List of Linux distributions

This page provides general information about notable Linux distributions in the form of a categorized list. Distributions are organized into sections by the major distribution they are based on, or the package management system

Package management system

In software, a package management system, also called package manager, is a collection of software tools to automate the process of installing, upgrading, configuring, and removing software packages for a computer's operating system in a consistent manner...

 they are based around.

Debian-based

Debian

Debian

Debian is a computer operating system composed of software packages released as free and open source software primarily under the GNU General Public License along with other free software licenses. Debian GNU/Linux, which includes the GNU OS tools and Linux kernel, is a popular and influential...

 GNU/Linux is a distribution that emphasizes free software

Free software

Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...

. It is supported on many hardware platforms. Debian and distributions based on it use the .deb

Deb (file format)

deb is the extension of the Debian software package format and the most often used name for such binary packages. Like the "Deb" part of the term Debian, it originates from the name of Debra, erstwhile girlfriend and now ex-wife of Debian's founder Ian Murdock.Debian packages are also used in...

 package format and the dpkg

Dpkg

dpkg is the software at the base of the Debian package management system. dpkg is used to install, remove, and provide information about .deb packages....

 package manager.

Distribution	Description
64 Studio	Attempts to specialize in audio and video production on x86-64 X86-64 x86-64 is an extension of the x86 instruction set. It supports vastly larger virtual and physical address spaces than are possible on x86, thereby allowing programmers to conveniently work with much larger data sets. x86-64 also provides 64-bit general purpose registers and numerous other...  workstations.
aptosid	Multilingual desktop-oriented Live CD based on Debian unstable. Formerly sidux.
BeatrIX BeatrIX BeatrIX was a GNU/Linux operating system, in development up to 2005. A live CD based Linux distribution started by Steven Watsky in Prague, Czech Republic, it was designed to look very simple, in order to be as accessible as possible to new users...	A compact distribution from the Czech Republic that focuses on providing a user-friendly desktop environment.
Bharat Operating System Solutions Bharat Operating System Solutions Bharat Operating System Solutions is a free and open source computer operating system developed by the National Resource Centre for Free/Open Source Software of India. This software is also known by the acronym BOSS GNU/Linux or simply BOSS Linux...	This software is also known by the acronym BOSS GNU/Linux or simply BOSS Linux.
Canaima (operating system)	A Venezuelan distribution.
Caixa Mágica Caixa Mágica Caixa Mágica is a Portuguese Linux distribution based on Debian and maintained by Caixa Mágica Software. It uses the .deb format...	A Portuguese distribution.
Corel Linux Corel Linux Corel Linux, also called Corel LinuxOS, was a Debian-based operating system made by Corel that was released in late 1999. Corel later discontinued the distribution, but did not remove the former Corel Open Source Development website until March 2002....	Commercial. Short-lived desktop distribution, bought by Xandros Xandros Xandros is the name of both a line of operating systems and Xandros Corporation, the company which creates them. Xandros Desktop was a Linux distribution. The name Xandros is derived from the X Window System and the Greek island of Andros....  Linux.
CrunchBang Linux CrunchBang Linux CrunchBang Linux is a lightweight Debian based Linux distribution, created by Philip Newborough, designed to offer a good balance of speed and functionality.- Features :...	A formerly Ubuntu based distribution, now based on Debian Stable, featuring either the Openbox Openbox Openbox is a free window manager for the X Window System, licensed under the GNU General Public License. Originally derived from Blackbox 0.65.0 , Openbox has now been totally rewritten in the C programming language and since version 3.0 is not based upon any code from Blackbox.Openbox is designed...  window manager or the Xfce Xfce Xfce is a free software desktop environment for Unix and other Unix-like platforms, such as Linux, Solaris, and BSD – though recent compatibility issues have arisen with regard to BSD Unix platforms...  desktop environment, with GTK+ GTK+ GTK+ is a cross-platform widget toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces. It is licensed under the terms of the GNU LGPL, allowing both free and proprietary software to use it. It is one of the most popular toolkits for the X Window System, along with Qt.The name GTK+ originates from GTK;...  applications.
Dreamlinux Dreamlinux Dreamlinux is a Brazilian computer operating system based on Debian GNU/Linux. It can boot as a live CD, from USB flash drive, or can be installed on a hard drive...	A Brazilian Linux distribution.
Elive Elive Elive is a GNU/Linux distribution based on Debian for legacy and commodity hardware with Intel processors. Elive uses the Enlightenment X window manager instead of GNOME or KDE...	A Live CD and Distribution featuring Enlightenment as the only window manager. Aims to be intuitive and easy to use.
Finnix Finnix Finnix is a Debian-based Live CD operating system, developed by Ryan Finnie and intended for system administrators for tasks such as filesystem recovery, network monitoring and OS installation...	A small system administration Live CD that is available for multiple architectures.
Freespire Freespire Freespire was a community-driven Linux distribution which was composed mostly of free, open source software, while providing users the choice of including proprietary software including multimedia codecs, device drivers and application software....	A community-driven and -supported project tied to the commercial Linspire distribution. Defunct since 2007. Website offline since early 2011.
Gibraltar	Commercial. Router/firewall distribution.
gnuLinEx GnuLinEx gnuLinEx, or LinEx, is a Debian-based GNU-Linux operating system that uses GNOME for its desktop. An initiative of the regional government of Extremadura, Spain, gnuLinEx is intended to be used in all schools in Extremadura, as well as in official institutions. It is actively promoted for business...	A distribution promoted by the government of Extremadura Extremadura Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida. Its component provinces are Cáceres and Badajoz. It is bordered by Portugal to the west... , Spain.
grml Grml Grml is an operating system based on Debian. It is primarily designed to run from a Live CD, but can be made to run from a USB flash drive, as well. Grml aims to be well-suited for sysadmins and other users of text tools...	Live CD for system recovery
Hikarunix Hikarunix Hikarunix is a Linux distribution in Live CD format for the x86 architecture. It was based on Damn Small Linux. The name is a portmanteau of the name of the manga and anime series Hikaru no Go and the Linux operating system kernel that Hikarunix is based on .Hikarunix intended to provide a complete...	A distribution solely for studying and playing the game of Go Go (board game) Go , is an ancient board game for two players that originated in China more than 2,000 years ago... . Based on Damn Small Linux.
Kanotix Kanotix Kanotix, also referred to as KANOTIX, is an operating system Live CD based on Debian, with advanced hardware detection. It can run from an optical disc drive or other media i.e. USB-stick without using a hard disk drive....	An installable live CD for desktop usage using KDE, focusing on convenient scripts and GUI for ease of use.
Knoppix Knoppix Knoppix, or KNOPPIX , is an operating system based on Debian designed to be run directly from a CD / DVD or a USB key , one of the first of its kind for any operating system. Knoppix was developed by Linux consultant Klaus Knopper. When starting a program, it is loaded from the removable medium...	The first Live CD (later DVD) version of Debian GNU/Linux.
Kurumin	Earlier, it was a version of the Knoppix distribution, modified with Debian and designed for Brazil Brazil Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people... ian users.
LEAF Project LEAF Project The LEAF Project is a collection of Linux distributions that began as a fork from the the Linux Router Project "linux-on-a-floppy" distribution...	The Linux Embedded Appliance Framework. A tiny primarily floppy-based distribution for routers, firewalls and other appliances.
LiMux LiMux LiMux is a project by the city council of Munich to migrate their software systems, including 14,000 personal computers and laptops of public employees, to free and open source software...	An ISO 9241 ISO 9241 ISO 9241 is a multi-part standard from the International Organization for Standardization covering ergonomics of human-computer interaction. It is managed by the ISO...  industry workplace certified Linux distribution, deployed at the City of Munich Munich Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat... , Germany.
Linspire Linspire Linspire, previously known as LindowsOS, was a commercial operating system based on Debian GNU/Linux and later Ubuntu. Linspire was published by Linspire, Inc. and focused on ease-of-use, targeting home PC users...	Commercial. Desktop-oriented distribution, previously called Lindows. Focuses on a proprietary software application manager obtained via a paid (CNR) subscription. Bought by Xandros Xandros Xandros is the name of both a line of operating systems and Xandros Corporation, the company which creates them. Xandros Desktop was a Linux distribution. The name Xandros is derived from the X Window System and the Greek island of Andros....  Linux, and effectively defunct since 2007.
Linux Mint Debian Edition	Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) is a rolling distribution based on Debian Testing. It is available in both 32 and 64-bit as a live DVD with a Gnome desktop. The purpose of LMDE is to look identical to the main Linux Mint edition and to provide the same functionality while using Debian as a base.
Linux Router Project	A defunct floppy-based distribution for routers and firewalls. Supplanted by LEAF Project LEAF Project The LEAF Project is a collection of Linux distributions that began as a fork from the the Linux Router Project "linux-on-a-floppy" distribution... .
Maemo Maemo Maemo is a software platform developed by the Maemo community for smartphones and Internet tablets. It is based on the Debian Linux distribution, but has no relation to it...	A development platform for hand held devices such as the Nokia N800 Nokia N800 The Nokia N800 Internet tablet is a wireless Internet appliance from Nokia, originally announced at the Las Vegas CES 2007 Summit in January 2007. N800 allows the user to browse the Internet and communicate using Wi-Fi networks or with mobile phone via Bluetooth. The N800 was developed as the... , N810 Nokia N810 The Nokia N810 Internet tablet is an Internet appliance from Nokia, announced on 17 October, 2007 at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco. Despite Nokia's strong association with cellular products, the N810 is not a phone, but instead allows the user to browse the Internet and communicate using...  and Nokia N900 Nokia N900 The Nokia N900 is a smartphone made by Nokia. It supersedes the Nokia N810. Its default operating system, Maemo 5, is a Linux-based OS originally developed for the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet. It is the first Nokia device based upon the Texas Instruments OMAP3 microprocessor with the ARM Cortex-A8...  Internet Tablets and other Linux-based devices.
MEPIS MEPIS MEPIS is a set of Linux distributions, distributed as Live CDs that can be installed onto a hard disk drive.MEPIS is developed and maintained by an active community begun by Warren Woodford and the eponymous company MEPIS LLC....	Focuses on ease of use. Also includes lightweight variant called antiX. antiX is meant to be used on older computers with limited hardware.
MintPPC MintPPC Linux MintPPC, also known as MintPPC, is a free and open source operating system for the PowerPC architecture. MintPPC was first released in May 2010. The most recent version, MintPPC 11, was released on November 14, 2011...	For PowerPC computers. Though MintPPC uses some Mint LXDE code, it is not Linux Mint.
Neopwn Neopwn Neopwn is a Linux network penetration testing operating system, publicly available on a mobile phone platform. It was officially released on September 20, 2008.-Hardware:The core hardware platform on which Neopwn runs is the Openmoko Neo Freerunner...	Debian-based network penetration-testing Penetration test A penetration test, occasionally pentest, is a method of evaluating the security of a computer system or network by simulating an attack from malicious outsiders and malicious insiders...  distribution for mobile phones.
NepaLinux NepaLinux NepaLinux is a Debian and Morphix-based operating system focused on desktop usage in Nepali language computing.It contains applications for desktop users like OpenOffice.org, Nepali GNOME and KDE desktops, Nepali input method editor, etc....	A Debian and Morphix based distribution focused for desktop usage in Nepali language computing.
OpenZaurus OpenZaurus OpenZaurus is a defunct embedded operating system for the Sharp Zaurus personal mobile tool PDA.- History :In its original form, the project was a repackaging of the SharpROM, the Zaurus's factory supplied kernel and root filesystem image...	Debian packages and ROM image for the Sharp Zaurus Sharp Zaurus The Sharp Zaurus is the name of a series of Personal Digital Assistant made by Sharp Corporation. The Zaurus was the most popular PDA during the 1990s in Japan and was based on a proprietary operating system. The first Sharp PDA to use the Linux operating system was the SL-5000D, running the...  PDA Personal digital assistant A personal digital assistant , also known as a palmtop computer, or personal data assistant, is a mobile device that functions as a personal information manager. Current PDAs often have the ability to connect to the Internet... . Replaced by Ångström distribution Ångström distribution The Ångström distribution is a Linux distribution for a variety of embedded devices. The distribution is the result of a unification of developers from the OpenZaurus, OpenEmbedded, and OpenSIMpad projects... .
Parsix Parsix Parsix GNU/Linux is a live and installation DVD based on Debian. The Parsix project's goal is to provide a ready to use, easy to install, desktop and laptop optimized operating system based on Debian's testing branch and the latest stable release of GNOME desktop environment. It is possible to...	Optimized for personal computers and laptops. Built on top of Debian testing branch and comes with security support.
Progeny Componentized Linux Progeny Linux Systems Progeny Linux Systems is a defunct company which provided Linux platform technology. Their Platform Services technology supported both Debian and RPM-based distributions for Linux platforms. Progeny Linux Systems was based in Indianapolis. Its CTO was John H. Hartman...	Distribution from Progeny Linux Systems Progeny Linux Systems Progeny Linux Systems is a defunct company which provided Linux platform technology. Their Platform Services technology supported both Debian and RPM-based distributions for Linux platforms. Progeny Linux Systems was based in Indianapolis. Its CTO was John H. Hartman...  which was also founded by Debian founder Ian Murdock Ian Murdock Ian Murdock is the founder of the Debian distribution and Progeny Linux Systems, a commercial Linux company.- Life and career :Murdock was born in Konstanz, Germany.... .
PureOS PureOS PureOS is a French free and open source operating system , based on Debian. It can either be used as LiveCD or installed on the hard drive and used as a full-featured OS. It has two versions - PureOS and PureOSlight.-Specifications:...	Based on Debian Testing.
Rxart	Desktop-oriented distribution. Focused on providing proprietary software.
Sacix Sacix Sacix is a Debian Pure Blend originally created to support the educational and free software diffusion goals of the Telecentres project of the city of São Paulo, Brazil...	A Debian Pure Blend originally created to support the educational and free software diffusion goals of the Telecentres project of the city of São Paulo, Brazil.
Skolelinux Skolelinux Skolelinux is an operating system intended for educational use and based on Debian .Skolelinux is a free and open source software project founded in Norway, now supporting all languages present in Debian...	A distribution from Norway. It is provided as a thin client Thin client A thin client is a computer or a computer program which depends heavily on some other computer to fulfill its traditional computational roles. This stands in contrast to the traditional fat client, a computer designed to take on these roles by itself...  distribution for schools.
Sunwah Linux	A Chinese distribution
Symphony OS Symphony OS Symphony OS, SymphonyOne or Symphony Linux, is a Live CD Linux-based operating system, developed by Ryan Quinn, Jason Spisak, and Alexander Drummond. The distribution was dormant until 29 June 2011, when a new build was released....	Includes the Mezzo Mezzo (desktop environment) Mezzo is the desktop environment created by Ryan Quinn. Added to Symphony OS, it follows Jason Spisak's Laws of Interface Design and poses a new way of presenting data to the user...  desktop environment. Previous versions were based on Knoppix.
Ubuntu Ubuntu (operating system) Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution and distributed as free and open source software. It is named after the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu...	A distribution sponsored by Canonical Ltd. Canonical Ltd. Canonical Ltd. is a private company founded by South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth to market commercial support and related services for Ubuntu Linux and related projects. Canonical is registered in London and employs staff around the world...  as well as receiving major funding from South African Mark Shuttleworth Mark Shuttleworth Mark Richard Shuttleworth is a South African entrepreneur who was the second self-funded space tourist. Shuttleworth founded Canonical Ltd. and as of 2010, provides leadership for the Ubuntu operating system... . Aims to offer a complete and polished desktop on a single CD.
Ulteo Ulteo Ulteo is an open source Virtual Desktop infrastructure project based on a GNU/Linux. It was created by Gaël Duval, who previously created Mandriva Linux....	Virtual desktop project
UserLinux UserLinux UserLinux was a project to create a operating system based on Debian, and targeted at business customers. The goal was to provide businesses with a freely available, high quality operating system accompanied by certifications, service, and support options....	Commercial distribution that would have included GNOME. Short-lived.
Vyatta Vyatta Vyatta manufactures an open source router/firewall/VPN product for Internet Protocol networks . A free download of Vyatta has been available since March 2006. The system is a specialized Debian-based Linux distribution with networking applications such as Quagga, OpenVPN, and many others...	Commercial open source network operating system includes routing, firewall, VPN, intrusion prevention and more. Designed to be an open source Cisco replacement.
Xandros Open Circulation Edition Xandros Xandros is the name of both a line of operating systems and Xandros Corporation, the company which creates them. Xandros Desktop was a Linux distribution. The name Xandros is derived from the X Window System and the Greek island of Andros....	Based on Xandros 3.0 Standard Edition. DVD burning is disabled and CD burning is restricted to a maximum speed of 4X.
Xebian	For the Xbox home gaming console.

