The best Linux mini-distributions

mini-distros for teams with resources of limited or minimal hardware as if to raise an OS Based on Linux, there is a great variety to choose and test, here I mention some.

What is a Linux mini-distribution?

A Linux mini-distribution is a variant of that system that aims to incorporate a complete operating system into low-capacity portable storage units such as a floppy disk.

This type of distribution allows us to work in an almost complete Linux environment by starting from a floppy disk or USB key and without using the hard disk that the computer may have, thus avoiding any interference with the system installed on the computer. And due to its low consumption of resources, the most critical is usually the RAM, which in many cases must be 8 Mb of RAM, so almost any computer is good for its use.

Common features

• Minimum occupation: between 1Mb and 50Mb
• Minimum use of resources: 4-8 Mb RAM and i386 processor
• Use of RAM as a filesystem: / dev / ram-n
• They do not normally need a hard disk:
• They usually allow the equipment to be connected to the network and include clients and sometimes servers with basic services such as ftp, http, telnet or others
• Installations from MS-DOS, GNU / Linux, or without the need for an operating system, such as LiveCD systems.
• Very simple installation.
• Auxiliary disks to add more functionalities.

Using RAM as storage devices makes the system very fast to operate, as storage in RAM is much faster than storage on any other device. But this use is the one that often forces the PC's RAM to exceed 4Mb of RAM, otherwise the use of the system is not greatly degraded. Apart from the storage devices "/ dev / ram-n" memory is also required for the kernel of the operating system and for the applications that are used. The magic of operation without a hard disk is based on using RAM as a substitute for the hard disk and floppy disk.

List

The following is a list of Linux distributions to squeeze those less modern machines, in which it is not possible to enjoy 100% of a modern distribution, due to hardware limitations.

antomic: New Debian-based mini-distribution for novice users and easy to install.

austrumi: Another live distribution of small size, barely 50MB. Unpopular, but not of low quality for that. Based, like most, on Slackware. Works well on Pentium and later computers. Careful graphic aspect, with Enlightenment.

basiclinux: Mini distribution specially designed to recover 486 out of phase. Based on Slackware it runs directly from floppy disk using RAM.

brutalware: Mini-distribution for network management with TCP / IP

CoyoteLinux: Variant of Linux Router Project, it runs from a single floppy disk and turns that old PC that you have stored in your closet into a router capable of connecting your local network to the Internet.

Damn Small Linux: mini distribution in live cd that due to its small size, can serve as a rescue distro or to be used in machines with little processing power.

DeLi Linux: Acronym for Desktop Light Linux, it can operate smoothly on 486 terminals with 16MB of RAM. XFree graphical environment works and is a derivative of Slackware.

floppyfw: This mini-distribution allows you to implement a static router with firewall functionalities.

microLINUX_vem: GNU / Linux educational minidistribution in Spanish, in text mode, packaged on a 1.44 Mbyte floppy disk or to be run from a Windows system window.

MoviX: Self-bootable multimedia mini-distribution from CD that plays all kinds of multimedia files with MPlayer.

muLinux: Mini-distribution installable on the hard disk. It is one of the smallest distributions, it is easily attached to older computers.

Puppy Linux: It is a live distribution, with the possibility of being installed on a hard disk. It requires little RAM, and tends to run smoothly on older computers. Provides Fvwm95 and JWM duality.

SliTaz Linux: designed to run on hardware with 128 Mb of RAM. It occupies 30 Mb of CD and 80 Mb on the hard disk once installed. From 16 Mb of RAM it has the JWM window manager (in the cooking version it is LXDE).

Tiny linux: Mini-layout designed to be used on outdated computers.

Tiny Core Linux: Tiny Core Linux is a very small (10MB) minimum Linux desktop. It is based on Linux 2.6 kernel, BusyBox, small X, FLTK GUI, and flwm window manager, running completely in memory.

Tinyme: TinyMe is a Linux-based unit mini-distribution. It exists to facilitate the installation of Unity Linux on older computers, to provide a minimal installation for developers, and to offer a quick installation of Linux where only the essentials are needed.

tombsrtbt: Tomsbsrtbt is an emergency rescue system on a single floppy disk.

Trinux: Minidistribution oriented to the administration and diagnosis of networks.

Linux Vector: Based on Slackware, it should work fine with 32MB of RAM and 1GB of hard drive. XFCE / KDE graphical environment, depending on the case. There is a livecd version that does not require installation.

zen walk linux: Formerly known as MiniSlack, this Slackware-based distribution is simple and comprehensive. It is designed for a computer that meets the following minimum requirements: Pentium III and 128 Mb of RAM.