-Jun-11: The OLPC Sugar on a Stick project is a special distro that can be installed to a USB drive to give you an OLPC Sugar computer, discussed here on Slashdot and here on Engadget. After a year this project reached version 3.0. [8200]
• 2010-May-28: While not really what one would normally call a distro, one can actually boot webOS on a PC. [9144]
• 2010-Jan-17: Hexxeh has been producing various ChromiumOS builds, discussed here on Slashdot. [8927]
• 2009-Sep-30: SUSE Studio is an online service for building a custom Linux system you can then download and use in a variety of ways. [8588]
• 2009-Sep-29: LiLi is a Linux Live USB Creator, it allows for easy creation of portable Linux installations that are bootable from USB sticks. [8579]
• 2009-Aug-08: Novell has a SUSE based appliance program that makes building a special purpose-specific Linux system easier. Discussed here on Slashdot. [8350]
• 2009-Jul-16: Android has been built for x86 processors and is now being packaged on a LiveCD. There is also the livedroid project which may have better networking support. To get new Android applications the Cyrket server might be of help. [8261]
• 2009-Jun-03: The Jolicloud OS is designed for social networking on netbooks. [8071]
• 2009-May-22: Tom's takes a look at installing and updating applications on Ubuntu. [8016]
• 2009-May-20: moblin is a Linux distro that Intel is tailoring for netbooks that use an Intel chip set. A video demo of this on a Samsung NC10 is here, it looks pretty snappy. DesktopLinux.com takes a look at this (discussed here on Slashdot) and quite likes where it is going. Version 2.0 of Moblin appeared in May'09. [7504] [1]
• 2009-Mar-25: Slashdot discusses fast-booting Linux distros. [7785]
• 2009-Mar-20: Presto from Xandros is a commercial instant-on Linux operating system for laptops. This is designed to be installed on a PC alongside an existing Windows environment without any need to repartition or reformat (so you have access to the same files under both environments). Mentioned here on Engadget. This has reached the public beta stage and is expected to be released in April for $20. [7684]
• 2009-Mar-09: The Linpus distro is used on the Acer Aspire One and boots pretty fast. [7712]
• 2009-Feb-27: GeexBoX is a distro focused on turning PCs into HTPCs, it even provides a tool to build your own customized ISO image to boot from. [7659] [1]
• 2009-Feb-24: Slashdot discusses which distro is a good choice for an Eee PC. Some of the suggestions include:
  • easy peasy (formerly Ubuntu Eee)
  • #! CrunchBang Linux, based on a minimal Ubuntu install.
  • archlinux
  • eeebuntu
  • DebianEeePC
  [7637] [1]
• 2009-Feb-15: Debian 5.0 (Lenny) got released in Feb 2009. [7595]
• 2009-Feb-12: Cuba is building its own Linux version in an attempt to keep Microsoft out. So if you you have a big beard, smoke massive cigars or like rum this could be just what you're waiting for. [7562]
• 2009-Feb-10: How have the distros fared over time? This article takes a look. [7548]
• 2009-Feb-06: A short summary guide to which of the Debian 4.0 Linux installation CDs you should consider using. [7543]
• 2009-Feb-04: Some notes on installing Slackware one of the longest running distros. [7532]
• 2008-Dec-05: Turnkey Linux is assembling some task-specific Linux distros, currently centered around various web/content serving tasks. [7301]
• 2008-Nov-19: The PLoP Boot Manager can be used to select different operating system installations to boot from. It can be started from harddisk, floppy, USB, CDROM or a network location. [7233]
• 2008-Nov-18: The Trinity Rescue Kit is a Linux distro that focuses on salvaging data from a failed PC system. [7230]
• 2008-Nov-16: OpenWrt.org is a Linux distribution for embedded devices (a simpler, prepackaged version called X-Wrt is also available), in particular a large number of small wireless routers. If you need a small, low-power, always-on computing device this might be an approach to take. It might even be possible to run a Windows Primary Domain Controller (PDC) on one of these using SAMBA 3, see the following:
  • ASUS WL-600g hacking which includes steps to compile samba 3.0.24.