Knoppix-based

Knoppix

Knoppix

Knoppix, or KNOPPIX , is an operating system based on Debian designed to be run directly from a CD / DVD or a USB key , one of the first of its kind for any operating system. Knoppix was developed by Linux consultant Klaus Knopper. When starting a program, it is loaded from the removable medium...

, itself, is based on Debian.

Distribution	Description
Feather Linux Feather Linux Feather Linux, created by Robert Sullivan, is a Knoppix-based operating system which fits in under 128 MB . It boots from either a CD or a USB flash drive, into a Fluxbox desktop environment. It has a wide range of desktop and rescue software, and can load entirely into RAM or be installed to a...	It boots from either a CD or a USB flash drive USB flash drive A flash drive is a data storage device that consists of flash memory with an integrated Universal Serial Bus interface. flash drives are typically removable and rewritable, and physically much smaller than a floppy disk. Most weigh less than 30 g... . Uses Knoppix Knoppix Knoppix, or KNOPPIX , is an operating system based on Debian designed to be run directly from a CD / DVD or a USB key , one of the first of its kind for any operating system. Knoppix was developed by Linux consultant Klaus Knopper. When starting a program, it is loaded from the removable medium... -based hardware detection and the Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox is a stacking window manager for the X Window System, which started as a fork of Blackbox 0.61.1, with the same aim to be lightweight. Its user interface has only a taskbar, a pop-up menu accessible by right-clicking on the desktop, and minimal support for graphical icons...  window manager.
Damn Small Linux Damn Small Linux Damn Small Linux or DSL is a computer operating system for the x86 family of personal computers. It is free and open source software under the terms of GNU GPL and other free and open source licenses. It was designed to run graphical applications on older PC hardware—for example, machines with...	It is designed to be a small distro designed to run on older hardware. It is commonly used on virtual machines due to low memory requirements.
Kaella Kaella Kaella is a Live CD adapted from Knoppix and modified to work with the French language. It is not a fork because it is rebuilt with each new version of Knoppix. Like Knoppix, Kaella can be installed to the hard drive by running knoppix-installer as root...	The French translation of Knoppix.
Musix GNU/Linux	A Knoppix Knoppix Knoppix, or KNOPPIX , is an operating system based on Debian designed to be run directly from a CD / DVD or a USB key , one of the first of its kind for any operating system. Knoppix was developed by Linux consultant Klaus Knopper. When starting a program, it is loaded from the removable medium... /Debian Debian Debian is a computer operating system composed of software packages released as free and open source software primarily under the GNU General Public License along with other free software licenses. Debian GNU/Linux, which includes the GNU OS tools and Linux kernel, is a popular and influential...  based distribution, intended for music production, graphic design, audio, video editing, and other tasks. It is built with only free software Free software Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do... .

Official distributions

These Ubuntu variants simply install a set of packages different from the original Ubuntu, but since they draw additional packages and updates from the same repositories as Ubuntu, all of the same software is available for each of them.

Distribution	Description
Edubuntu Edubuntu Edubuntu, also previously known as Ubuntu Education Edition, is an official derivative of the Ubuntu operating system designed for use in classrooms inside schools, homes and communities....	A complete Linux-based operating system targeted for primary Primary education A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...  and secondary education Secondary education Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university... . It is freely available with community based support. The Edubuntu community is built on the ideas enshrined in the Edubuntu Manifesto: that software, especially for education, should be available free of charge Gratis versus Libre Gratis versus libre is the distinction between two meanings of the English adjective "free"; namely, "for zero price" and "with little or no restriction"...  and that software tools should be usable by people in their local language and despite any disabilities. Since version 8.04, Edubuntu has now been named Ubuntu Education Edition and has been made as an add-on for the Ubuntu operating system.
Gobuntu Gobuntu Gobuntu was an official derivative of the Ubuntu operating system that was conceived to provide a distribution consisting entirely of free software....	Gobuntu was an official derivative of the Ubuntu operating system, aiming to provide a distribution consisting entirely of free software Free software Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do... . It was officially announced by Mark Shuttleworth on July 10, 2007, and daily builds of Gobuntu 7.10 began to be publicly released. The project ended around the release of 8.04 and has since merged into mainline Ubuntu as a 'free software' option.
Kubuntu Kubuntu Kubuntu is an official derivative of the Ubuntu operating system using the KDE Plasma Desktop instead of the Unity graphical environment. It is part of the Ubuntu project and uses the same underlying system. It is possible to install both the KDE Plasma Desktop as well as the Unity desktop on...	An official derivative of Ubuntu using KDE KDE KDE is an international free software community producing an integrated set of cross-platform applications designed to run on Linux, FreeBSD, Microsoft Windows, Solaris and Mac OS X systems...  instead of the GNOME GNOME GNOME is a desktop environment and graphical user interface that runs on top of a computer operating system. It is composed entirely of free and open source software...  or Unity interfaces used by default in Ubuntu.
Lubuntu Lubuntu Lubuntu is a lightweight Linux operating system based on Ubuntu but using the LXDE desktop environment in place of Ubuntu's Unity shell and GNOME desktop...	Lubuntu is a project that is an official derivative of the Ubuntu Ubuntu (operating system) Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution and distributed as free and open source software. It is named after the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu...  operating system Operating system An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...  that is "lighter, less resource hungry and more energy-efficient", using the LXDE LXDE LXDE is a free and open source desktop environment for Unix and other POSIX compliant platforms, such as Linux or BSD. The goal of the project is to provide a desktop environment that is fast and energy efficient...  desktop environment Desktop environment In graphical computing, a desktop environment commonly refers to a style of graphical user interface derived from the desktop metaphor that is seen on most modern personal computers. These GUIs help the user in easily accessing, configuring, and modifying many important and frequently accessed... . Requires cmov instruction capable processor to run (not all older machines support this).
Ubuntu JeOS Ubuntu JeOS Ubuntu JeOS is a variant of Ubuntu that is described as "an efficient variant [...] configured specifically for virtual appliances". It is a concept for what an operating system should look like in the context of a virtual appliance...	"Just Enough OS" - described as "an efficient variant [...] configured specifically for virtual appliance Virtual appliance A virtual appliance is a virtual machine image designed to run on a virtualization platform .... s".
Ubuntu Mobile	An embedded operating system designed for use on mobile devices. The operating system will use Hildon Hildon Hildon is an application framework originally developed for mobile devices running the Linux operating system. It was developed by Nokia for the Maemo operating system and is now a part of GNOME. It focuses on providing a finger-friendly interface...  from maemo Maemo Maemo is a software platform developed by the Maemo community for smartphones and Internet tablets. It is based on the Debian Linux distribution, but has no relation to it...  as its graphical frontend Graphical user interface In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and... .
Ubuntu Netbook Edition	Released in 2008, Netbook Edition is an official derivative of Ubuntu designed for netbook Netbook Netbooks are a category of small, lightweight, legacy-free, and inexpensive laptop computers.At their inception in late 2007 as smaller notebooks optimized for low weight and low cost — netbooks omitted certain features , featured smaller screens and keyboards, and offered reduced computing... s using the Intel Atom Intel Atom Intel Atom is the brand name for a line of ultra-low-voltage x86 and x86-64 CPUs from Intel, designed in 45 nm CMOS and used mainly in netbooks, nettops, embedded application ranging from health care to advanced robotics and Mobile Internet devices...  processor. Starting from Ubuntu 11.04, Ubuntu Netbook Edition has been merged into the desktop edition.
Ubuntu Server Edition	An official derivative made for use in servers. Ubuntu Server handles mail, controls printers, acts as a fileserver, can host LAMP LAMP (software bundle) LAMP is an acronym for a solution stack of free, open source software, referring to the first letters of Linux , Apache HTTP Server, MySQL and PHP , principal components to build a viable general purpose web server.The GNU project is advocating people to use the term "GLAMP" since what is known as...  and more.
Xubuntu Xubuntu Xubuntu is a Canonical Ltd. recognized, community maintained derivative of the Ubuntu operating system, using the Xfce desktop environment.The name Xubuntu is a portmanteau of Xfce and Ubuntu...	An official derivative of Ubuntu using Xfce Xfce Xfce is a free software desktop environment for Unix and other Unix-like platforms, such as Linux, Solaris, and BSD – though recent compatibility issues have arisen with regard to BSD Unix platforms... . Xubuntu is intended for use on less-powerful computers or those who seek a highly efficient desktop environment on faster systems, and uses mostly GTK+ GTK+ GTK+ is a cross-platform widget toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces. It is licensed under the terms of the GNU LGPL, allowing both free and proprietary software to use it. It is one of the most popular toolkits for the X Window System, along with Qt.The name GTK+ originates from GTK;...  applications.

Contributed distributions

Distribution	Description
Mythbuntu Mythbuntu Mythbuntu is a media center operating system . It is based on Ubuntu and integrates the MythTV Media center software as its main function, and does not install with all of the programs included with Ubuntu....	Based on Ubuntu and MythTV MythTV MythTV is a free and open source home entertainment application with a simplified "10-foot user interface" design for the living-room TV, and turns a computer with the necessary hardware into a network streaming digital video recorder, a digital multimedia home entertainment system, or home theater... , providing applications for recording TV and acting as a media center.
Ubuntu Studio Ubuntu Studio Ubuntu Studio is an officially recognized derivative of the Ubuntu Linux distribution, which is explicitly geared to general multimedia production. The original version, based on Ubuntu 7.04, was released on May 10, 2007.-Real-time kernel:...	Based on Ubuntu, providing open-source applications for multimedia creation aimed at the audio, video and graphic editors.

