List of Linux distributions that run from RAM

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Puppy Linux 5.10 desktop running in RAM

This is a list of Linux distributions that can be run entirely from the computer's RAM. That ability allows them to be very fast, since reading and writing data from/to RAM is much faster than on a hard disk drive. Many of these operating systems will load from a removable media such as a Live CD or a Live USB stick. A "frugal" install can also often be completed, allowing boot up from a hard disk drive instead.

This feature is implemented in live-initramfs and allows the user to run a live distro that does not run from ram by default by adding toram to the kernel boot parameters.[1]

Additionally some distributions can be configured to run from RAM, such as Ubuntu using the toram option included in the Casper scripts.[2]

Table

Linux distributions that run from RAM
Distribution Based on RAM required installation drive/required size
Alpine Linux[3][4] Independent base system uses less than 64 MB CD - USB flash drive - HDD
Arudius[5] Slackware & Slax 210 MB CD - DVD - USB flash drive
AUSTRUMI[6] Slackware less than 100 MB CD - DVD - USB flash drive
boot2docker[7] Tiny Core Linux 24 MB CD - DVD - USB flash drive - Web service
Damn Small Linux[8] Knoppix 128 MB CD - USB flash drive - HDD
debirf[9] Debian 256 MB CD - DVD - USB flash drive - HDD
Grml[10] Debian 256 MB (required), 512 MB (or more, recommended) CD - USB flash drive - HDD
Kanotix[11] Debian & Knoppix 1024 MB CD - DVD - USB flash drive - HDD
Knoppix[12] Debian 1024 MB CD - DVD - USB flash drive - HDD
Lighthouse Linux[13] Puppy 256 MB (required), 512 MB (recommended), 768 MB (optional)[14] CD - DVD - USB flash drive
Lightweight Portable Security (LPS) [15] Thinstation 178 MB (basic), 382 MB (deluxe) CD - USB flash drive
Macpup[16] Puppy 164 MB CD - USB flash drive
Minimal Linux Live[17] Independent 64 MB CD - USB flash drive
MCNLive[18] Mandriva 512 MB CD - USB flash drive
Mustang Linux[19] Slackware 168 MB[20] CD - DVD
Nanolinux[21] Tiny Core Linux 64 MB[22] CD - DVD - USB flash drive - HDD
Parted Magic[23] Independent 175 MB - 312 MB CD - DVD - USB flash drive - HDD
PCLinuxOS[24] Mandriva 1024 MB CD - DVD - USB flash drive - HDD
Plop Linux[25] Independent 64 MB CD - DVD - USB flash drive - HDD
Porteus[26] Slackware 512 MB CD - DVD - USB flash drive
Puppy Linux[27] Independent 64 MB (required), 256 MB (recommended)[28] CD - DVD - USB flash drive - HDD
RIPLinuX[29] Slackware 512 MB CD - DVD - USB flash drive
Slax[30] Slackware 512 MB CD - DVD - USB flash drive - HDD
SliTaz[31] Independent 192 MB (48 MB for base) CD - DVD - USB flash drive - HDD[32] - Floppy disk[33]
SystemRescueCD[34] Gentoo Linux 400 MB CD - DVD - USB flash drive - HDD
Tails[35] Debian 2048 MB (recommended) DVD - USB flash drive - Secure Digital
Tin Hat Linux[36] Hardened Gentoo 4096 MB
Tiny SliTaz[37] SliTaz 4 MB CD - DVD - USB flash drive - HDD - Floppy disk
Tiny Core Linux[38] Independent 46 MB[38] HDD - CD
Trinity Rescue Kit (TRK)[39] Mandriva 256 MB - 512 MB (recommended) [40] CD - USB flash drive

See also

  • tmpfs; by mounting a tmpfs and running files that are placed on this, files and programs can be run from RAM, even on Linux distros that do not run completely in RAM
  • Clustered file system; network file systems are another way to avoid needing to use a (slow) harddisk (at least faster if using a E-IDE harddisk)
  • initrd ("initial ramdisk"), a scheme for loading a temporary root file system into memory in the boot process of the Linux kernel.
  • Lightweight Linux distribution
  • List of tools to create Live USB systems
  • SYSLINUX, a suite of lightweight IBM PC MBR bootloaders for starting up computers with the Linux kernel.
  • Windows PE, a non-Linux operating system that can also be run from RAM.

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ LPS Main Page
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Parted Magic - About
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ RIPLinuX home site
  30. ↑ Documentation - Slax Linux
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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