MiniLinux

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The standard MiniLinux logo

The term MiniLinux (or Mini Linux Distribution) refers to any Linux distribution that fits on memory card or a small number of floppies, usually one or two. Such distributions may be tailored to system rescue (recovering from a crash), setting up a firewall or router, or other specialized tasks.

The term appears to be derived from the first distribution to work in this way (http://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.linux.announce/msg/11b2fcb628774a0f)

1 Linux floppydistro
2 List of MiniLinux distributions
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Linux floppydistro

A Linux floppydistro is a mini-Linux distribution that only uses 1 or 2 floppy diskettes to contain a Linux kernel and useful utilities.

There is a distinction between a bootfloppy and a floppydistro. A bootfloppy usually doesn't contain any useful utilities, and is used mostly when installing a Linux distro. A floppy distro contains both the Linux kernel and important utilities. An example of simple bootfloppy is syslinux and an example of a Linux floppydistro is BasicLinux.

[edit] List of MiniLinux distributions

[edit] Desktop or CD-distributions with installation-option

myOS - Miniature, Linux based OpenGL development system. http://one.xthost.info/zelko/opengl.html
Puppy Linux is a small distribution with a size of 60 MB and requires 128 MB RAM
Damn Small Linux (DSL):a very versatile 50MB mini desktop oriented Linux distribution
Feather Linux is a Knoppix-based Linux distribution which currently fits in under 128MB
Bonzai Linux: KDE-based distribution with 180 MB iso-filesize
DeLi Linux: "Desktop Light" Linux [1]
DragonLinux Lite: versatile 50MB mini desktop oriented Linux distribution [2]
Flonix USB Edition for installation on removable drives with at least 128 MB storage. Discontinued since 2004.
Embedded Debian: http://www.emdebian.org/
SliTaz GNU/Linux mini CD-distro oriented web and PC recycling. Fits on 20 MB, with X, SSH, web server, and much more. [3]
Xubuntu is a small distribution to fit on a CD, requires 64 or 128 MB RAM (depending on installation-method)
easys is a fully featured Desktop Environment using KDE.

[edit] Floppy-distributions

BasicLinux: a floppy distro that works on minimal hardware (2 FD).
Coyote Linux: a one-floppy distro for use as a firewall/router.
LEAF Project: (Linux Embedded Appliance Firewall) is a fork from the now obsolete Linux Router Project (LRP) with router and firewall functionality. CD-rom and other media is also supported.
Devil Linux: A stripped down floppy-bootable distribution designed for server use.
fli4l
FloppyFW
FDLinux: http://www.fdlinux.com
muLinux: a distribution which fits on one floppy disk
JnuxBand: one-floppy Linux kernel 2.6 distribution featuring the game
tomsrtbt: a one floppy distro for rescue and other purposes
Injector Linux is a one floppy Linux system which supports many filesystems, see [4]
FREESCO is a floppy disk based router
Linux Router
Old Laptop As Firewall: use an old laptop to firewall a dial-up connection with this one floppy distro

[edit] Distributions for special applications

DSLinux: Linux distribution for the Nintendo DS.
iPodLinux: Linux distribution for Apple's iPod
Tiny Linux is a collection of patches to the Linux kernel to remove different aspects of the kernel in order to save space.
Stresslinux is a live-CD-project designed to test a computer's hardware
Recovery Is Possible: a small, specialized Linux distribution that includes a large number of system maintenance and recovery applications.