Third-party distributions

Unofficial variants and derivatives are not controlled or guided by Canonical Ltd.

Canonical Ltd.

Canonical Ltd. is a private company founded by South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth to market commercial support and related services for Ubuntu Linux and related projects. Canonical is registered in London and employs staff around the world...

 and generally have different goals in mind:

Distribution	Description
Aurora	Specifically for the Eee PC range of netbooks, based on Debian. Previously named Eeebuntu and based on Ubuntu.
ABC GNU/Linux	An Ubuntu-based distribution for building Beowulf clusters
Asturix Asturix Asturix is a GNU/Linux distribution based on Ubuntu dedicated to enterprise users and companies. It is aimed at being very stable and easy to use.The name comes from Asturias , its place of origin....	Ubuntu-based distribution dedicated to novel people in linux.
Baltix Baltix Baltix GNU/Linux is an operating system for Lithuanian and Latvian people, based on Debian and Ubuntu. The main language is Lithuanian.It uses the GNOME desktop environment and is distributed as an installable Live CD....	Ubuntu-based distribution for Lithuanian and Latvian people. Supported languages are Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian, Russian, English, Norwegian and other around Baltic region. Main language is Lithuanian.
BackTrack BackTrack BackTrack is an operating system based on the Ubuntu GNU/Linux distribution aimed at digital forensics and penetration testing use. It is named after backtracking, a search algorithm...	Developed by Remote Exploit and designed for penetration testing.
BlankOn BlankOn BlankOn Linux is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu developed by Yayasan Penggerak Linux Indonesia and Komunitas Ubuntu Indonesia .- Goals :...	Ubuntu-based distribution for users in Indonesia.
Buildix Buildix Buildix is an operating system which can be used as a Live CD. It is an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution, developed by Global IT professional services firm, ThoughtWorks....	An Ubuntu-based Linux distribution, developed by Global IT professional services firm, ThoughtWorks ThoughtWorks ThoughtWorks is a privately owned global IT consultancy that delivers custom software, software tools, consulting, and transformation services to Global 1000 companies. It has a products division, ThoughtWorks Studios, which creates and markets software development and project management applications... . For agile developers.
Bodhi Linux Bodhi Linux Bodhi Linux is a small Linux distribution using the Enlightenment window manager and based upon Ubuntu. Its philosophy is to provide a base system with a minimal desktop, file browser, web browser, terminal emulator and leave the exact choice of applications to the user...	An Ubuntu-based Linux distribution featuring the Enlightenment Enlightenment (window manager) Enlightenment, also known simply as E, is a stacking window manager for the X Window System which can be used alone or in conjunction with a desktop environment such as GNOME or KDE...  window manager and targeting users who want minimum of preinstalled software or low system requirements.
dyne:bolic Dyne:bolic dyne:bolic is a Live CD/DVD based on the Linux kernel with a focus on multimedia production, and is distributed with a large assortment of applications for audio and video manipulation...	Live CD Live CD A live CD, live DVD, or live disc is a CD or DVD containing a bootable computer operating system. Live CDs are unique in that they have the ability to run a complete, modern operating system on a computer lacking mutable secondary storage, such as a hard disk drive...  geared toward multimedia (audio and video) production, but comes with other non-media specific application (e.g.: word processor, desktop publisher).
EasyPeasy	Fork of Ubuntu designed for netbooks
Element OS Element OS Element OS was a Linux operating system that was intended for Home theater PC computers. It was discontinued in 2011.-Features:Element OS was based on Xubuntu and maintained compatibility with the Ubuntu repositories. It used the Advanced Packaging Tool with Element's own custom repositories and...	Based on Xubuntu Xubuntu Xubuntu is a Canonical Ltd. recognized, community maintained derivative of the Ubuntu operating system, using the Xfce desktop environment.The name Xubuntu is a portmanteau of Xfce and Ubuntu... , made for Home theater PC Home theater PC A Home Theater PC or Media Center appliance is a convergence device that combines some or all the capabilities of a personal computer with a software application that supports video, photo, music playback, and sometimes video recording functionality... s
Fluxbuntu Fluxbuntu Fluxbuntu is a lightweight Linux distribution which uses the Fluxbox window manager and is based on Ubuntu. By contrast, Ubuntu uses the Unity desktop environment, Kubuntu uses KDE, and Xubuntu uses Xfce, all of which are somewhat more demanding of computer memory and resources...	Light-weight and featuring the Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox is a stacking window manager for the X Window System, which started as a fork of Blackbox 0.61.1, with the same aim to be lightweight. Its user interface has only a taskbar, a pop-up menu accessible by right-clicking on the desktop, and minimal support for graphical icons...  window manager
gNewSense GNewSense gNewSense is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu. Its goal is to maintain the user-friendliness of Ubuntu, but with all non FSF approved software and binary blobs removed. The Free Software Foundation considers gNewSense to be a Linux distribution composed entirely of free software.gNewSense takes...	Designed for users who wish to use only free software Free software Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do... . It is officially sponsored and recommended by the Free Software Foundation Free Software Foundation The Free Software Foundation is a non-profit corporation founded by Richard Stallman on 4 October 1985 to support the free software movement, a copyleft-based movement which aims to promote the universal freedom to create, distribute and modify computer software... . The project has also produced a set of scripts that allow anyone to create a free distribution. In 2011, gNewSense will be based on Debian and no longer on Ubuntu.
Goobuntu Goobuntu Goobuntu is the unofficial name of a Linux distribution, based on the 'long term support'-versions of Ubuntu, that is used internally by Google. It adds a number of packages for in-house use, but does not have any other stark differences. Some have suggested that Google might plan to market the...	An Ubuntu-based distribution used internally by Google Google Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program... . Not available outside of Google Google Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program... .
gOS GOS (operating system) gOS or "good OS" was an Ubuntu-based GNU/Linux distribution created by Good OS LLC, a Los Angeles-based corporation. Its CIO Dave Liu described that after meeting Enlightenment and open source people, he realized that his dream to bring Web 2.0 applications into mainstream use could be achieved by...	Uses the GNOME desktop environment with user interface enhancements to make it work more like Mac OS X Mac OS X Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems... , it also features Google Apps Google Apps Google Apps is a service from Google providing independently customizable versions of several Google products under a custom domain name. It features several Web applications with similar functionality to traditional office suites, including: Gmail, Google Groups, Google Calendar, Talk, Docs and... , Picasa Picasa Picasa is an image organizer and image viewer for organizing and editing digital photos, plus an integrated photo-sharing website, originally created by Idealab in 2002 and owned by Google since 2004. "Picasa" is a blend of the name of Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, the phrase mi casa for "my... , Google Gadgets Google Gadgets Google Gadgets are dynamic web content that can be embedded on a web page. They can be added to and interact strongly with Google's iGoogle personalized home page and the Google Desktop application, as well as Google Wave...  and other web-based applications, and comes with Wine 1.0 Wine (software) Wine is a free software application that aims to allow computer programs written for Microsoft Windows to run on Unix-like operating systems. Wine also provides a software library, known as Winelib, against which developers can compile Windows applications to help port them to Unix-like...  pre-installed
Guadalinex Guadalinex Guadalinex is an Ubuntu-based operating system promoted by the government of Andalusia . It is used in schools, public libraries, centers for elderly people and Guadalinfo centers.There are five different versions of Guadalinex:...	Ubuntu-based distribution promoted by the local government of Andalucia, Spain, for home users and schools.
Hiweed Hiweed Linux Deepin is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu. It is tailored for Chinese language users and includes preconfigured Chinese applications such as simplified Chinese input methods, Chinese dictionaries, and Chinese TrueType fonts....	Chinese Linux distribution, based on Ubuntu. Its features include preconfigured Chinese applications, such as Chinese (simplified) input method, Chinese-English and English-Chinese dictionaries, and Chinese (simplified) true-type fonts.
Joli OS	Joli OS (formely named Jolicloud) is in development and Pre-beta testing. Joli OS is built upon Debian and Ubuntu 9.10, but is tweaked to be more suitable for computers that have weaker specifications in terms of disk storage, memory and screen size. It is designed to run on relatively low-powered netbook computers.
HP Mi Mobile Internet Experience Mobile Internet Experience is a new user interface and home grown Linux for the upcoming HP Mini 1000 netbook, it is in many ways similar to Canonical's Ubuntu Netbook Edition. The UI has been developed on top of Ubuntu Linux distribution by HP specifically for the new netbook...	Based on Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, designed by Canonical and HP for use on the HP Mini 1000 and 110 series netbooks.
Impi Linux	South Africa South Africa The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans... n and focuses on the enterprise and government sector.
Karoshi	A formerly PCLinuxOS PCLinuxOS PCLinuxOS, often shortened to PCLOS, is a GNU/Linux distribution, with KDE Plasma Desktop as its default user interface. It is a primarily free software operating system for personal computers aimed at ease of use... -based distribution designed for use in schools.
Kuki Linux Kuki Linux Kuki Linux is a lightweight Ubuntu based distribution. It was created to be a replacement for the Fedora based Linpus Linux distribution bundled with the Acer Aspire One. It is built with the aim of being lightweight, fast, and being optimized for netbooks...	Lightweight Ubuntu-based Linux distribution founded by João Ferro, built to be a replacement for the Linpus Linux Lite distribution on the Acer Aspire One.
Leeenux Linux Leeenux Linux Leeenux Linux is an operating system for netbooks, with a focus on the ASUS Eee PC with 7" screen. It is based on Ubuntu.-Features:* Lightweight compared to other distributions using Ubuntu Netbook Remix* No proprietary software....	Based on Ubuntu, for Asus Eee PC with 7" screen
Linux Mint Linux Mint Linux Mint is a Linux-based computer operating system best known for its usability and ease of installation, particularly for users with no previous GNU/Linux experience...	Linux Mint synchronizes its release-cycle with Ubuntu's, and is tailored to user-friendliness for desktop users. Also features a Debian-based edition.
LinuxMCE LinuxMCE LinuxMCE is a free and open source software platform with a 10-foot user interface designed to allow a computer to act as a home theater PC for the living-room TV, personal video recorder, and home automation system. It allows control of everything in the home, from lighting and climate to...  (Linux Media Center Edition)	Kubuntu based distribution that provides in-depth HTPC functionality as well as home automation.
LinuxTLE LinuxTLE LinuxTLE is a Thai Linux distribution based on Ubuntu and developed by the Thailand National Electronics and Computer Technology Center ....	A Thai Linux distribution.
LliureX LliureX LliureX is a project of the Generalitat Valenciana whose objective is the introduction of the new technologies of information and communication based on free software in the education system in the Valencian Community.It is a Linux distribution....	A distribution by the Generalitat Valenciana Generalitat Valenciana The Generalitat Valenciana is the generic name covering the different self government institutions under which the Spanish autonomous community of Valencia is politically organised....
LOUD LOUD LOUD is a modified version of the Ubuntu Linux distribution used within West Virginia University's computer science department...  (LCSEE Optimized Ubuntu Distribution)	An Ubuntu distribution used at West Virginia University West Virginia University West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;... . It contains several specialized educational packages as well as its own themes and login manager.
Macbuntu Macbuntu Macbuntu is a project that transforms the look and feel of Linux operating systems to that similar to Mac OS X. Macbuntu is an open source program, designed to transform Linux’s appearance and layout into a Mac OS X environment. Although Macbuntu is dedicated to Ubuntu Linux OS, it could be used...	Macintosh OS X style derivative.
MAX	Stands for MAdrid LinuX.
Minimal Desktop for Ubuntu	A slimmed version of the GNOME GNOME GNOME is a desktop environment and graphical user interface that runs on top of a computer operating system. It is composed entirely of free and open source software... -based Ubuntu install, with a similar version for KDE KDE KDE is an international free software community producing an integrated set of cross-platform applications designed to run on Linux, FreeBSD, Microsoft Windows, Solaris and Mac OS X systems...  and Fluxbox Fluxbox Fluxbox is a stacking window manager for the X Window System, which started as a fork of Blackbox 0.61.1, with the same aim to be lightweight. Its user interface has only a taskbar, a pop-up menu accessible by right-clicking on the desktop, and minimal support for graphical icons... . It is targeted at experienced, but learning, Linux users.
Molinux Molinux Molinux is an operating system based on Ubuntu sponsored by the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha and the Fundación Ínsula Barataria.The name "Molinux" derives from the Spanish word "molino", meaning "mill" or "windmill"...	Ubuntu based initiative to introduce the Castile-La Mancha Castile-La Mancha Castile-La Mancha is an autonomous community of Spain. Castile-La Mancha is bordered by Castile and León, Madrid, Aragon, Valencia, Murcia, Andalusia, and Extremadura. It is one of the most sparsely populated of Spain's autonomous communities...  community in Spain to the information society.
Moon OS Moon OS moonOS is a fully functional Linux distribution, which uses the Gnome window manager.The Enlightenment project is still under active development.. The file system in moonOS is different from other Linux distors. It is easy and clutter-free compared to the usual Linux file system...	Moon OS uses the Enlightenment window manager Window manager A window manager is system software that controls the placement and appearance of windows within a windowing system in a graphical user interface. Most window managers are designed to help provide a desktop environment...  and also has an LXDE version, and is based on the LTS release.
Nova Nova (operating system) Nova is a Cuban state-sponsored Linux distribution launched in February 2009. It is developed in Havana at the University of Information Science by students and professors to provide free/libre/open-source software to inexperienced users and Cuban institutions.-Goal and adoption:The goal of Nova...	Cuba Cuba The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city... n state-sponsored distribution developed at the University of Information Science University of Information Science The University of Information Science is a university research center based in Havana, Cuba, in the municipality of Boyeros. Born as a project of the Cuban Revolution called the "Future Project" which has two objectives: to computerize the country and develop the software industry to contribute to... , Havana Havana Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous... . Formerly based on Gentoo.
nUbuntu NUbuntu nUbuntu or Network Ubuntu was a project to take the existing Ubuntu operating system LiveCD and Full Installer and remaster it with tools needed for penetration testing servers and networks. The main idea is to keep Ubuntu's ease of use and mix it with popular penetration testing tools...  (Network Ubuntu)	Based on Ubuntu. Available as a Live CD Live CD A live CD, live DVD, or live disc is a CD or DVD containing a bootable computer operating system. Live CDs are unique in that they have the ability to run a complete, modern operating system on a computer lacking mutable secondary storage, such as a hard disk drive...  and Full Install with tools needed for penetration-testing Penetration test A penetration test, occasionally pentest, is a method of evaluating the security of a computer system or network by simulating an attack from malicious outsiders and malicious insiders...  servers and networks.
OpenGEU OpenGEU OpenGEU is a free computer operating system based upon the popular GNU/Linux distribution, Ubuntu, which in turn is based on Debian Linux.OpenGEU's aim is to successfully combine the power and ease of use of GNOME desktop environment with the lightweight, and graphical eye candy features of the...	Ubuntu based distribution with Enlightenment window manager, previously known as Geubuntu.
Peppermint OS Peppermint OS Peppermint | Linux OS is a cloud-centric OS based on Lubuntu, a derivative of the Ubuntu Linux operating system that uses the LXDE desktop environment.-Design Principles:Peppermint OS ships with few native applications and a traditional desktop interface...	A light-weight LXDE distribution for cloud applications through Mozilla Prism Mozilla Prism Mozilla Prism is a product which integrates web applications with the desktop, allowing web applications to be launched from the desktop and configured independently of the default web browser. As of November 2010, Prism is listed as an inactive project at the Mozilla labs website.Prism is based... . Based on Lubuntu Lubuntu Lubuntu is a lightweight Linux operating system based on Ubuntu but using the LXDE desktop environment in place of Ubuntu's Unity shell and GNOME desktop...
PC/OS	Its primary interface is Xfce but there is also a GNOME release available. There is also a release that is geared towards web centric applications.
Poseidon Linux Poseidon Linux Poseidon Linux is full GNU/Linux distribution, a complete operating system, originally based on Kurumin, now based on Ubuntu. It is developed and maintained by a team of young scientists from the Rio Grande Federal University Foundation in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and the MARUM institute, in...	For academic and scientific use. Based on Ubuntu, but enhanced by e.g. GIS/maps, numerical modelling, 2D/3D/4D visualization, statistics, tools for creating simple and complex graphics, programming languages.
PSUbuntu Linux for PlayStation 3 OtherOS was a feature available in early versions of the PlayStation 3 video game console that allowed other operating systems, such as Linux or FreeBSD, to be installed on the system...	Ubuntu distribution intended for the PlayStation 3.
puredyne	puredyne is a live distro developed to provide media artists with a complete set of tools for realtime audio and video processing.
Qimo 4 Kids Qimo 4 Kids Qimo 4 Kids is a child friendly desktop environment built entirely with free software. Qimo comes pre-installed with educational games for kids; TuxPaint, eToys, GCompris, Tuxmath, and Tuxtyping....	educational games for children aged 3 and up. Ubuntu-based with easy to use interface.
Sabily Sabily Sabily is a free, open source operating system designed by and for Muslims. It is based on the popular Ubuntu Linux distribution which is a Free and Open Source operating system and has pre-installed packages for the Arabic language....	Ubuntu based distribution for Muslims (formerly Ubuntu Muslim Edition).
Spri Spri Spri was a lightweight Ubuntu-based Linux distribution. It used the IceWM window manager and is especially suitable for low-end hardware with limited resources. It is provided as an installable Live CD...	Lightweight Ubuntu derivative replacing GNOME GNOME GNOME is a desktop environment and graphical user interface that runs on top of a computer operating system. It is composed entirely of free and open source software...  desktop environment with lightweight IceWM IceWM IceWM is a stacking window manager for the X Window System graphical infrastructure, written by Marko Maček. It was coded from scratch in C++ and is released under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License...  window manager. Designed for aging and low powered computer hardware. Evaporated by 2011
Super OS	Aiming to provide an ‘out of the box’ experience, containing various enhancements over Ubuntu.
Trisquel Trisquel Trisquel GNU/Linux is a Linux distribution using a free version of the Linux kernel as distributed by the Linux-libre project. The main goals of the project are the production of a fully free software system that must be easy to use, complete, and with good language support.Trisquel's name comes...	Fully free software Free software Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do... , based on Ubuntu.
TurnKey Linux Virtual Appliance Library	Open source project developing a family of free, Ubuntu-based appliances optimized for ease of use in server-type usage scenarios.
U-lite	Has the main goal to be very light consuming hardware resources. The last version uses the LXDE LXDE LXDE is a free and open source desktop environment for Unix and other POSIX compliant platforms, such as Linux or BSD. The goal of the project is to provide a desktop environment that is fast and energy efficient...  desktop environment. It was previously called Ubuntulite.
UberStudent UberStudent UberStudent is a free and opensource computer operating system and collection of programs for higher education and college-bound secondary students, their teachers and schools, and researchers, knowledge workers, and lifelong learners....	For higher education and advanced secondary students, those who teach them, and lifelong learners.
Vinux Vinux Vinux is a Linux distribution which has been specially designed for blind and partially sighted users. Specifically it is a remastered version of the popular Ubuntu distribution and provides users with two screen-readers, two full-screen magnifiers, global font-size and colour changing facilities....	A Linux distribution designed for visually impaired Visual impairment Visual impairment is vision loss to such a degree as to qualify as an additional support need through a significant limitation of visual capability resulting from either disease, trauma, or congenital or degenerative conditions that cannot be corrected by conventional means, such as refractive...  users.
XBMC Live	An embedded operating system with XBMC Media Center designed to make any computer into a dedicated media center Home theater PC A Home Theater PC or Media Center appliance is a convergence device that combines some or all the capabilities of a personal computer with a software application that supports video, photo, music playback, and sometimes video recording functionality...  appliance.
Ylmf OS Ylmf OS Ylmf OS is a free software Linux distribution derived from the Ubuntu operating system. Its user interface closely resembles that of Microsoft Windows XP...	Based on Ubuntu and uses a Windows XP-like design.
Zentyal	(Formely named eBox) Ubuntu Server with web based interface targeted at small business ; Router/Firewall and NAS/PDC
ZevenOS ZevenOS ZevenOS is a German Linux distribution. It is based on Ubuntu and focuses on a fast and easy to use system while mimicking the look and feel of BeOS...	Similar to BeOS BeOS BeOS is an operating system for personal computers which began development by Be Inc. in 1991. It was first written to run on BeBox hardware. BeOS was optimized for digital media work and was written to take advantage of modern hardware facilities such as symmetric multiprocessing by utilizing... , with some extra tools.

