A Debian ["LiveCD"] is ["Debian"] distro (that contains as much software as possible) stored on a bootable ["CDROM"] that can be executed from it, without installation on a hard drive. Nothing is installed, and the system returns to its previous OS once you pop the ["LiveCD"] out.

One can use a ready CD or burn an ["ISOImage"] downloaded from the internet. Because of the large size of the image files many people use a download manager and, more actually, ["jigdo"],for this.

Some LiveCDs come with an installation utility launchable from a desktop icon that can optionally install the system on a hard drive or USB ["keydrive"]. Most LiveCDs can access too the information on internal and/or external harddrives, diskettes and USB Flash memories (i.e. to store data home directory or to be used like rescue systems).

For example, in Dynebolic the nest file is called dynebol.nst and it keeps all your home and settings inside (/home, /etc, /var, /tmp). The available space for your nest is found by dyne:bolic thru your partitions on harddisk or usb storage devices (like usb pens, smartcards or even photo cameras). This approach doesn't requires any change in the data structure of the partitions: just one file is created (dynebol.nst).

Generating Debian LiveCDs

Projects and tools for creating a Debian Live CD from standard Debian packages:

NEW: Now experimental knoppix from scratch available! See [http://lists.debian.org/debian-custom/2004/07/msg00096.html here].

Related software:

Mini-LiveCDs

A Mini-LiveCD is a [bootable business card] Linux distribution, this is, small enough to fit on a CD-ROM that has been cut, pressed, or molded to the size and shape of a business card (designed to fit in your wallet or pocket).

Mini-?LiveCds are able to hold about 50 ["MB"]. See DamnSmallLinux

LiveMove

["?LiveMove"]s are the set of a LiveCD and a bootfloppy or USB key.

I.e. ["?MandrakeMove"] is a new ?MandrakeSoft product that benefits from a [Mandrake Linux] LiveCD which doesn't need to be installed to run on a computer, and a USB key that automatically stores ["bootloader"], hardware configuration and personal data.

MoveKey

A ?MoveKey is a linux mini-distribution in a USB ["keydrive"], like ["Flonix"]

VMware

With ?"VMware", you can try a LiveCD without burning it to a CD or re-booting the computer.

List of Debian based LiveCDs

List of other LiveCDs

See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LiveCDs Wikipedia:list of liveCDs]

See also