LIVE CD

Live CD (also LiveCD and CD Live Distro is said "by Live sit") is the operating system which is loaded from a removable medium (CD, DVD, the USB drive, etc.), not requiring for the functioning of installation on the hard drive. By the same concept designate also carriers with such OS (sometimes distinguish LiveCD, LiveDVD and LiveUSB depending on the carrier).

Live CDS allow to begin quickly work with the computer, avoiding long installation process of the operating system in a fixed memory of the computer — the winchester. Start of Live CD takes usually several minutes while the first start of traditional OS often requires several hours.

Some Live CDS are created on the basis of operating systems of the Unix family: GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD. OpenSolaris. Most the used LiveCD are created on the basis of/Linux. Use of Windows Live-CD is copyright violation and possibilities of "live" disks based on windows are minimum.

Application

Acquaintance

Most often Live CDS are used for acquaintance with opportunities of operating systems. Many LiveCD also give an installation opportunity on the hard drive. Thus, it is possible to start and try quickly in use this or that OS, and if a system is pleasant, to set it.

Recovery after failures

Other application of Live CD — data recovery and/or operability of basic operation system after failure. Live CDS allow to work with the computer when the basic operation system is not efficient.

Work on several computers

Other advantage of Live CD is the convenience when moving. For example, you can take Live CD with yourself if you need to work some time on someone else's computer. Thus, you can get quickly on any computer (having CD ROM) access to the usual operating system and not to be afraid to do much harm to others system and someone else's data during operation.

Diskless computers and computers with small disks

Live CD can be applied on the computers which do not have the hard drive (that meets very seldom) and on the computers having the hard drive of very small amount (that also meets seldom).

Full load in memory

Some Live CDS allow to use a useful opportunity — a full load of contents of a CD disk in RAM of the computer. When using such opportunity the high speed of work of OS and all programs which are its part is reached, however it is possible only at the small size of a system and rather large volume of RAM.

Creation of own Live CD

There are programs allowing to create own Live CD on the basis of already existing systems.

For example UNetboot Шаблон:Ref-en, see also 8/14/2008 10:30 p.m. Overview of the UNetbootin utility intended for simplification of creation of LiveCD from Linux or BSD systems Шаблон:Ref-en

Live CD shortcomings

Speed

Though Live CDS allow to save a lot of time at the first start of the operating system, at next runs traditional operating systems, as a rule, much quicker. It is caused by rather small speed of operation of CD ROM of drives, the raised expense of RAM and need to configure Live CD according to a configuration of the used equipment.

Storage of settings and data

As any record on CD disks is impossible, users of Live CD face a problem of storage of the data and settings. For this purpose it is necessary to use different additional data media, for example Flash-drives or network drives. Many Live CDS provide special programs for the organization of storage of settings and data on similar carriers. Also some Live CDS allow to finish the data on the same CD disk using a so-called multisession write mode.

Defects of CD

Compact disks are subject to different damages, first of all — to scratches and also cracks (up to final fracture) and to spalling of the written layer. Reliability of CD strongly depends both on quality of production, and on care at operation.

List of popular Live CDS

Today Live CDS on the basis of GNU/Linux are most known, to FreeBSD, OpenSolaris

GNU/Linux

Live CDS based on GNU/Linux OS enjoy the greatest popularity and popularity (see GNU/Linux#Дистрибутивы GNU/Linux). For example:

• Knoppix — the first Live CD (nowadays DVD) the GNU/Linux distribution kit;
• Ubuntu — one of the most popular Linux distribution kits not only among Live CD, but also in general;
• Mandriva One — Live CD and installation CD; leaves with each version of a distribution kit;
• Damn Small Linux — very small Live CD;
• Slax — Live CD based on Slackware;
• PuppyLinux — small and very fast Live CD;
• SystemRescueCD — Live CD for recovery after failures.

Also there are specialized Live CDS, for example, ClusterKnoppix focused on parallel computings.

FreeBSD

FreeBSD OS gained smaller distribution on home computers, however on its base there are also LiveCD:

• Frenzy — completely Russified LiveCD founded on FreeBSD
• FreeSBIE — one more LiveCD based on FreeBSD
• RedBSD

OpenSolaris

• BeleniX
• SchilliX
• MilaX

Live CD based on other OS

• BeOS — all distribution kits of this OS can be started in the Live CD mode
• ReactOS is a Windows-like system
• Minix — a distribution kit of this OS can be started in the Live CD mode

See Also

• List of LiveCD-distribution kits

Links

• FrozenTech’s Live CD List