Gentoo-based

Gentoo

Gentoo Linux

Gentoo Linux is a computer operating system built on top of the Linux kernel and based on the Portage package management system. It is distributed as free and open source software. Unlike a conventional software distribution, the user compiles the source code locally according to their chosen...

 is a distribution designed to have highly optimized and frequently updated software. Distributions based on Gentoo use the Portage

Portage (software)

Portage is a package management system used by Gentoo Linux, based on the concept of ports collections. Gentoo is sometimes referred to as a meta-distribution due to the extreme flexibility of Portage, which makes it operating-system-independent. The Gentoo/Alt project is concerned with using...

 package management system with emerge or one of the alternative package managers.

Distribution	Description
Calculate Linux Calculate Linux Calculate Linux is an optimized distribution designed for rapid deployment in a corporate environment. It is based on the Gentoo project and includes numerous pre-configured functions....	Calculate Linux is a family of distributions.
funtoo Funtoo Funtoo is a a free operating system, more precisely a GNU/Linux distribution based on Gentoo, and initiated in 2008 by Daniel Robbins former Gentoo Linux project leader.- History :...	Based on Gentoo.
Gentoox	An adaptation of Gentoo for the Xbox Xbox The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console... .
Knopperdisk Knopperdisk Knopperdisk is an operating system specifically designed for a USB pen drive and floppy disks. Knopperdisk is a fairly minimal, text system that can be used as a rescue disk, although the USB pen drive version has a few more software packages installed which are used for different purposes.Despite...	A new distribution aimed at USB sticks.
Pentoo Pentoo Pentoo is a Live CD and Live USB designed for penetration testing and security assessment. Based on Gentoo Linux, Pentoo is provided both as 32 and 64 bit livecd. It features packet injection patched wifi drivers, GPGPU cracking software, and lots of tools for penetration testing and security...	Penetration-testing Live CD.
Sabayon Linux	An installable Live DVD with multiple desktop environments. Like Gentoo, Sabayon uses the rolling release Rolling release In software development, a rolling release development model refers to a continuously developing software system; this is opposed to a standard release development model which uses software versions that must be reinstalled over the previous version...  model; it uses a customized version of Red Hat's Anaconda Installer and includes a Media Center application.
SystemRescueCD SystemRescueCD SystemRescueCd is an operating system for the x86 computer platform, though the primary purpose of SystemRescueCD is to repair unbootable or otherwise damaged computer systems after a system crash. SystemRescueCD is not intended to be used as a permanent operating system. It runs from a Live CD or...	System rescue Live CD version of Gentoo.
Tin Hat Linux Tin Hat Linux Tin Hat is a Linux distribution derived from Hardened Gentoo Linux. It aims to provide a very secure, stable, and fast desktop environment that lives purely in RAM. Tin Hat boots from CD, or optionally from USB flash drive, but it is not a LiveCD in that it does not mount any file system from the...	Based on hardened Gentoo.
Ututo Ututo Ututo GNU/Linux is a GNU/Linux operating system consisting entirely of free software. The name makes reference to a gecko known by this name from northern Argentina. It is compiled using Gentoo Linux "ebuilds" and "emerge" software. All documentation is in Spanish.Ututo was the first fully free...	Made in Argentina Argentina Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires... .
VidaLinux VidaLinux VidaLinux is an operating system based on Gentoo Linux. Because Gentoo is notorious for its arduous installation process, VidaLinux uses the Red Hat Anaconda installer to make it easier for end users to install it. Its default desktop environment is GNOME. The purpose of VLOS is to make the Linux...	Uses Anaconda Anaconda installer Anaconda is the installer for Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Fedora.Anacondas are lizard-eating snakes , and the Caldera installation program was called “Lizard”, hence the name.- Functionality :...  as its installer.
Chromium OS Chromium OS Chromium OS is the open source development version of Google Chrome OS.Chrome OS's source code was released on November 19, 2009 under the same BSD license as Chromium OS.-User interface:...	Google's OS Google Chrome OS Google Chrome OS is a Linux-based operating system designed by Google to work exclusively with web applications. Google announced the operating system on July 7, 2009 and made it an open source project, called Chromium OS, that November....  to be used on various tablet computer Tablet computer A tablet computer, or simply tablet, is a complete mobile computer, larger than a mobile phone or personal digital assistant, integrated into a flat touch screen and primarily operated by touching the screen... s as well as netbooks and nettops. It is primarily Internet-based, launching each app within the Chrome browser. The OS uses a user interface very similar-looking to the Chrome Chromium (web browser) Chromium is the open source web browser project from which Google Chrome draws its source code. The project's hourly Chromium snapshots appear essentially similar to the latest builds of Google Chrome aside from the omission of certain Google additions, most noticeable among them: Google's...  internet browser instead of GNOME GNOME GNOME is a desktop environment and graphical user interface that runs on top of a computer operating system. It is composed entirely of free and open source software... , KDE KDE KDE is an international free software community producing an integrated set of cross-platform applications designed to run on Linux, FreeBSD, Microsoft Windows, Solaris and Mac OS X systems... , etc.
Google Chrome OS Google Chrome OS Google Chrome OS is a Linux-based operating system designed by Google to work exclusively with web applications. Google announced the operating system on July 7, 2009 and made it an open source project, called Chromium OS, that November....	Designed by Google. Available through submission of a pilot application, though source code and directions to manually build it (under the name "Chromium-Based OS") are available. The Cr-48 netbook-style prototype is now available for those interested in the pilot program. The company from which it was created is unknown, but uses intel processors. Both Chromium OS and Google Chrome OS are not directly based on Gentoo, but they use Gentoo's package managing system, portage Portage (software) Portage is a package management system used by Gentoo Linux, based on the concept of ports collections. Gentoo is sometimes referred to as a meta-distribution due to the extreme flexibility of Portage, which makes it operating-system-independent. The Gentoo/Alt project is concerned with using... .

