Run or demonstrate Linux without Installation

Linux LiveCD has been released for several years, but the number of LiveCD releases has increased several times in the past one or two years. Most of the dedicated LiveCD is originated from the Knoppix release version of LinuxTag, which is a very successful release version. The novel LiveCD release version-generally similar to the new Linux release version-packages different software sets for different user groups and, in order to reflect the idea of their creators, they also wrap fine-tuning configuration and setting details.

Currently, there are even a few hundred LiveCD Release versions available. Obviously, I cannot cover all these release versions in this article. The most important LiveCD may be the general office software package specifically used to present Linux to new users. However, there are other dedicated Release versions, such as system clustering, emergency CD, firewall, or security tools. In many cases, more dedicated Release versions are smaller, because they discard most of the common tools.

Boot Linux from CD
This article introduces four common releases: Knoppix, Slax, Mepis, and GoboLinux. However, in most cases, the last release is a general release for office, networking, and games, to a large extent, it was created to demonstrate some novel ideas about file system design. I also introduced three more dedicated LiveCD: Feather Linux is common, but very small. Based on StrongBox, EVMix introduces most of the dedicated software for the EVM2003/Open Voting Consortium project, I am working on that project; IPCop is another small LiveCD dedicated to creating a Linux-based firewall.

I will describe most of these releases in their respective chapters. However, here I will give a brief comment on IPCop. I'm excited to use this 22 MB small ISO to experience a small, dedicated Linux LiveCD. Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed when trying to guide IPCop; not the issue of the release version itself, but the issue of my expectations. IPCop is only named as a LiveCD release-although it does boot into a Linux system, the only thing you can do there is to install the system on the hard disk. In this regard, IPCop is similar to any other installable Linux release version-most of those release versions can also allow you to select a minimal shell for management. The screen functions in IPCop are interesting, but when I find that I need to use my hard drive, I think a more in-depth test is beyond the scope of this comment. My hunch is that there are many other popular "LiveCD" in vain.

By the way, in this comment, I am looking for obvious or easy-to-do content. Indeed, apart from what I try to accomplish, other things are also possible. My special comment covers whether a single release can easily save the configurations of the two boot channels or install itself on a hard drive. I believe that as long as enough physical labor is done, I can complete those tasks in all releases. However, I am looking for menu items that are important for executing those actions) or command.

Knoppix 3.4
Knoppix is the most famous LiveCD release version. Therefore, as a basis, we will first study it. Knoppix 3.4) compress as much content as possible to a CD, and finally get a 690 mb iso image must buy a 700 MB CD-R instead of 650 MB ). It can be seen from its size that Knoppix is bundled with a large number of tools for both developer and office purposes. The tools I have studied are currently popular, but they are not cutting-edge bleeding edge): Linux kernel 2.4.26; KDE 3.2.2; OpenOffice.org 1.1.1; Gimp 2.0; Python 2.3.4c1. Knoppix tends to append programs with repeated features, which may confuse new users: Which one should I use with ten text editors? Should I use Mozilla or Konqueror for browsing? On the other hand, those users are very happy to use. Knoppix insists on using OpenOffice.org as its office suite, rather than using KOffice in some release versions.

You can directly guide Knoppix and get a KDE Desktop that can be used without any event. All my hardware on old machines a few years ago) were properly identified, including my 1280x1024 flat display and a pattern that matches my nVidia TNT2 graphics card. The default user is knoppix, but I find that it can be executed without a password.su-- It may be a compromise between security and user friendliness. You only need to executepasswdThis problem can be solved because there should never be a password-free account in the system.

The Windows Manager used by all the general release versions I tested is KDE actually, and the versions are 3.2.2 ). There are some differences in configuration details, such as which icons are placed on the panel, which topic is selected, and which click mode is used for clicking/double-clicking ). I don't like Knoppix's choice: Click and Keramik themes; but this is purely a personal problem and is easy to change. Knoppix also attaches some other Window managers, But switching between them seems to damage the X11 configuration.

As for more features, Knoppix introduces an excellent and remarkable "Save Knoppix Configuration" tool. You can save the settings to a floppy disk or hard disk partition as needed, such as the main directory file, network settings, X11 configuration, and printer. Knoppix also automatically mounts all my hard disk partitions to the desktop, including HPFS partitions on the OS/2 desktop for testing. There are some options for "Install Software" on the running system, but in addition to this limited list, if I try to add other applications, apt-get will point out that the installation directory read-only error is not obvious to me to solve this problem ). Unlike some release versions, Knoppix does not provide an important option to install itself on a hard drive.

Mepis 2004
Mepis is a release version similar to Knoppix, but it has a dual purpose. It can be either an installable release version or a LiveCD. Similar to Knoppix, Mepis is also a CD that is almost full, and, in fact, it also comes with an additional second CD that is not directly available ). Most of the tool sets on Mpeis are the same as those on Knoppix. LiveCD is rarely considered by developers, but more for office users. For example, LiveCD includes OpenOffice.org and KOffice at the same time, but the editor and IDE used by programmers are rarely used.

In contrast to Knoppix, Mepis introduces a very good application that installs itself on a hard drive, however, there is a lack of tools to save the LiveCD configuration and to dynamically install additional software when the LiveCD environment is running. It is true that the goal of Mepis is to allow you to experiment before installation, rather than creating a lightweight runtime environment that does not require any persistent installation. However, the Mepis LiveCD environment without modification is already very useful, and you can easily save modified documents or files to other media. Mepis does not automatically mount all the hard drive partitions it finds, but you do not need to understand the icons used to mount partitions on its desktop.mountCommand parameters ). Like Knoppix, Mepis can properly mount my HPFS partition read-only) and ext2/3 partition read/write ).