  • This post claims that an ASUS WL-500g Deluxe can run SAMBA and act as a PDC
  The procedure for getting a PDC working has been figured out for the somewhat similar NSLU2 device (the LINKSYS Network Storage Link), see the HowToSetUpPDCWithSamba page. [7222] [1]
• 2008-Oct-28: Learning FreeNAS is a book on the FreeNAS system. [7103]
• 2008-Aug-02: Installing and using Fedora Linux on a PS3. [6622]
• 2008-May-27: A light review of a number of lightweight Linux distros in an attempt by the author to get something to run on a P3 600MHz laptop. [6245]
• 2008-Jan-13: TimeSys makes LinuxLink, which provides processor specific kernels, distros, toolchains, documentation and support to help get commercial embedded systems using Linux faster. [4667] [1]
• 2007-Dec-23: LiveCD Server is a commercial distro that aims to create a simple, but fully-functional server. [4515]
• The Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon has been released. It appears to be well received from the media playing perspective. [4269]
• The BusyBox is a specialized distro aimed at small-footprint applications like embedded devices. It's used in quite a few projects including a number of commercial products. [4268]
• Slashdot discusses making your own custom Linux installation ISOs. In this discussion Instalinux is is mentioned which is a rather interesting approach. The Knoppix Remastering Howto is cited, which should also be applicable to Ubuntu. The Custom NimbleX site is also mentioned, though this does not look as advanced as the Instalinux system. [4267]
• One user's experience with the Ubuntu installation and how it worked quite well, discussed here on Slashdot. [4266]
• Slashdot discusses various embedded Linux distributions [4265]
• A distro that can turn a laptop into an OLPC system is available [4264]
• INSERT is a small, bootable Linux system focused on security and rescue issues, it includes full read/write NTFS support. Recovery Is Possible (RIP) is another similar project, this one has RAID support. Trinity Rescue Kit is another. [4263]
• A list of mini-Linux distros [4262]
• PC-BSD (a FreeBSD variant) gets a good review, especially for ease of installation. Here is another article, 24-hour Test Drive of PC-BSD. [4261]
• Slashdot discusses the FreeNAS server, which is reviewed here. This is a specialized distro that is focused on converting old PCs into useful NAS boxes. Alternatives to this include OpenFiler and NASLite from Server Elements [4260]
• The CentOS project [4259]
• The ten best LiveCD distros that focus on security issues [4258]
• Anonym.OS, a live CD for anonymous surfing, discussed here on Slashdot [4257]
• Arudius (also here) is a live CD Linux distro for information security professionals. It is focused on providing tools for infomation assurance and vulnerability analysis. [4256]
• Edubuntu, a distro aimed at 5-12 year olds. [4255]
• Puppy Linux now allows you to write your data back to the CD you booted from - it appears this would work with CDRW, but only the same way as CDR media is treated (so free space is gradually lost, one session at a time as you use it. When the CDRW is full you could presumably erase it and reuse it again. Apparently this should also work with DVDR, and at $0.30/disk this would be the way to go! You'd probably damage the DVD physically before filling it... [4254]
• Damn Small Linux, aims at the 50MB image. This artical describes using it to revive older computers (discussed on Slashdot, and again). [4253]
• The Medaillon MP3 player also has the ability to boot a PC into Shinux linux [4252]
• Feather Linux, another very small distro [4251]
• Pebble Linux is a very small distro aimed at being run on embedded or portable devices. [4250]
• Ubuntu Linux, also examined here. and here as well. In May'06 SUN Microsystems started to adopt Ubuntu. Could this cause compatibility problems for Debian? In Sept'05 version 5.1 of this was previewed. Taking linux on the road with a small USB drive and the Ubuntu H2 distro. In late Oct'06 the 6.10 version of Ubuntu was released, there have been reports of problems when upgrading to this version. [4249]
• Yoper Linux 2.1 gets reviewed [4248]
• The Linux incompatibility list. [4247]
• GlobeTrotter a 40GB USB drive that's loaded with a Mandrake Linux that allows you to take over (and use) any PC with a USB connector. Perhaps this makes more sense that carrying a laptop between the office and home? For travel a version of this that fits on a 1GB USB flash device, but still leaves you some space to work would be good. [4246]
• The Gentoo Linux [4245]
• The DragonFly distro hits 1.0 [4244]
• The Progeny Debian distro [4243]
• Slackware 10 is now available (June'04) [4242]
• SUSE 9.1 Personal is now available [4241]
• Slashdot discusses live CDs for classic arcade gaming [4240]
• ipodlinux is making a version of Linux for the iPOD [4239]
• The local area security Linux LiveCD is discussed on Slashdot [4238]
• Here's a list of various Linux live-CD style distros [4237]
• Ark Linux distro [4236]
• A review of 4 live-CD Linux distros [4235]
• PCLinuxOS 2K4, a distro based on Mandrake (reviewed here), this is a live-CD sort of thing [4234]
• The Dave/Dina distro focuses on building a multi-media centre [4233]
• Mepis.org has a small distro based on Debian [4232]
• I got Debian from
  • ftp://sunsite.ualberta.ca/pub/Linux/debian/debian-iso/images/3.0_r1
  • ftp://debian.oregonstate.edu/debian-cdimage/3.0_r1/i386
  • ftp://cudlug.cudenver.edu/debian-cd/3.0_r1/i386
  • ftp://mirrors.usc.edu/pub/linux/distributions/debian-cd/i386
  [4231]
• Coyote Linux is a floppy-on-a-firewall type distribution [4230]
• A Tech Writer trys out some distros [4229]
• The bootable business card distro [4228]
• DistroWatch keeps a watch on the various Linux distributions [4227]