Pacman-based

Pacman is a package manager that is capable of resolving dependencies and automatically downloading and installing all necessary packages. In theory, a user need only run a single command to completely update the system.

Distribution	Description
Arch Linux Arch Linux Arch Linux is an independently developed, Linux-based operating system for i686 and x86-64 computers. It is composed predominantly of free and open source software, and supports community involvement....	An i686- and x86-64 X86-64 x86-64 is an extension of the x86 instruction set. It supports vastly larger virtual and physical address spaces than are possible on x86, thereby allowing programmers to conveniently work with much larger data sets. x86-64 also provides 64-bit general purpose registers and numerous other... -optimized distribution targeted at experienced users. Arch runs on a rolling release Rolling release In software development, a rolling release development model refers to a continuously developing software system; this is opposed to a standard release development model which uses software versions that must be reinstalled over the previous version...  system and uses the pacman utility for package management.
DeLi Linux	A desktop based mini distribution with office suite, web browser and other graphical programs to run on a 486 486 Year 486 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Basilius and Longinus... . Built from scratch with some influences from Slackware Slackware Slackware is a free and open source Linux-based operating system. It was one of the earliest operating systems to be built on top of the Linux kernel and is the oldest currently being maintained. Slackware was created by Patrick Volkerding of Slackware Linux, Inc. in 1993...  and CRUX CRUX CRUX is a lightweight, i686-optimized GNU/Linux distribution targeted at experienced GNU/Linux users and delivered by a tar.gz-based package system with BSD-style initscripts. It also utilizes a ports system to install and upgrade applications. The current release is 2.7.1.Although crux is the... .
Frugalware Linux	A general purpose Linux distribution designed for intermediate users. Has some influences from Slackware, and uses a heavily modified version of the Pacman package manager, Pacman-G2, a fork of a cvs Concurrent Versions System The Concurrent Versions System , also known as the Concurrent Versioning System, is a client-server free software revision control system in the field of software development. Version control system software keeps track of all work and all changes in a set of files, and allows several developers ...  version of the complete rewrite of Pacman-G1 by Aurelien Foret (the old monolithic Pacman-G1 is written by Judd Vinet). The packages are tar Tar (file format) In computing, tar is both a file format and the name of a program used to handle such files...  archives that are compressed using bzip2 Bzip2 bzip2 is a free and open source implementation of the Burrows–Wheeler algorithm. It is developed and maintained by Julian Seward. Seward made the first public release of bzip2, version 0.15, in July 1996.-Compression efficiency:... .
KnoppMyth KnoppMyth KnoppMyth is a Linux distribution designed for use on Home Theater PCs . As of version R6, it is now called LinHES . The most recent release is based on Arch Linux, though previous versions were based on Debian Linux with configuration scripts from the Knoppix Linux distribution...	Based on Arch Linux and MythTV, providing applications for recording TV and acting as a sound and video center.
Parabola GNU/Linux-libre	Based on Arch Linux, but provides only free Free software Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...  packages.

RPM-based

Red Hat Linux

Red Hat Linux

Red Hat Linux, assembled by the company Red Hat, was a popular Linux based operating system until its discontinuation in 2004.Red Hat Linux 1.0 was released on November 3, 1994...

 and SUSE Linux

SUSE Linux distributions

SUSE Linux is a computer operating system. It is built on top of the open source Linux kernel and is distributed with system and application software from other open source projects. SUSE Linux is of German origin and mainly developed in Europe. The first version appeared in early 1994, making...

 were the original major distributions that used the RPM file format

RPM Package Manager

RPM Package Manager is a package management system. The name RPM variously refers to the .rpm file format, files in this format, software packaged in such files, and the package manager itself...

, which is today used in several package management systems. Both of these later divided into commercial and community-supported distributions. Red Hat Linux divided into a community-supported distribution sponsored by Red Hat

Red Hat

Red Hat, Inc. is an S&P 500 company in the free and open source software sector, and a major Linux distribution vendor. Founded in 1993, Red Hat has its corporate headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina with satellite offices worldwide....

 called Fedora

Fedora (operating system)

Fedora is a RPM-based, general purpose collection of software, including an operating system based on the Linux kernel, developed by the community-supported Fedora Project and sponsored by Red Hat...

, and a commercially supported distribution called Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a Linux-based operating system developed by Red Hat and targeted toward the commercial market. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is released in server versions for x86, x86-64, Itanium, PowerPC and IBM System z, and desktop versions for x86 and x86-64...

.

Distribution	Description
aLinux ALinux aLinux is a Linux distribution created and maintained by Jay Klepacs. It uses KDE as its default desktop environment. It is designed to have a Windows-style "look".-Version History:Retrieved on May 22, 2007aLinux's original name was Peanut Linux...	Formerly known as Peanut Linux
ALT Linux ALT Linux ALT Linux is a set of RPM-based operating systems built on top of the Linux kernel and Sisyphus packages repository. ALT Linux is developed jointly by ALT Linux Team developers community and ALT Linux Ltd.- History :...	Several distributions including Master, Compact, and Junior, Server, Terminal.
Ark Linux Ark Linux Ark Linux is a Linux distribution maintained by a group of volunteers and aims to be easy to install and use. Its default desktop environment is KDE.Ark Linux is available both as an installable CD and as a Live CD, and is free software.-Principles:...	Ark Linux is meant to be easy enough for the new Linux user while powerful enough for long-time veterans and developers.
Caldera OpenLinux Caldera OpenLinux Caldera OpenLinux is a defunct Linux distribution that was created by the former Caldera Systems corporation. It was the early "business-oriented distribution" and foreshadowed the direction of developments that came to most other distributions and the Linux community generally.-Novell and...	A distribution originally introduced by Caldera Caldera (company) Caldera was a US-based software company founded in 1994 to develop Linux- and DOS-based operating system products.- Caldera :Caldera, Inc...  and later developed by its subsidiary Caldera Systems, the later Caldera International, who bought SCO and then renamed into The SCO Group and no longer produces a Linux distribution. Last release: 3.1.1 - Jan. 30, 2002
cAos Linux CAos Linux CAOS Linux is an RPM-based Linux distribution. It aspires to be community maintained and managed, but as of 2011-05-04, the timestamp of 2009-12-14 on the is well over a year old. Though Infiscale describes its GravityOS as "[including] the small footprint of Caos" indicating a level of influence...	A general purpose distribution. Designed to have low overhead, run on older hardware, and be easily customizable.
Fedora Fedora (operating system) Fedora is a RPM-based, general purpose collection of software, including an operating system based on the Linux kernel, developed by the community-supported Fedora Project and sponsored by Red Hat...	Community-supported distribution sponsored by Red Hat Red Hat Red Hat, Inc. is an S&P 500 company in the free and open source software sector, and a major Linux distribution vendor. Founded in 1993, Red Hat has its corporate headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina with satellite offices worldwide.... . It usually features cutting-edge Linux technologies.
Linkat Linkat Linkat is an RPM-based Linux distribution developed for the Department of Education of Generalitat of Catalonia.It is based on openSUSE and uses GNOME as the default desktop environment.1.0 version was released on 12 September 2006...	A distribution promoted by the government of Catalonia Catalonia Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an... , Spain.
Lycoris Lycoris (company) Lycoris, , was started in the year 2000 with the intent to make free software easy enough for anyone to use. Redmond Linux was founded by Joseph Cheek, an entrepreneur who had previously worked for Linuxcare. In late 2001 it merged with embedded systems company DeepLinux; the merged entity was...  Desktop/LX
Mandriva Linux Mandriva Linux Mandriva Linux is a Linux distribution distributed by Mandriva. It uses the RPM Package Manager...	Easy to use system through its unique Control Center.
PCLinuxOS PCLinuxOS PCLinuxOS, often shortened to PCLOS, is a GNU/Linux distribution, with KDE Plasma Desktop as its default user interface. It is a primarily free software operating system for personal computers aimed at ease of use...	A rolling release Rolling release In software development, a rolling release development model refers to a continuously developing software system; this is opposed to a standard release development model which uses software versions that must be reinstalled over the previous version...  Live CD distribution. Originally based on Mandrake 9.2. Later rebased on Mandriva Mandriva Linux Mandriva Linux is a Linux distribution distributed by Mandriva. It uses the RPM Package Manager...  2007.
Red Hat Linux Red Hat Linux Red Hat Linux, assembled by the company Red Hat, was a popular Linux based operating system until its discontinuation in 2004.Red Hat Linux 1.0 was released on November 3, 1994...	Split into Fedora Core Fedora (operating system) Fedora is a RPM-based, general purpose collection of software, including an operating system based on the Linux kernel, developed by the community-supported Fedora Project and sponsored by Red Hat...  and Red Hat Enterprise Linux Red Hat Enterprise Linux Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a Linux-based operating system developed by Red Hat and targeted toward the commercial market. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is released in server versions for x86, x86-64, Itanium, PowerPC and IBM System z, and desktop versions for x86 and x86-64... . The last official release of the unsplit distribution was Red Hat Linux 9 in March 2003.
SUSE Linux SUSE Linux distributions SUSE Linux is a computer operating system. It is built on top of the open source Linux kernel and is distributed with system and application software from other open source projects. SUSE Linux is of German origin and mainly developed in Europe. The first version appeared in early 1994, making...	A desktop Desktop computer A desktop computer is a personal computer in a form intended for regular use at a single location, as opposed to a mobile laptop or portable computer. Early desktop computers are designed to lay flat on the desk, while modern towers stand upright... -oriented Linux distribution by Novell, Inc., popular in Europe. openSUSE OpenSUSE openSUSE is a general purpose operating system built on top of the Linux kernel, developed by the community-supported openSUSE Project and sponsored by SUSE...  - A community-developed branch, sponsored by Novell Novell Novell, Inc. is a multinational software and services company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Attachmate Group. It specializes in network operating systems, such as Novell NetWare; systems management solutions, such as Novell ZENworks; and collaboration solutions, such as Novell Groupwise... . It maintains a strict policy of ensuring all code in the standard installs will be from Free/Libre/Open-Source Software Free software Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...  solutions, including Linux Linux Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...  kernel Modules. Novell's enterprise Linux Linux Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...  products are all based on the codebase that comes out of the openSUSE project. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server SUSE Linux Enterprise Server SUSE Linux Enterprise Server is a Linux distribution supplied by SUSE and targeted at the business market. It is targeted for servers, mainframes, and workstations but can be installed on desktop computers for testing as well. New major versions are released at an interval of 3-4 years, while...  - A server-oriented Linux distribution supplied by Novell, Inc. and targeted at the business market. SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop , formerly introduced as Novell Linux Desktop, is a Linux distribution supplied by Novell and targeted at the business market. It is targeted for desktops. New major versions are released at an interval of 24–36 months, while minor versions are released every 9–12...  (previously branded Novell Linux Desktop) - A desktop-oriented Linux distribution supplied by Novell, Inc. and targeted at the enterprise market. SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time - A specialized version of the SUSE distribution from Novell designed to support low latency for time critical operations.
Subuntu Subuntu Subuntu is an operating system created in SUSE Studio.It is designed to look and feel like Ubuntu.Not to be confused with Super OS.Available at: http://susegallery.com/a/HmS3Yr/subuntu-core-114...	Operating system created in SUSE Studio designed to feel like Ubuntu Ubuntu (operating system) Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution and distributed as free and open source software. It is named after the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu... .
Turbolinux Turbolinux -Linux distribution:The Turbolinux distribution was created as a rebranded Red Hat distribution by Pacific HiTech employee Scott Stone. Scott was the lead release engineer through version 3.6....	Based on Red Hat Linux.
Vine Linux Vine Linux Vine Linux is a Japanese Linux distribution sponsored by VineCaves. It is a fork of Red Hat Linux 7.2 since Vine Linux 3.0.-Release history:- External links :*...	A Japanese distribution based on Red Hat Linux.
YOPER YOPER Yoper Linux—Your Operating System—is a Linux distribution for PCs with i686 or higher processor types. It can be used for both personal computers and server use and uses hardware recognition tools known from Knoppix...	A rolling release Rolling release In software development, a rolling release development model refers to a continuously developing software system; this is opposed to a standard release development model which uses software versions that must be reinstalled over the previous version...  desktop distribution from New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...  that focuses on optimizing system performance for workstation use.

