Free live software for linux

The UserLinux Project is developing an effective, streamlined, freely available Linux distribution for businesses of all sizes. The project is not-for-profit with associated services available from a network of commercial service providers.

UserLinux organization will be a not-for-profit organization. The UserLinux product is a GNU/Linux distribution based from Debian GNU/Linux, but streamlined to a smaller set of default applications.

UserLinux will be freely available in both source and ISO formats. UserLinux will be complemented by a worldwide network of (generally for-profit) service providers offering certification, support, and professional services.

UserLinux will offer businesses unrivaled value by providing a strong base of intelligently selected software accompanied by vendor neutral support and certification options.

Security, training, and worker portability issues are greatly reduced through the selection of the prime application for a specific need. There are no licensing fees for software or development tools. Support services are available from a variety of professional service providers, but are never mandatory.

The UserLinux product is a Linux Operating System distribution streamlined to a smaller set of default applications for business use. The UserLinux variants, currently in beta testing, are freely available in both source and CD installation image formats.

UserLinux has four primary configurations:

Enterprise Server:A solid production server featuring Apache, Samba, and Postfix. Great as a web or file server.
Enterprise Desktop:GNOME desktop featuring OpenOffice.
GUI Server:Features a thin Graphical User Interface environment for more convenient local administration. Same core functionality as Enterprise Server.
SOHO Desktop (Small Office/Home Office):A desktop and server in one. A wider range of capabilities to meet the needs of small businesses.

UserLinux will be driven by the not-for-profit UserLinux Organization and backed by a network of for-profit professional service providers. The distribution will be accompanined by available certifications for people, software, and hardware.

Key UserLinux Advantages:

Streamlined:UserLinux is a streamlined distribution with one key application in mind for a given piece of functionality. One web browser, one word processor, one mail client, one web server. This reduces support overhead both for users and for maintaining security.
Standards compliant:UserLinux encourages cooperation with other open source organizations, and values compliance with open standards.
Designed for business:The UserLinux distribution is specially tailored towards the needs of business.
Professional Services:The third party network of UserLinux affiliated commercial Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) allow for choice in professional services and custom application design options. The separation between the UserLinux organization and the ISVs is a win-win proposition allowing both the support advantages of a service provider network and the neutrality advantages of an operating system not tied to a single company.
Flexible:While each UserLinux configuration is designed to support common functionality as shipped, the systems are also open for expansion beyond the standard UserLinux set.
Disclosure:As a not-for-profit organization working with software developed in the open, the UserLinux organization as well as the development process for the UserLinux distribution are in the open. Critical system updates are clearly and promptly announced so systems remain properly secured.
Lack of lock-in:There are no licensing fees for the UserLinux distribution or related development tools. Service is available from your choice of service providers, but is never mandatory.
Free to obtain:ISO images and the source code are freely available.
Inexpensive to maintain:The streamlined nature of the UserLinux distribution assures less software to update. There are no per seat charges or OS licenses to be tracked and audited.
Secure:Leveraging from the power of open source, the code used in the UserLinux distribution not only has thousands of hours of development but thousands of hours of peer review.
Certifications:Hardware, software, support and professional certifications will be available. The standards and corresponding tests will be created by UserLinux with third parties performing the testing activities.
Mature Software:UserLinux is directly based from Debian GNU/Linux, a general focus, free Linux distribution in existence for over a decade. Key components of UserLinux, including the highly popular Linux Kernel and Apache web server, are very mature with millions of critical-use installations.

IOSN Live CD is an bootable CD that boots into a usable and fully featured Linux Desktop. In addition to standard FOSS productivity and multimedia applications, it is bundled with a User Guide to Using the Linux Desktop in print and multimedia formats as well as several IOSN Free/Open Source Software Primers.

Note: This is a beta release.

BuffaloLinux project is a Slackware based distribution. Additionally, it supports both rpm and deb packages through its install and upgrade scripts (buff, Buff, sudobuff and sudoBuff).

