Linux Distribution

Run from HDD

How to Run Any Linux Distribution Directly from Hard Disk

Run from RAM

Dsitro	DE/WM	Pro
Lubuntu	LxQt/Openbox	nothing special
Slax	NA/fluxbox	very thin ito software very clean itf interface no installation option
antiX live default pw: demo FAQ, Forum	iceWM/IceWM	include many goodies: SMTube, mpv, Youtube video player ISO snapshot.

• List of Linux distributions that run from RAM
• Ubuntu
  • Memory usage is 5.4GB according to System Monitor
  • When I try to 'Power off' my USB drive through the 'Disks' utility. But I got an error that Device or resource is busy.
  • If I forcefully pull out the USB drive, the whole live session is gone. So the conclusion is boot to ram is not fully supported.
  • My experience with Ubuntu 20.04/22.04: press "e" and add toram just before or after "quiet splash" on line 4 (starting with linux) and then press F10. See screenshots.

setparams 'Ubuntu'

        set gfxpayload=keep
        linux   /casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/pressed/ubuntu.seed maybe-ubiquity toram quiet splash ---
        initrd  /casper/initrd

• List of Linux distributions that run from RAM. Some based on Debian include antiX (#15), Knoppix (#73), Slax and Tails (#31) (ranking is by DistroWatch as Oct 2021). RAM usage is about 350MB except antiX uses only 125MB.
• For antiX/MX Linux, we need to add toram parameter to the option line on the boot screen (tested on antiX-19.4_x64-full.iso).
  • First boot screen -> Use Legacy Kernel -> Normal Boot (but add "toram" to the Boot Options line at the bottom). So the boot options become "quiet splasht disable=1xF toram". Enter. It will show "Copy 1.33 GiB to RAM" on the screen (about 1 minute).
  • I delete all partitions on HDD and add 2.0TB as "/". Then the installation can continue.
  • After we see the desktop df -h should not reveal /dev/sda1 and it should only have tmpfs and /dev/loop0.
  • I can remove the USB drive.
  • To configure wifi, open antiX Control Centre -> Network -> WiFi Connect(Connman).
  • Somehow, it can remember my identity so I don't need to go to wifi to reconnect. Interesting.
• What are the best Linux distros that run entirely in RAM?
• A screenshot of antiX-21 (taken from running in Proxmox, so the res is 1024 x 768/4:3)

Linux Distro for Your Cloud Server

How to Choose the Right Linux Distro for Your Cloud Server Fedora is the upstream source of Red Hat. CentOS is the downstream source of RHEL.

Debian derived distributions

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_distributions#Debian-based

SparkyLinux

• 7 Best Rolling Release Linux Distributions for People Who Want the Latest and Greatest of Kernel and Software 2021: openSUSE Tumbleweed, Arch Linux, Manjaro Linux, Solus Linux, Debian Testing, Void Linux, Gentoo Linux.
• SparkyLinux is a lightweight, fast and simple Linux distribution designed for both old and new computers featuring customised Enlightenment and LXDE desktops. It has been built on the "testing" branch of Debian GNU/Linux.
• It has two flavors of images: Stable and (Semi)Rolling (another good choice is MX Linux).
• For example, r-base and ddclient programs are the latest when I checked them on my rolling release SparkyLinux.
• Minimum system requirements
• Past releases
• The AppCenter (APTUS APPCENTER) has different subcategories under categories. This make it easy to discover new software. For example, in Sparky 8, the "System" category has 9 subcategories: Backup, Disk, Encrypt, File Systems, Kernels, Others, Packages, Shells and Virtual.
• SparkyLinux – Review and Step-by-Step Installation Guide (in Proxmox).

MX Linux

• https://mxlinux.org/
• MX Linux 21 XFCE: Theming Guide

Kali

• Kali Linux adds VM-like snapshot feature to bare-metal installs
• 4 Reasons Why Hackers Use Kali Linux
• 15 Best Kali Linux Web Penetration Testing Tools

Peppermint

https://peppermintos.com/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peppermint_OS

• Not even any web browser has been pre-installed. "We hope you enjoy - Everything you need & nothing you don't".
• A light-weight LXDE distribution for cloud applications
• In place of traditionally native applications for common tasks (word processing, image editing), it ships with the custom Ice application, which allows users to create site-specific browsers (SSB's).
• From my testing, favicon is not downloaded when I create an SSB for twitter in ICE:)
• Not impressed by the SSB idea.

Gnoppix

Gnoppix Linux 22.12 is out with GNOME 43, Kernel 6.0, + More

Whonix OS

• https://www.whonix.org/
• Whonix KVM - A Secure OS for the Dark Web

Red Hat derived distributions

4 Ways Red Hat's Source Code Restrictions Affect Other Distros

Fedora

LXQt version looks better than GNOME (the top menu does not show all opened apps!) and KDE (too heavy).

• Switching desktop environments
• How to Install Python 3.11 on Fedora 35

  sudo dnf upgrade --refresh -y
  sudo dnf install dnf-plugins-core -y
  sudo dnf install python3.11
  sudo dnf install python3-pip
  

• Fedora 33 launches with updated GNOME and BTRFS

Fedora Silverblue

Why I've Gone All In on Fedora Silverblue

Arch Linux

Arch Linux

Small/lightweight Linux distributions

• Install Linux to Save Space! These Tiny Linux Distros Are Super Small 10/10/2017
• 13 Lightweight Linux Distributions to Give Your Old PC a New Lease of Life 5/5/2017. Some distributions that can be run in RAM: Macpup, Porteus.
• 10 Best Lightweight Linux Distros For Old Computers | 2019
• 50+ Best Lightweight Linux Distros for 2020 (it includes a table for comparison), Best lightweight Linux distro of 2020
• 16 Best Lightweight Linux Distributions For Older Computers 2021

Puppy Linux

• https://puppylinux-woof-ce.github.io/
  • Wiki
• I am testing BookwormPup64 10.0 64-bit on Acer Aspire One intel atom n570 netbook.
• How to Install Puppy Linux on a USB Drive or PC
  • When we use Gparted to create two partitions (linux-swap and ext4), remember to use Gparted to create a "boot" flag on ext4. Otherwise, we will see an error "Boot flag not found on sda." when we restart the computer.
• Even Puppy linux is installed to hard disk, it still copy puppy-*.xfs to RAM. So the root directory size is very limited.
  • Frugal installations
• When we shut down Puppy linux the first time, be sure to let it save the settings. Otherwise, it will lose the wifi setting, etc.

Make a Linux distro

Making a micro Linux distro

Live USB

See Live USB.

Best Linux Distributions

7 Deadly Sins of Distrohopping

Lightweight

Best Lightweight Linux Distributions for Older Computers (With System Requirements)

Secure

10 Best And Most Secure Linux Distributions

Immutable

• 11 Immutable Linux Distributions for Those Looking to Embrace the Future
• The 5 Best Immutable, Rock-Solid Linux Distros
  • Fedora Silverblue ships with the entire system provided as one giant component that you replace whenever you download a system update (one that is also read-only). This is an approach similar to that of Android, Chromebooks, and macOS. It stops a single corrupted system file from preventing your entire PC from booting.
• This All-in-One Linux Distro Isn’t for Everyone, but It Cured My Distro-Hopping Habit
  • https://blendos.co/

Gaming

Best Distributions for Gaming on Linux

Desktop

The Best Desktop Environments For Linux

Kids

How to Configure Linux for Children