Fedora-based

Distribution	Description
Aurora SPARC Linux Aurora SPARC Linux Aurora SPARC Linux is an operating system, based on Fedora Core, for SPARC-based computers. Aurora was originally created after Red Hat dropped support for the SPARC architecture after Red Hat Linux 6.2....	For Sun's SPARC architecture
Berry Linux Berry Linux Berry Linux is a Live CD Linux distribution that has English and Japanese support. Berry Linux is based on and is compatible with Fedora 15 packages. The distribution is primarily focused on use as a Live CD, but it can also be installed to a live USB drive...	A medium-sized Fedora-based distribution that provides support in Japanese and English.
BLAG Linux and GNU BLAG Linux and GNU BLAG Linux and GNU is a GNU/Linux distribution made by the Brixton Linux Action Group.BLAG is a single-CD distro with applications desktop users "expect" from a desktop including multimedia, graphics, desktop internet applications and more. BLAG also includes a collection of server packages...	Fully free software Free software Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
EduLinux EduLinux Edulinux is a Linux distribution. It aimed to be a complete operating system, to be simple to use and to offer numerous software packages for educational purposes.It was developed with the support of and the University of Sherbrooke.-External links:*...	For educational purposes
EnGarde Secure Linux EnGarde Secure Linux EnGarde Secure Linux is an open source server-only Linux distribution developed by . EnGarde incorporates open source tools such as Postfix, BIND, and the LAMP stack....	Server-only distribution designed to be secure.
Fuduntu Fuduntu Fuduntu Linux is a Fedora-based Linux distribution created by Andrew Wyatt. It is designed to fit in somewhere between Fedora and Ubuntu , and, while optimized for netbooks and other portable computers, it is a general-purpose OS....	Designed to fit in somewhere between Fedora and Ubuntu.
Fusion Linux	Distribution that has desktop usability, ease of use and latest features as top priority.
Hanthana	Designed to cater the needs of Sri Lankan computer users who are unable to access Internet frequently, with many most-wanted applications built in.
K12LTSP K12LTSP K12LTSP is a modification to the Centos operating system with the Linux Terminal Server Project packages integrated into it. It's designed to be easy to install and configure. K12LTSP is an off-shoot of the Linux in School Project ....	A distribution for educational purpose. Comes with LTSP Linux Terminal Server Project Linux Terminal Server Project is a free and open source terminal server for Linux that allows many people to simultaneously use the same computer. Applications run on the server with a terminal known as a thin client handling input and output...  support.
Kororaa Kororaa Kororaa is a remix of the Fedora GNU/Linux distribution. Originally Kororaa was a binary installation method for Gentoo Linux which aimed for easy installation of a Gentoo system by using install scripts instead of manual configuration. The name is an alternate spelling for the Māori word, ...	Initially aimed at easy installation of a Gentoo system by using install scripts instead of manual configuration. Now based on Fedora.
Linpus Linux Linpus Linux Linpus Linux is a Fedora-based operating system created by the Taiwanese firm Linpus Technologies Inc. Linpus was designed specifically to fully support the Asian market, with full Unicode support for the Chinese and Japanese languages. A special version, Linpus Lite, was written to run on devices...	Focused on the Chinese market, along with Linpus Lite focused on the netbook Netbook Netbooks are a category of small, lightweight, legacy-free, and inexpensive laptop computers.At their inception in late 2007 as smaller notebooks optimized for low weight and low cost — netbooks omitted certain features , featured smaller screens and keyboards, and offered reduced computing...  market.
Moblin	Built around the Intel Atom processor; supplanted by Meego when Intel and (temporarily) Nokia combined activities
MythDora MythDora MythDora is a specialized operating system based on Fedora and MythTV. Since 2009, the version number comes from the version of Fedora used followed by the version of MythTV used. For example, the current version 12.23 uses Fedora 12 and MythTV 0.23. Like KnoppMyth, MythDora is designed to simplify...	Specialized distribution for easy setup of the MythTV PVR software, similar to KnoppMyth, based on Fedora.
Network Security Toolkit Network Security Toolkit The Network Security Toolkit is a Linux-based Live CD that provides a set of open source computer security and networking tools to perform routine security and networking diagnostic and monitoring tasks. The distribution can be used as a network security analysis, validation and monitoring tool on...	A Live CD/DVD with security and networking tools to perform routine security and networking diagnostic and monitoring tasks.
Ojuba Linux Ojuba Linux Ojuba is an Arabic Linux distribution, produced by an Arabic team led by Mo'aied Al-Sa'ady. Ojuba is a computer operating system based on the Fedora distribution...	Focused on providing the best Arabic support, as well as some Islamic tools such as Hijra (Hijri calendar) and Minbar (prayer time indicator).
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Red Hat Enterprise Linux Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a Linux-based operating system developed by Red Hat and targeted toward the commercial market. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is released in server versions for x86, x86-64, Itanium, PowerPC and IBM System z, and desktop versions for x86 and x86-64...	Red Hat Red Hat Red Hat, Inc. is an S&P 500 company in the free and open source software sector, and a major Linux distribution vendor. Founded in 1993, Red Hat has its corporate headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina with satellite offices worldwide.... 's officially supported distribution. Meant for enterprise use.
Russian Fedora Remix Russian Fedora Remix Russian Fedora Remix is a remix of the Fedora Linux distribution adapted for Russia. However, it is neither a copy of the original Fedora nor a new GNU/Linux distribution...	A remix of Fedora.
Trustix Trustix Trustix Secure Linux was a Linux distribution intended for use on servers and focused on security and stability. It was a hardened and secure OS, meaning that non-essential services and binaries are not installed, while UNIX staples like Sendmail are replaced by programs like Postfix.Trustix was...	A distribution focused on security.
Xange	Xange (formerly Simplis, formerly Vixta) is a distribution that tries to emulate the appearance of Windows Vista Windows Vista Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs... . It is based on KDE KDE KDE is an international free software community producing an integrated set of cross-platform applications designed to run on Linux, FreeBSD, Microsoft Windows, Solaris and Mac OS X systems... .
Yellow Dog Linux Yellow Dog Linux Yellow Dog Linux, also known as YDL, is a free and open source operating system for high performance computing on multicore architectures. It focuses on GPU systems and computers using the Power Architecture . YDL is currently developed by Fixstars...	For the PowerPC PowerPC PowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM...  platform.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux-based

Distribution	Description
Asianux Asianux Asianux is a Linux distribution. It is a joint development between Linux vendors Red Flag Software of China, Miracle Linux of Japan , Haansoft of South Korea, VietSoftware of Vietnam , WTEC from Thailand and Enterprise Technology Limited of Sri Lanka...	A distribution co-developed between Red Flag Software Red Flag Linux Red Flag Linux is a Chinese Linux distribution developed by Red Flag Software. Red Flag's logo is Tux carrying a prominent red flag.The current executive president of Red Flag Software is Jia Dong .-Description:...  Co., Ltd., Miracle Linux Miracle Linux Miracle Linux is a Linux distribution developed by Miracle Linux Co., Ltd., a company which Oracle Corporation owns 50.5 percent stock. Originally, it was designed to be an OS with good support of Oracle Database...  Corp. and Haansoft, INC., focused on Chinese, Japanese and Korean support.
CentOS CentOS CentOS is a free operating system based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux . It exists to provide a free enterprise class computing platform and strives to maintain 100% binary compatibility with its upstream distribution...	Community-supported distribution that aims to be compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux without the inclusion of proprietary software.
ClearOS ClearOS ClearOS is a Linux distribution, based on CentOS and Red Hat Enterprise Linux, designed for use in small and medium enterprises as a network gateway and network server with a web-based administration interface. It is designed to be an alternative to Windows Small Business Server. ClearOS succeeds...	Small Business Server. File, Print, Messaging, UTM, VPN.
Fermi Linux LTS	Based on Scientific Linux.
Miracle Linux Miracle Linux Miracle Linux is a Linux distribution developed by Miracle Linux Co., Ltd., a company which Oracle Corporation owns 50.5 percent stock. Originally, it was designed to be an OS with good support of Oracle Database...	Developed by Japanese software vendor Miracle Linux Co., Ltd
Oracle Linux	Supported by Oracle Oracle Corporation Oracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation that specializes in developing and marketing hardware systems and enterprise software products – particularly database management systems... . Aims to be fully compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
Red Flag Linux Red Flag Linux Red Flag Linux is a Chinese Linux distribution developed by Red Flag Software. Red Flag's logo is Tux carrying a prominent red flag.The current executive president of Red Flag Software is Jia Dong .-Description:...	A distribution developed in China and optimized for the Chinese market. Based on Asianux.
Rocks Cluster Distribution Rocks Cluster Distribution Rocks Cluster Distribution is a Linux distribution intended for high-performance computing clusters. It was started by National Partnership for Advanced Computational Infrastructure and the SDSC in 2000 and was initially funded in part by an NSF grant but is currently funded by the followup NSF...	A distribution for building a High-Performance Computing computer cluster, with a recent release supporting Cloud computing. It is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux Red Hat Enterprise Linux Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a Linux-based operating system developed by Red Hat and targeted toward the commercial market. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is released in server versions for x86, x86-64, Itanium, PowerPC and IBM System z, and desktop versions for x86 and x86-64...  but with extensions to support large multi-node heterogeneous systems for clusters (HPC), Cloud, and Data Warehousing (in development).
Scientific Linux Scientific Linux Scientific Linux is a Linux distribution produced by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the European Organization for Nuclear Research...	A distribution co-developed by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Fermilab Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory , located just outside Batavia, Illinois, near Chicago, is a US Department of Energy national laboratory specializing in high-energy particle physics...  and the European Organization for Nuclear Research CERN The European Organization for Nuclear Research , known as CERN , is an international organization whose purpose is to operate the world's largest particle physics laboratory, which is situated in the northwest suburbs of Geneva on the Franco–Swiss border...  (CERN), which aims to be compatible with and based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux Red Hat Enterprise Linux Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a Linux-based operating system developed by Red Hat and targeted toward the commercial market. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is released in server versions for x86, x86-64, Itanium, PowerPC and IBM System z, and desktop versions for x86 and x86-64... .
SME Server SME Server SME Server is a Linux distribution based on CentOS offering an operating system for computers used as web, file, email and database servers...	Based on CentOS and targeting Small and Medium Enterprises.
TrixBox TrixBox trixbox is a software PBX based on Asterisk.trixbox was initially released under the name Asterisk@Home. In October 2006 it was renamed to trixbox after Digium requested that its developers cease the use of the word "Asterisk"; the renaming was further justified by the fact that the product at...	A Voice Over IP (VoIP) distribution based on CentOS.

Mandriva Linux-based

Distribution	Description
Annvix Annvix Annvix is a Canadian security-focused operating system based on Mandriva Linux . It is a dormant operating system with the last version being released December 30, 2007....	A security-focused server distribution. Originally based on Mandrake 9.2 Mandriva Linux Mandriva Linux is a Linux distribution distributed by Mandriva. It uses the RPM Package Manager...  but has diverged a lot. Discontinued.
Mageia Mageia Mageia is the name of a non-profit organization and Linux distribution. The first release of the distribution was made on 1 June 2011.-Name:The term "mageia" — μαγεία in Greek — means "magic" in English...	A community fork of Mandriva Linux
MCNLive MCNLive MCNLive is a Live CD and Live USB Linux distribution based on Mandriva Linux. It is a desktop system. It contains graphical wizards to put it on a USB key, the copy2ram feature to speed things up....	A Mandriva-based distribution designed to run from CD or USB Flash Drive, focused on multimedia, internet, graphics.
Trinity Rescue Kit Trinity Rescue Kit Trinity Rescue Kit is a free command-line Live CD Linux distribution created especially for rescuing Windows PCs It is aimed specifically at offline operations for Windows and Linux systems such as rescue, repair, password resets and disk cloning...	Aimed specifically at offline operations for Windows and Linux systems such as rescue, repair, password resets and disk cloning
Unity Linux Unity Linux Unity Linux is a rolling release GNU/Linux distribution maintained by a group of volunteers and is meant to be a base on which other distributions can build. Its default desktop environment is Openbox...	Meant to be a base for custom distributions.

Slackware-based

Slackware

Slackware

Slackware is a free and open source Linux-based operating system. It was one of the earliest operating systems to be built on top of the Linux kernel and is the oldest currently being maintained. Slackware was created by Patrick Volkerding of Slackware Linux, Inc. in 1993...

 is known as a highly customizable distribution that stresses ease of maintenance and reliability over cutting-edge software and automated tools. Generally considered a distribution for advanced users, it is often suggested to those who want to learn the inner workings of a Linux operating system.