The default windowmanager is ICEWM, but BlackBox, FluxBox, XFCE4, and WindowMaker also come pre-installed. Integrated versions of both GNOME and KDE are available on the Buffalo-Extras CD.

Support and download of CodeWeavers Office is provided for MS Windows based programs. Also included on the Extras-CD is a Buffalo-wrapped demo-package of Win4Lin.

Linuxo Live! is a new and modern Linux distribution.
Enhancements:
- added better support for SATA disks, now no problems with hdd installation on SATA
- added Koffice 1.3.5 with full serbian translation
- fixed KDE keyboard change (on taskbar), SR, SP and US keyboard selection activated
- removed NVIDIA 3D driver as default driver for graphic cards, boot problem, still in testing
- added better hardware detection for monitors (TFT) and printers
- added KDE 3.4 (final version)
- removed kernel source from CD version due to low disk space.
- added OpenOffice.org 2.0b on DVD version, OpenOffice 1.1.4 still there on CD and DVD versions
- added Acrobat Reader 7 for Linux on DVD version
- added Extras CD with addition software and kernel soruces (mainly for CD version)
- added serbian translation for livecd-install script
- added english-serbian dictionary (nkrecnik)
- added several serbian translations for KDE applications
- removed MS ttf fonts for Live version, trasnfered on Extras CD as package with EULA (can be installed on Linuxo HD installation)
- added new linuxo style components: new graphical themes for Linuxo Control Center.
- added new linuxo icons for applications and desktop.
- added 6 new plugins for xmms (on DVD version)
- added kernel source for hdd install (on DVD version). Same kernel source is present on Extras CD as well (for CD version)
- added new 2.6.11 kernel and 2.6.11 kernel source on Extras CD (for CD and DVD version in case of HD install)
- added 3 new desktop linuxo wallpapers

SLAMPP is a generic linux distribution which can boot and run directly off CD-ROM and has possibility to be installed onto harddisk. SLAMPP Live CD is designed to be used as an instant home server.
Just like another linux live CD available at this moment, SLAMPP gives a linux newbie a chance to test linux without messing up the existing system of the user.
What makes it different is the fact that SLAMPP comes with preconfigured tools and applications that turn your personal computer to a home server. Can you imagine how handy it is to have and carry a linux live CD that provides all things you need to setup such kind of server?
SLAMPP is built using SLAX as its base and Slackware linux for packages. This means you are going to have two powerful distros in one, although SLAX is also based on Slackware linux. To compile all things into a working live CD, linux live scripts is used intensively.
Main features:
- Turning your personal computer to an instant home server which provides common servers, such as: HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, POP, IMAP, SMTP, SSH, DHCP, Squid, etc.
- Modularity. You can add additional tools and applications easily in form of modules. Each new module will be integrated seamlessly during booting process and is ready to use. Beside all modules provided in the live CD, you can also make or create you own modules. All tools to do this can be found in the live CD.
- Webmasters and web developers can use SLAMPP to show their work to others. To support this feature special scripts have been provided in the live CD. They only need to burn all files onto the CD and SLAMPP will take care of the rest.
- Using linux kernel 2.6 which provides better support for hardware.
- All settings and configuration made during use can be stored in harddisk and restored for next session.
- It can be installed onto harddisk if you want to employ the server permanently.
- Equipped with firewall, antivirus and content scanner.
- Using slapt-get, Autopackage and swaret for package management tools and Xfce as desktop environment.
Applications:
- Desktop: Xfce 4.2.2
- HTTP/HTTPS: Apache with various mods, SSL will be provided as built-in feature.
- SSL certificates generator scripts.
- FTP: ProFTPd, GProFTPD (GUI), vsftpd
- SMTP: Sendmail
- POP/IMAP: Dovecot
- DHCP: server and client, GDHCPD (GUI)
- DNS: BIND
- Proxy: Squid, sarg
- SSH
- Samba
- Programming and web development tools
- Languages: PHP 4.4.0, Perl 5.8.7, Python 2.4.1
- HTML and text editor: Bluefish 1.0.2, TEA 10.2, NVU 1.0PR
- Database: MySQL 4.1.14
- Webmin / Usermin / Virtualmin
- Firewall: Firehol / Linux Firewall
- Network: Cacti, Nagios, Ethereal, NMAP, Snort, gFTP, Webalizer
- P2P: BitTorrent protocol, tracker and client
- Antivirus and content scanner: ClamAV, Fetcav (GUI)
- Internet: Mozilla Firefox (loaded with many extensions and plugins), Lynx, Pine, Gaim
- Graphics: Blender, GIMP, Inkscape, GQView
- Utilities: BashBurn, Dufie, Htop, PuTTY, Xpdf, CUPS
- Emulator: QEMU
- Package management: slapt-get/gslapt, pkgtool, autopackage, swaret.
- Read all packages that have been installed: PackagesList