The Mepis boot sequence is slightly different from Knoppix. The better aspect is that Mepis provides you with a navigation menu in this article to select the kernel version. I tested 2.6, But 2.4 is also usable ). It is also required to select screen resolution and other configuration options. All are provided in a friendly and scrollable menu, but Knoppix does not need to ask. On the other hand, most of the other releases assume that I want to run X11 with a resolution of 1024x768, rather than 1280x768-I would rather choose it by myself than mistake it with CD. A small problem in Mepis is that the password of the root account and demo account set by Mepis is not displayed during the boot process and is not recorded in the README file at the top layer. I tried it a few times and guessed that the root password was "root", but it was guessed after all.

SLAX 4.1.2
SLAX is a LiveCD Based on Slackware, which is relatively small and may be consistent with the Slackware principle. SLAX 4.1.2 is a 188 mb iso, which is obviously small enough and can be written to a 8 cm-diameter small disc ). SLAX selects a set of software for public and home users, which is largely achieved by eliminating redundancy in larger releases. For example, SLAX provides KOffice instead of OpenOffice.org, and Konqueror instead of Mozilla. It also does not provide Python, Perl, or Ruby-its target users are obviously not developers.

It is very easy to guide SLAX. Like Knoppix, it uses a switch instead of a boot option. Several seconds before it starts the default boot, you canboot:Enter these switches in the prompt. It uses the 2.4 kernel. After completing the basic Slackware boot sequence, SLAX displays the root password "toor") and describes the programs you can start in the command line: UseguiStart KDE; UseguifastStart Fluxbox; midnight commander; Use X11 to roll back the frame cache; Save the configuration settings to a floppy disk or recover from a floppy disk ).

InputguiThen I found the first small problem. I only have a 1024x768 screen. What should I do? I know to modify/etc/X11/XF86Config to set a new resolution, but new users may not think of this. I also found thatguiOne--helpSwitch to guide me to use the X11 resolution switch. These are not obvious to those who are not familiar with Linux. But forget it. This is Slackware.

After entering X11 and KDE, I am attracted by their configuration options. I also like the Plastik topic selected by SLAX, although similar to WinXP) and double-click on the desktop, and I feel more natural in Konqueror. I also found a custom icon on the panel, which deserves a slightly relaxed attitude-respect for the fact, most of them are used for multimedia, IM, game, and Web browsing. The setting may come from somewhere else, but I still like it ). My hard drive partitions are mounted by myself, including HPFS partitions), but they are not randomly stacked on the desktop. I also found that the Control Center uses a navigation method that I am not used to. This may not be a unique change in SLAX, but it is a method I have never seen before. Each category has a "Back" icon that moves to the upper level, rather than a foldable tree that uses the configuration category. This seems more friendly for new users.

The goal of SLAX is to clearly target new users and "promote" Linux to people who do not know Linux. Its appearance can play a role in promoting this; however, it cannot be installed on the hard disk or install more applications to the runtime image, which also causes obstacles. It is a moderate-size ISO, which can be distributed everywhere or quickly burned to CD, give users a good preliminary impression about Linux. There are enough tools in the experiment to do some real work and entertainment ).

GoboLinux 011
For new users, it is very similar to Mepis or Knoppix. The software contains a whole CD, which is also based on the 2.4.26 kernel and KDE 3.2.2. Most applications are what you expect, and you may not pay too much attention to the coverage and repetition of types. It is even worse than SLAX. The only way I can find the correct X11 resolution is to manually edit/etc/X11/XF86Config.

GoboLinux is relatively poor in some small aspects: it does not automatically mount partitions, obviously it does not support HPFS to mount ext3 from the command line); it cannot "Save settings"; it cannot be dynamically installed; and, the worst thing is that GoboLinux cannot identify my network.

GoboLinux's "selling point" is not actually a very good LiveCD, although it may be constantly improved), but a new idea about the Linux File hierarchy in GoboLinux. GoboLinux follows a pattern similar to Mac OSX's hierarchical mode on FreeBSD root, and creates the root directory/Depot,/Files,/Mount,/Programs,/System, And/Users. If necessary, GoboLinux uses symbolic links to place files in the layers that other tools want them to exist. However, in its inherent file structure-Similarly, Mac OSX-each application occupies its own directory, instead of concentrated in the/usr/bin or/usr/local/bin directory.

For example, the executable file of the FireFox browser is located in the/Programs/FireFox/Current/bin/firefox directory. Deleting or installing an application does not have to correspond to executable files one by one. You only need to unpackage or delete the branches in the file system tree. Naturally, it is very easy to boot LiveCD to the hard drive, and GoboLinux provides you with such an option.

The concept proposed by GoboLinux is good, but the release version must be further improved.

Feather Linux 0.51
Feather Linux has a better experience than SLAX. Feather is less than 64 MB in size, packed with a basic Linux system, a minimal Web browser Dillo), a word processor Ted), Window Manager Fluxbox) and some other applications. Feather Linux can be stored in a flash card compact flash card. This is a more concise method that carries the Linux release version. Of course, some older people will remember that WordPerfect 5.1 can run only on a floppy disk and 2 MB of memory, therefore, it is not surprising to add a much less mature word processing program to a 64 MB system. It is undeniable that there are a proper number of other applications) -- but as far as the 2004 Standard is concerned, it is satisfactory.

Compared with most directly available release versions, Feather Linux is slightly inadequate in Automatic hardware detection. This is because the code has been reduced, I cannot determine whether to enable more configuration control for experienced Linux users. Fortunately, the configuration can be completed through the navigation menu in this article, so it is not difficult to make some choices-but this is indeed required