Distribution	Description
AUSTRUMI Austrumi ' is a business card size bootable live CD Linux distribution. It is based on Slackware. It was created and is currently being maintained by a group of programmers from Latgale region of Latvia. As of June 2011, the latest official release of AUSTRUMI Linux is 2.2.9...	An 108 MB bootable live CD Live CD A live CD, live DVD, or live disc is a CD or DVD containing a bootable computer operating system. Live CDs are unique in that they have the ability to run a complete, modern operating system on a computer lacking mutable secondary storage, such as a hard disk drive...  as of version 1.9.3
BasicLinux BasicLinux BasicLinux, also known as BasLin, BL3, or BasLinux, is a lightweight Linux distribution optimized for old PCs and laptops and that uses the commandline or a simple GUI....	A mini Linux designed to run in old PCs (386). Has a certain degree of compatibility with Slackware packages.
HostGIS HostGIS HostGIS Linux is a Slackware based Linux distribution. HostGIS Linux comes with several open source based GIS tools installed. For the less technically inclined compilation/installation of tools like UMN Mapserver might take a lot of time....	HostGIS Linux is a Slackware based distribution specifically made for handling GIS information.
KateOS	A desktop distribution aimed at intermediate users. It uses Xfce Xfce Xfce is a free software desktop environment for Unix and other Unix-like platforms, such as Linux, Solaris, and BSD – though recent compatibility issues have arisen with regard to BSD Unix platforms...  as its default desktop environment.
MuLinux MuLinux muLinux was an Italian, English-language lightweight Linux distribution maintained by mathematics and physics professor Michele Andreoli, meant to allow very old and obsolete computers to be used as basic intranet/Internet servers or text-based workstations with a UNIX-like operating system...	Floppy-based distribution with replaceable modules.
NimbleX NimbleX NimbleX is a small Slackware-based Linux distribution optimized to run from a CD, USB drive or a network environment. NimbleX has been praised for how fast it boots, as well as for its small disk footprint, which is considered surprising for a distribution using KDE as desktop environment...	Completely customizable through the NimbleX website.
Recovery Is Possible Recovery Is Possible Recovery Is Possible is a small, specialized Linux distribution based on Slackware that includes system maintenance and recovery applications on a live CD or USB flash drive. The RIP disc comes in two flavors: one with the X Window System and one without...	Live CD Live CD A live CD, live DVD, or live disc is a CD or DVD containing a bootable computer operating system. Live CDs are unique in that they have the ability to run a complete, modern operating system on a computer lacking mutable secondary storage, such as a hard disk drive...  for system maintenance and recovery.
Salix OS Salix OS -Goals:Salix OS retains full backwards compatibility with Slackware. This enables Slackware users to benefit from Salix repositories, which they can use as an "extra" source of software for their distribution. However, while in the KISS principle that Slackware adheres to, "Simple" refers to the...	Uses Xfce Xfce Xfce is a free software desktop environment for Unix and other Unix-like platforms, such as Linux, Solaris, and BSD – though recent compatibility issues have arisen with regard to BSD Unix platforms...  or LXDE LXDE LXDE is a free and open source desktop environment for Unix and other POSIX compliant platforms, such as Linux or BSD. The goal of the project is to provide a desktop environment that is fast and energy efficient...  as its default desktop environment.
Sentry Firewall Sentry Firewall Sentry Firewall is a free open-source network firewall Linux distribution that was first published in 2001 and has been the subject of multiple magazine reviews. The distribution is particularly notable because it consists solely of a bootable CD-ROM that is designed to be used in a computer with...	A firewall, server or intrusion detection system distribution.
simpleLinux GNU/Linux SimpleLinux simpleLinux is a GNU/Linux distributions that uses LZMA compression to compress its system files. The project started on year 2007 by a group of Malaysian developer. simpleLinux is a Slackware-based distribution that comes in both Live CD or Persistence version that can be installed to a medium...	simpleLinux is a GNU/Linux distributions that uses LZMA compression to compress its system files. The project started on year 2007 by a group of Malaysian developer. simpleLinux is a Slackware-based distribution that comes in both Live CD or Persistence version that can be installed to a medium. simpleLinux GNU/Linux comes to be a multi-tasking operating system that runs the X Window.
Slackintosh Slackintosh Slackintosh is a port of Slackware to the "New World" Macintosh's PowerPC architecture. Slackintosh's current release is one behind that of the current Slackware release - External links :*...	An unofficial port of Slackware to the PowerPC PowerPC PowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM...  architecture.
Slamd64 Slamd64 The Slamd64 Linux distribution is the first unofficial port of Slackware to the x86-64 architecture. The port started shortly before January 2005, with the first "alpha" release being made publicly available in January 2005...	An unofficial port of Slackware to the x86-64 X86-64 x86-64 is an extension of the x86 instruction set. It supports vastly larger virtual and physical address spaces than are possible on x86, thereby allowing programmers to conveniently work with much larger data sets. x86-64 also provides 64-bit general purpose registers and numerous other...  architecture.
Slax SLAX Slax is a LiveCD Linux distribution based on Slackware and is currently being developed by Tomáš Matějíček. Packages can be selected in a website where users can build a custom Slax iso image. Slax slogan refers to the software as a "Pocket Operating System"...	A live CD Live CD A live CD, live DVD, or live disc is a CD or DVD containing a bootable computer operating system. Live CDs are unique in that they have the ability to run a complete, modern operating system on a computer lacking mutable secondary storage, such as a hard disk drive...  which aims to provide a complete desktop for general use. Permanent installation of Slax is not recommended or supported; it is designed for "live" use only. Also can be run from a usb flash drive.
STUX STUX STUX is a Live CD Linux distribution based on Slackware.- Features :STUX is a bootable CD with a collection of software, automatic hardware detection, and support for many graphics cards, sound cards, SCSI and USB devices and other peripherals....	Live CD Live CD A live CD, live DVD, or live disc is a CD or DVD containing a bootable computer operating system. Live CDs are unique in that they have the ability to run a complete, modern operating system on a computer lacking mutable secondary storage, such as a hard disk drive...
SuperGamer SuperGamer SuperGamer is a Linux distribution for the x86 platform originally based on the PCLinuxOS distribution, and is currently based on VectorLinux. Focusing on gaming, it is designed to be run directly from a Live DVD.- Features :...	A Live DVD Linux Distribution focused on gaming Linux gaming Linux gaming refers to playing or developing video games for the Linux operating systems.- Background :Linux gaming refers to all game titles that can run on Linux based operating systems. This can refer to free / open source games, which may also be commercial, that run natively on Linux, or... .
Topologilinux Topologilinux TopologiLinux is a free Linux distribution to be run on or inside an existing Microsoft Windows system. The main feature of TopologiLinux is that it does not require any partitioning. It is based on Slackware and coLinux...	Designed to run from within Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal... , Topologilinux can be installed without any changes to the user's hard disk.
VectorLinux	A lightweight distribution designed to be easy to use even for new users. Generally considered well-suited for older hardware.
Wolvix Wolvix Wolvix is a desktop-oriented Linux distribution based on Slackware, mainly targeted at home users, and strives to provide a balance between everyday computing tasks, creativity, work and enjoyment...	A desktop-oriented Linux distribution based on Slackware, mainly targeted at home users, featuring Xfce Xfce Xfce is a free software desktop environment for Unix and other Unix-like platforms, such as Linux, Solaris, and BSD – though recent compatibility issues have arisen with regard to BSD Unix platforms... .
Zenwalk	Originally a minimal version of Slackware, Zenwalk has evolved into a very different operating system; however, compatibility with Slackware is still maintained.
ZipSlack ZipSlack ZipSlack was a specially compiled release of the Slackware Linux distribution which was designed to be lightweight and portable. It was distributed in a ZIP archive along with the Slackware release....	A lightweight and portable version of Slackware

Slax-based

Slax's modularity and reputation of quality have made it a popular base for other live CD

Live CD

A live CD, live DVD, or live disc is a CD or DVD containing a bootable computer operating system. Live CDs are unique in that they have the ability to run a complete, modern operating system on a computer lacking mutable secondary storage, such as a hard disk drive...

 projects.

Distribution	Description
Emnix Emnix Emnix is a Linux distribution built off the popular Slackware-based distribution Slax. It does not need to be installed on a computer system's hard drive, but it is an option. It boots and runs from either a Compact Disc or USB drive. There is also an option to run it from random access memory.The...	A Slax-based distribution focused around portability and practicality. Production has ceased and Emnix replaced with Project Esma.
DAVIX DAVIX DAVIX is a Live CD based on Slackware for the purposes of computer security operations. The distribution focuses on data analysis and visualization . DAVIX stands for Data Analysis and VIsualization linuX. It is the first Live CD to integrate so many visualization tools...	A live CD for data analysis and visualization.
DNALinux DNALinux DNALinux is a Linux distribution with bioinformatics software included. It is a Live CD. It is based on Slax but includes programs like BLAST and .DNALinux is made by and , Argentina.-External links:*...	A small distribution designed for running bioinformatics Bioinformatics Bioinformatics is the application of computer science and information technology to the field of biology and medicine. Bioinformatics deals with algorithms, databases and information systems, web technologies, artificial intelligence and soft computing, information and computation theory, software...  software, including BLAST BLAST In bioinformatics, Basic Local Alignment Search Tool, or BLAST, is an algorithm for comparing primary biological sequence information, such as the amino-acid sequences of different proteins or the nucleotides of DNA sequences...  and EMBOSS EMBOSS EMBOSS is an acronym for European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite. EMBOSS is a free Open Source software analysis package specially developed for the needs of the molecular biology and bioinformatics user community... .

Others

The following distributions are simply not categorized under the preceding sections.