Klax is an i486 GNU/Linux Live-CD, very similar to Slax because its created with the same Linux Live scripts.
The version described here contains KDE 3.5 Alpha.
It should be good enough to give you an impression of KDE 3.5 development, to verify if bugs still exist or discover new ones and to make screenshots.
Main features:
Pro:
- an ISO size of 348 MB
- all KDE 3.5 Alpha modules except kdebindings
- Qt 3.3.4 with qt-copy patches, K3b 0.12.3 and KOffice 1.4.1
Contra:
- translations of interface and documentation
- own documentation (see the Slax documentation instead)
- guarantee (to work, to not damage your system, to not waste your bandwidth)
- the design goal or sophisticated tools to be installable on hard disk and upgradable later
- graphical configuration tools (if you dont have DHCP, use console-based "netconfig" tool)
- compiler, build tools, headers, man pages, non-KDE docs, howtos (goal was to be as small as possible)
- all bells & whistles KDE 3.4 can make use of (like composite extension, DBUS/HAL, speech systems, xscreensaver, ZeroConf)
Usage:
Boot from the burned CD and type "klax gui" at the boot prompt.
Or login at console prompt as "guest" with password "guest" and run "startx" to start the X-server.
"netconfig" configures the network. Entering "xconf" will configure the X-server for higher screen resolution.
Enhancements:
- Klax is an i486 GNU/Linux live CD, very similar to SLAX, because its created with the same linux-live scripts.
- The version described here contains KDE 3.5 RC 1.
- It should be good enough to give you an impression of KDE 3.5 development, to verify if bugs still exist or discover new ones, and to make screenshots.
What it has:
- an ISO size of 342 MB;
- all KDE 3.5 RC 1 modules except kdebindings;
- Qt 3.3.4 with qt-copy patches,
- K3b 0.12.7 and KOffice 1.4.2.

Nbed-Nakooki Live CD is a generalist GNU/Linux OS for the x86 platform.
It is based entirely on two projects :
- Norean, a collection of tools for Linux distribution creators.
Nbed is on of the Norean tools, that is used to generate the live-CD using Nakooki packages.
- Nakooki, a demonstration and pedagogic implementation of Norean tools in the form of a small source-centric distribution, that can also be used as a start point for other distributions.
Main features:
- Abiword A text-processor
- Firefox Web browser
- mplayer,xmms Video and music players
- The Gimp Graphics software
- sylpheed Mail and news reader
- Rox
Its also the result of the work on Nbed, that will offer many more things in the future. This Live-CD is a proof of concept of Nbed, at this point in time. Since Nakooki is a simple collection of packages definitions, to be compiled by yourself - without any installation CD or such, Nbed-Nakooki is a simple opportunity to allow people testing and installing (with Nbed-HD-install) a Nakooki system on their Hard Drive without special skills required.
However, even if this cant be compared in terms of features, support, etc. Nbed-Nakooki has the following advantages:
- Its very Simple to use, no complicated questions.
- Has very good performances, once the desktop is loaded.
- Its based on a very classic system, easy to understand (for those already using Linux)