Welcome to Austin Godber’s Live Linux CD Page

What is a Live Linux CD?

Let us assume you know that Linux is a Free, Open Source UNIX like operating system (see my Linux Page). In that case, a Live Linux CD is a bootable CDROM that contains an entire Linux operating system which gets executed directly off of your CDROM drive. Nothing will get installed on your hard disk, in fact nothing whatsoever will be written to your hard disk unless you specifically tell it to do so*.

Why Does it Matter?

So, why is this exciting? Well, this is exciting because you can carry around with you the operating system you want to use. This CD can contain all (most) of the applications you need to use. You can use all of this on any computer you find handy, provided that computer has sufficient resources to run the CD**.

Not only does it allow you to carry your favorite operating system with you it also provides a FREE platform for any application, demonstration or tool you desire to share. A Live Linux CD is an easy and inexpensive way to make a point or share a product or demo.

What Can You Do With One?

Live Linux CD Uses:

• Carry Linux and Applications with you
• Demo your project or product
• Ultimate Rescue CD
• Promote your business or organization and Linux at the same time
• Testing Hardware for Linux Compatability
• Live Linux CD Resume

How Does It Work?

I will spare you the technical details, if you are interested check the references. As a user of a Live Linux CD there are only four simple steps:

1. Place Live Linux CD in your CDROM drive.
2. Reboot (or power on) your computer.
3. Use Live Linux CD and applications.
4. Shutdown computer.

What Changes Can Be Made?

You can make lots of changes! Live Linux CDs are very flexible although there are a few constraints. You can add nearly any application you want to the CD, including applications that need to be able to write to the disk (any changes will be lost if they aren't somehow stored of course).

The easiest thing to do is what I refer to as Branding. This is where you take select a Live Linux CD and only change the images on the disc so that when it boots up it displays images of your choice for the splash screens and the X Windows background.

How Do You Get One?

You can build your own or you cah have someone build one for you. If you prefer the former see the Resources at the end of this page. If you want someone to build one for you feel free to send email to godber@uberhip.com about all your Custom Live Linux CD needs. I will be more than happy to help.

Resources

There are lots of Live Linux CD projects today, many of them contain information about making custom Live Linux CDs.

• Knoppix
• Morphix
• Gentoo
• Mandrake
• Linux Bootable Business Card

FootNotes

* It is true in most cases that nothing will get written to your hard disk. However, if you have an existing Linux Swap partition it will automaticallly make use of that swap partition. If you don't know what I am talking about, don't worry, you will be safe. If do know what I am talking about then you should understand that you are safe. With, of course, another obligatory exception, like if you are using Linux's swsusp to suspend your computer you may have trouble.

** Hardware Requirements depend on what you want to use the CD for. For a simple command line based application the requirements will be rather modest. For a full fledged X Windows installation the Requirements will be more.