Distribution	Description
Alpine Linux Alpine Linux Alpine Linux is a Linux distribution based on uClibc and BusyBox, which has the goal of being lightweight and secure by default while still being useful for general-purpose tasks. Alpine Linux uses PaX and grsecurity patches in the default kernel and compiles all packages with stack-smashing...	A security-oriented, lightweight Linux distribution based on uClibc and BusyBox.
Bifrost Bifrost (operating system) Bifrost is a light weight distribution of Linux optimized for networking.It is named after Bifröst, the bridge which connects the world and the land of Gods in Norse mythology.-Primary Usage:...	Small, for networking
Billix Billix Billix is a live USB or live CD that supports multiple Linux distributions . Billix was designed as a toolkit for UNIX and Linux system administrators.As configured, it supports several distributions:...	A live CD or live USB system administration toolkit and multi-boot distribution with the ability to install any of the included distributions.
Coyote Linux Coyote Linux Coyote Linux is a small distribution of Linux, including the operating system and the necessary services for a firewall/router, intended for easy NAT sharing of an internet connection with a single IP address among many computers on a local network, using spare "commodity" hardware...	Router/firewall distribution.
CRUX CRUX CRUX is a lightweight, i686-optimized GNU/Linux distribution targeted at experienced GNU/Linux users and delivered by a tar.gz-based package system with BSD-style initscripts. It also utilizes a ports system to install and upgrade applications. The current release is 2.7.1.Although crux is the...	CRUX is a lightweight, i686-optimized distribution targeted at experienced users. The focus is "keep it simple KISS principle KISS is an acronym for the design principle Keep it simple, Stupid!. Other variations include "keep it simple and stupid", "keep it short and simple", "keep it simple sir", "keep it simple or be stupid" or "keep it simple and straightforward"... ", which is reflected in a simple tar.gz-based package system, BSD-style initscripts, and a relatively small collection of trimmed packages
DD-WRT DD-WRT DD-WRT is a Linux-based firmware for several wireless routers, most notably the Linksys WRT54G . Like other similar projects, DD-WRT is third-party firmware designed to replace the firmware that ships pre-installed on many commercial routers...	Embedded firewall distribution.
Devil-Linux Devil-Linux Devil-Linux is a Linux distribution for use as a router/firewall which boots and runs completely from CD-ROM. Devil-Linux is capable of running on an older PC. This, combined with a hub or switch is a solution some Linux users may prefer instead of using a dedicated router.Devil-Linux does not...	Router/firewall/server distribution running from CD or USB. Configuration held on USB or floppy disk.
DSLinux DSLinux DSLinux is a port of the Linux operating system to the Nintendo DS. DSLinux was maintained until sometime in 2010.-Software:DSLinux runs a modified μClinux kernel. It is based on uCLinux 2.6.14 . It only runs in textmode and which is displayed using a custom framebuffer console driver...	Version of Linux designed for the Nintendo DS Nintendo DS The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP... .
ELinOS ELinOS ELinOS is a commercial development environment for embedded Linux. It consists of a Linux distribution for the target embedded system and development tools for a development host computer. The development host computer usually is a standard desktop computer running Linux or Windows...	Distribution for embedded system Embedded system An embedded system is a computer system designed for specific control functions within a larger system. often with real-time computing constraints. It is embedded as part of a complete device often including hardware and mechanical parts. By contrast, a general-purpose computer, such as a personal... s by SYSGO SYSGO SYSGO AG is a German company oriented in embedded software since its founding in 1991. The company is focused on the basic software building blocks for embedded systems used in critical environments such as airplanes, medical instruments or industrial automation... . ELinOS ELinOS ELinOS is a commercial development environment for embedded Linux. It consists of a Linux distribution for the target embedded system and development tools for a development host computer. The development host computer usually is a standard desktop computer running Linux or Windows...  focuses on industrial application and provides real-time extensions Real-time computing In computer science, real-time computing , or reactive computing, is the study of hardware and software systems that are subject to a "real-time constraint"— e.g. operational deadlines from event to system response. Real-time programs must guarantee response within strict time constraints... .
Endian Firewall Endian Firewall The Endian Firewall is an open source GNU/Linux distribution that specializes on Routing/Firewalling and Unified Threat Management. It is being developed by the Italian Endian Srl and the community....	Specializes in Routing/Firewalling and Unified Threat Management.
Familiar Linux Familiar Linux Familiar Linux is a Linux distribution for iPAQ machines and other personal digital assistants , intended as a replacement for Windows CE on these machines. It can use OPIE or GPE Palmtop Environment as graphical user interface...	Distribution for iPAQ handhelds.
Foresight Linux Foresight Linux - External links :* *...	A rolling release Rolling release In software development, a rolling release development model refers to a continuously developing software system; this is opposed to a standard release development model which uses software versions that must be reinstalled over the previous version...  distribution built around the Conary Conary (package manager) Conary is a free software package management system created by rPath and distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License Version 3. It focuses on installing packages through automated dependency resolution against distributed online repositories, and providing a concise and...  package manager.
FREESCO FREESCO FREESCO is a free replacement for commercial routers supporting up to 10 Ethernet/ARCnet/Token ring/Arlan network cards and up to .- General description :...	A free replacement for proprietary routers supporting up to 10 network cards and up to 10 modems.
GeeXboX GeeXboX GeeXboX is a free Linux distribution providing a media center software suite for personal computers. GeeXboX 2.0 and later uses XBMC for media playback and is implemented as Live USB and Live CD options. As such, the system does not need to be permanently installed to a hard drive, as most modern...	Live CD Live CD A live CD, live DVD, or live disc is a CD or DVD containing a bootable computer operating system. Live CDs are unique in that they have the ability to run a complete, modern operating system on a computer lacking mutable secondary storage, such as a hard disk drive...  media center distribution, mainly to play special-encoded video files (e.g.: .ogg, XVID) on home theater.
GoboLinux GoboLinux GoboLinux is a free and open source operating system whose most prominent feature is a reorganization of the traditional Linux file system. Rather than following the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard like most Unix-like systems, each program in a GoboLinux system has its own subdirectory tree, where...	An alternative distribution which redefines the file system File system A file system is a means to organize data expected to be retained after a program terminates by providing procedures to store, retrieve and update data, as well as manage the available space on the device which contain it. A file system organizes data in an efficient manner and is tuned to the...  hierarchy by installing everything belonging to one application in one folder under /Programs, and using symlinks from /System and its subfolders to point to the proper files.
IPCop IPCop IPCop is a Linux distribution which aims to provide a simple-to-manage firewall appliance based on PC hardware. IPCop is a stateful firewall built on the Linux netfilter framework....	Router/firewall distribution.
Iskolinux Iskolinux IskoLinux is a GNU/Linux distribution packaged and maintained by UP Manila's Information Management System as part of University of the Philippines' thrust to migrate to Linux...	A GNU/Linux distribution packaged and maintained by UP Manila's (UPM) Information Management System as part of University of the Philippines' thrust to migrate to Linux.
Jlime Jlime Jornada Linux Mobility Edition is a Linux distribution originally only aimed for the HP Jornada platform. It was created in Late 2003 by Kristoffer Ericson and Henk Brunstin.It's being developed using the OpenEmbedded build system....	Distribution for the HP Hewlett-Packard Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...  Jornada 6xx and 7xx and NEC NEC , a Japanese multinational IT company, has its headquarters in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. NEC, part of the Sumitomo Group, provides information technology and network solutions to business enterprises, communications services providers and government....  MobilePro 900(c) handhelds.
Lunar Linux Lunar Linux Lunar Linux is an operating system maintained around a source-based package management system also called Lunar. The project is a descendant of the Sorcerer Linux distribution.The installation disk installs a complete bootstrap development system first...	A source code-based distribution descended from Sorcerer GNU/Linux.
MCC Interim Linux MCC Interim Linux MCC Interim Linux was a Linux distribution first released by Owen Le Blanc of the Manchester Computing Centre , part of the University of Manchester, England) in February 1992. MCC Interim Linux has the distinction of being the first Linux distribution capable of being independently installed on a...	MCC Interim Linux, possibly the first Linux distribution. Created by the Manchester Computing Centre in February 1992.
MkLinux MkLinux MkLinux is an open source computer operating system started by the OSF Research Institute and Apple Computer in February 1996 to port Linux to the PowerPC platform, and Macintosh computers...	A legacy distribution for PowerPC PowerPC PowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM...  systems that runs the Linux kernel as a server on top of the Mach microkernel.
Mobilinux Mobilinux Mobilinux is a distribution of the Linux operating system, targeted to smartphones. It was announced by MontaVista Software on April 25, 2005.Mobilinux is based on open source and open standard technology, designed for scalability and maximized battery power usage for single-chip mobile phones...	By Montavista MontaVista MontaVista Software is a software developer that develops embedded Linux system software, development tools, and related software. Its products are targeted at other corporations developing embedded systems such as automotive electronics, communications equipment, mobile phones, and other...  for smartphones.
MontaVista Linux	Embedded systems distribution by MontaVista Software MontaVista MontaVista Software is a software developer that develops embedded Linux system software, development tools, and related software. Its products are targeted at other corporations developing embedded systems such as automotive electronics, communications equipment, mobile phones, and other... .
NASLite NASLite NASLite is a commercial Linux distribution designed to turn conventional x86-based computers with PCI interface into a simple network-attached storage device. It fits onto a single 3½-inch High Density floppy disk formatted to 1.72MB. NASLite boots from the floppy disk and runs in a 4MB RAM disk...	a floppy-based Linux designed to turn an old computer into a simple Network Attached Storage device.
Nitix Nitix Nitix is a retail Linux distribution, produced in Canada. The software is developed by , which has been acquired by IBM as of January 2008 and currently operates as IBM Lotus Foundations.-History:...	Developed by Net Integration Technologies Inc., Nitix claims to be the first autonomic Linux-based server operating system.
OpenWrt OpenWrt OpenWrt is a Linux distribution primarily targeted at routing on embedded devices. It comprises a set of about 2000 software packages, installed and uninstalled via the opkg package management system. OpenWrt can be configured using the command-line interface of BusyBox ash, or the web interface...	Embedded firewall distribution.
Paldo GNU/Linux Paldo GNU/Linux paldo is a computer operating system built on top of the Linux kernel and using the GNU utilities.Developed primarily for desktop computers using the x86 and x86_64 architectures, it has a history of frequent stable releases since 2004 and a "rolling release" style of continual updating of the...	Paldo GNU/Linux uses the UPKG Package manager. Using UPKG makes Paldo a mix of a source and a binary distribution.
Pardus Pardus (operating system) Pardus is a Linux distribution developed with support from the Turkish government. Pardus’ main focus is office-related work, including the use in Turkish government agencies. Despite that, Pardus ships in several languages. Its ease of use and availability free of charge spawned numerous...	Developed by Turkish National Research Institute of Electronics and Cryptology. It uses PISI as package manager, COMAR as configuration framework.
PS2 Linux	Sony Computer Entertainment Sony Computer Entertainment Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...  distribution released officially for the PlayStation 2 PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...  video game console.
Puppy Linux Puppy Linux Puppy Linux is a lightweight Linux distribution that focuses on ease of use. The entire system can be run from RAM, allowing the boot medium to be removed after the operating system has started...	A mini distribution which runs well under low-end PCs - even under 32 MB RAM.
rPath RPath rPath, Inc. is a technology company based in Raleigh, North Carolina that provides a platform for enterprise IT organizations, independent software vendors and on-demand service providers to automate the process of constructing , deploying and updating software stacks across physical, virtual and...	A distribution built around the Conary Conary (package manager) Conary is a free software package management system created by rPath and distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License Version 3. It focuses on installing packages through automated dependency resolution against distributed online repositories, and providing a concise and...  package manager.
SliTaz GNU/Linux SliTaz GNU/Linux SliTaz GNU/Linux is a community-based software project started in 2006 by Christophe Lincoln. It is a Linux distribution with a root filesystem that takes up approximately 100 MB of disk space, and its ISO image installation media is around 30 MB...	A small desktop distribution. The ISO is under 30 MB; runs entirely in RAM; uses its own tazpkg package system.
Smallfoot Smallfoot Smallfoot is the name of both a Rapid application development toolkit and an embedded operating system designed and released by Caldera Systems/The SCO Group in both Unix and Linux formats. Created for use in embedded environments such as point of sale systems and gaming, the toolkits are used to...	Developed by the Santa Cruz Operation ( SCO UNIX / SCO Group ), formerly Caldera - based on Caldera OpenLinux 3.x and 4.x binaries.
SmoothWall SmoothWall Smoothwall is a Linux distribution designed to be used as an open source firewall. Designed for ease of use, Smoothwall is configured via a web-based GUI, and requires little or no knowledge of Linux to install or use....	Router/firewall distribution.
Softlanding Linux System Softlanding Linux System Softlanding Linux System was an early Linux distribution founded by Peter MacDonald in May, 1992.SLS was the first release to offer a comprehensive Linux distribution containing more than the Linux kernel and basic utilities, including TCP/IP and the X Window System.- History :SLS was the most...	One of the earliest distributions, developed from 1992–1994; Slackware Slackware Slackware is a free and open source Linux-based operating system. It was one of the earliest operating systems to be built on top of the Linux kernel and is the oldest currently being maintained. Slackware was created by Patrick Volkerding of Slackware Linux, Inc. in 1993...  was originally based on it.
Sorcerer	A source code-based distribution.
Source Mage GNU/Linux Source Mage GNU/Linux Source Mage GNU/Linux is a Linux distribution. As a package is being installed, its source code is automatically downloaded, compiled, and installed. Source Mage is descended from Sorcerer.-Notable features:...	A source code-based distribution, descended from Sorcerer Sorcerer (Linux distribution) Sorcerer is a source based Linux distribution.Sorcerer's source management tool is called sorcery. Sorcery downloads and compiles source code in order to install and update installed software. Instead of using cryptic hard to remember acronyms, such as rpm and dpkg, Sorcerer's tool terminology is... .
Stable Hybrid Release	For smartphones, offering Enlightenment Enlightenment (window manager) Enlightenment, also known simply as E, is a stacking window manager for the X Window System which can be used alone or in conjunction with a desktop environment such as GNOME or KDE... 's Illume user interface. It is based on FSO.
Thinstation Thinstation Thinstation is a free and open source Linux implementation of a thin client operating system. It only requires standard 32-bit x86 PC hardware and can boot directly from the network via PXE or Etherboot from a TFTP server, or from local devices such as Hard disks, CompactFlash drives, USB keyrings...	Thin client distribution supporting all major connectivity protocols.
Tinfoil Hat Linux Tinfoil Hat Linux Tinfoil Hat Linux was a compact Linux distribution designed for high security. Version 1.000 was released in February 2002. It appears to be no longer actively maintained , though the files are still available in gzip format. THL requires a 386DX computer or better, with at least 8 MB of RAM. The...	Bootable floppy distribution focusing on extreme security
Tiny Core Linux Tiny Core Linux Tiny Core Linux is a minimal Linux operating system focusing on providing a base system using BusyBox and FLTK. The lead developer of the project is Robert Shingledecker. The distribution is notable for its size under 12MB, with additional functionality provided by extensions of which there are...	Tiny Core Linux is a minimalist (around 10 MB) Linux system focusing on providing a base system with BusyBox, FLTK and other minimalist software.
TinyMe TinyMe TinyMe is a lightweight Unity Linux-based operating system, using the Openbox window manager. It is aimed at making the computing experience as bloat- and lag-free as possible and is well-suited to older computers, enthusiasts devoted to small/fast systems, or users who just want a minimal...	Based on Unity Linux, targeted to be as lightweight as possible.
tomsrtbt Tomsrtbt tomsrtbt is a very small Linux distribution. It is short for "Tom's floppy which has a root filesystem and is also bootable." Its author, Tom Oehser, touts it as "The most GNU/Linux on one floppy disk", containing many common Linux command-line tools useful for system recovery It also features...	Root boot disk.
Tor-ramdisk Tor-ramdisk Tor-ramdisk is an i686 uClibc-based micro Linux distribution whose only purpose is to host a Tor server in an environment that maximizes security and privacy. Tor is a network of virtual tunnels that allows people and groups to improve their privacy and security on the Internet...	An i686 uClibc UClibc In computing, uClibc is a small C standard library intended for embedded Linux systems. uClibc was created to support uClinux, a version of Linux not requiring a memory management unit and thus suited for microcontrollers .The project lead is Erik Andersen. The other main contributor is Manuel... -based micro Linux distribution (about 5 MB) that runs in system memory Computer memory In computing, memory refers to the physical devices used to store programs or data on a temporary or permanent basis for use in a computer or other digital electronic device. The term primary memory is used for the information in physical systems which are fast In computing, memory refers to the...  and whose only purpose is to host a Tor server in an environment that maximizes security and privacy.
xPUD	Small distribution, aimed at being simple and usable.
Yggdrasil Linux/GNU/X	One of the oldest Linux distributions, not updated since 1995.

See also

• Comparison of Linux distributions
  Comparison of Linux distributions
  Technical variations of Linux distributions include support for different hardware devices and systems or software package configurations. Organizational differences may be motivated by historical reasons...
  
  
• Comparison of netbook-oriented Linux distributions
  Comparison of netbook-oriented Linux distributions
  Netbooks are small laptops, with screen sizes between approximately 7 and 12 inches and low power consumption. They use either an SSD or a hard disk for storage, have up to 2 gigabytes of RAM , lack an optical disk drive, and usually have USB, Ethernet, WiFi and often Bluetooth connectivity...
  
  
• DistroWatch
  DistroWatch
  DistroWatch is a website which provides news, popularity rankings, and other general information about various Linux distributions as well as other free software/open source Unix-like operating systems such as OpenSolaris, MINIX and BSD. It now contains information on several hundred distributions...
  
  
• List of Linux distributions endorsed by the Free Software Foundation
• List of live CDs
• List of router or firewall distributions

External links

• The Coding Studio OS Screenshots - Screen captures of most Linux distributions
• Operating-System.org - Lists all known Linux distributions at a glance.