Linux LIVE CDs

Live CDs can run the Linux operating System entirely from a cd and without installing it on the computer. They come as small as 50 mb in size. To create one you need burning software capable of burning an ISO image (regular burning won't work). Image Burn is a free download

Live CDs have various uses. They are a great way to try Linux without having to actually install it. Just pop the bootable CD in your PC and start the computer. If you are refurbishing computers live CDs work great for testing PCs. For example, suppose you have one that won't boot. Is it a hardware problem or a software one? With a live CD you can literally remove the hard drive and the PC will still run off the cd.

Name
ISO Size (megabytes)
Min Max
Primary Function Download Links
SLAX 41 202 Desktop, OS Replacement
Kanotix 503 719 Desktop, OS Replacement
NimbleX 200 200 Desktop
Knoppix 700 700 Desktop, OS Replacement
Damn Small Linux 48 48 Desktop, OS Replacement
GoblinX 302 302 Desktop, OS Replacement
MEPIS 693 693 Desktop, OS Replacement
Puppy Linux 60 60 Desktop
Ubuntu 699 3553 Desktop, Os Replacement
FreeSBIE 596 596 Desktop, OS Replacement
Gentoo 50 1815 OS Replacement, Rescue
dyne:bolic 444 444 Clustering, Desktop, Media Production
WHAX 574 574 Security
Ultimate Boot CD 121 186 Diagnostics, Rescue
Elive 200 700 Desktop
SLAX KillBill Edition 188 188 Desktop
Suse Live-Eval 1446 1451 Desktop
SystemRescueCD 92 104 Rescue
BeatrIX Linux 167 167 Desktop
GoblinX Mini Edition 149 149 Desktop
INSERT 49 49 Rescue, Security
LLGP 695 695 Gaming
FreeBSD LiveCD 413 413 OS Replacement, Rescue
GamesKnoppix 683 683 Gaming
GoboLinux 634 634 Desktop
Kubuntu 572 619 Desktop
m0n0wall 5 5 Firewall
Feather Linux 63 63 Desktop
Kaella 700 700 Desktop, Education
KCPenTrix 401 401 Security
Knoppix STD 497 497 Security
LinuxDefender Live! 515 515 Rescue, Windows Antivirus
Mutagenix 99 549 Desktop, Diagnostics, OS Replacement, Rescue
SLAMPP 285 285 Server
austrumi 50 50 Desktop
BackTrack 625 625 Security
Baltix 703 703 Desktop
Benix Kanotix 189 189 Desktop
Berry Linux 425 425 Desktop
GeeXboX 5 5 Home Entertainment
Kurumin Games 708 708 Gaming
Morphix 203 648 Desktop, Gaming
redWall Firewall 148 154 Firewall
SLAX Popcorn Edition 104 104 Desktop
SLYNUX 730 730 Desktop, OS Replacement
VectorLinux 264 264 Desktop, OS Replacement
aquamorph 382 382 Desktop
ATMission 530 530 Desktop, Server
cdlinux.pl 205 634 Desktop
Clusterix 275 275 Clustering
Freeduc-games 645 645 Gaming
Freepia 36 36 Home Entertainment
Frenzy 200 200 Rescue, Security
Gnoppix 659 659 Desktop
GNUstep live CD 420 420 Desktop
Kate OS LIVE 681 681 Desktop
knopILS 629 629 Desktop
Knoppix-MiB 650 650 Desktop, Secure Desktop
KnoppiXMAME 120 120 Gaming
KnoppMyth 469 469 Home Entertainment
Lin4Astro 595 595 Astronomy
LiveBSD 654 654 Desktop, OS Replacement
loonix-live 495 495 Desktop
Luit Linux 50 74 Desktop
Mandriva One 674 674 Desktop
MitraX 50 50 Desktop
Musix GNU+Linux 700 700 Media Production
NavynOs 384 384 Security
NetBoz 53 143 Firewall
Overclockix 655 700 Desktop, Diagnostics, Rescue
ParallelKnoppix 550 550 Clustering
Phaeronix 676 676 Desktop, OS Replacement
PHLAK 471 471 Security
Plan-B 658 658 Forensics, Rescue, Security
Sabayon 697 3477 Desktop
stresslinux 51 51 Diagnostics
STUX 255 650 Desktop
Symphony OS 568 568 Desktop, OS Replacement
T2 @Live 546 546 Desktop
Tao Live 675 675 Desktop
Whoppix 687 687 Security
Windows PE 0 0 Rescue
WOMP! 13 30 Home Entertainment
Zen Linux 307 564 Desktop, OS Replacement
3Anoppix 712 712 Desktop
ABC Linux 579 579 Desktop
Adios 700 700 Education
AdvanceCD 16 16 Gaming
AL-AMLUG Live CD 512 512 Desktop
AliXe 370 370 Desktop
AmaroK Live 289 289 Home Entertainment
Ankur 418 418 Desktop
Anonym.OS 575 575 Secure Desktop
ANTEMIUM 620 620 Desktop
Arabbix 550 550 Desktop
Archie 325 325 Desktop
Arudius 212 212 Security
Auditor security collection 538 538 Security
Augustux 700 700 Desktop
Aurox Live 698 698 Desktop
avast! BART CD 155 155 Rescue, Windows Antivirus
basilisk 650 650 Desktop
BDI-Live 138 138 CNC Metalworking
BEERnix 409 409 Desktop
BeleniX 637 637 Desktop
BerliOS MiniCD 182 182 Desktop
bioknoppix 681 681 Bioinformatics, Education
Blin Linux 36 160 Desktop
Bootable Cluster CD 188 188 Clustering
BOSS Live CD 646 646 Security
BrutalWareII 117 117 Security
Burnix 690 690 Clustering
ByzantineOS 43 43 Home Entertainment
Caster 545 545 Media Production
Càtix 717 717 Desktop
CDlinux 18 18 Rescue
CDMEDICPACSWEB 195 587 Medical
CHAOS 8 8 Clustering
CHRONOMIUM 68 68 Windows Antivirus
ClusterKnoppix 600 600 Clustering
Conectiva Linux Live CD 252 400 Desktop
Cool Linux CD 632 632 Desktop
Crash Recovery Kit for Linux 80 80 Rescue
Danix 683 683 Desktop
Dappix 700 700 Desktop
DeadCD 92 92 Desktop, Rescue
DemoLinux 650 650 Desktop
DeMuDi Live 575 575 Media Production
DevelopGo 695 695 Development
Devil-Linux 88 88 Firewall, Server
distccKNOPPIX 38 38 Clustering
Dizinha 154 154 Desktop
DNALinux 329 329 Bioinformatics
ECGL 706 706 Development
Echelon Linux 240 240 System Administration
eduKnoppix 700 700 Education
EduMorphix 643 643 Education
ELE 61 61 Secure Desktop
eLearnix 90 90 Education
elpicx 690 1382 Education
Emergency CD 174 174 Rescue
eMoviX 10 10 Home Entertainment
eZ publish LiveCD 487 487 Server
FCCU GNU/Linux Forensic Boot CD 519 563 Forensics
ffsearch-LiveCD 194 194 Server
FIRE 579 579 Forensics
fiubbix 670 670 Desktop, Education
Flash Linux 362 362 Desktop
FlashMob ISO 63 63 Clustering
Flonix 187 187 Desktop
floppyfw 2 2 Firewall