Live CD
The term live system or direct start system referred to in computer technology, an operating system, which can be started without installation and influencing the content of an existing system in the hard drive. The entire operating system is installed, this normally on a start medium such as a CD - ROM, a DVD or a flash memory, such as a USB stick. A computer start can be made possible so hard without memory or without OS.
- 4.1 Linux
- 4.2 BSD
- 4.3 Windows
- 4.4 Other operating systems
- 5.1 Creating Linux-based Live CDs 5.1.1 Creating Linux live systems running Windows
Containment
With the help of live systems or direct-start systems, computers can be started without or with damaged or mass storage ( pre-installed ) operating system. They can be installed on bootable removable media.
In the control is started from the corresponding storage medium. For Windows computers, the settings must be for any reductions made in the BIOS and press the C key on Mac computers. After starting is a ready furnished operating system environment with various application programs ready. After removal of the starting medium and restarting the computer, this returns to its original state because the original operating system is not changed on the hard disk from the live system in general. All data of the live system are then disappeared again, as they were only written to main memory. Due to this concept no user activity or changes in use of a live system memory so they will not leave digital traces in the installed operating system. However, on request configuration data can be secured, usually on hard drive, a USB flash drive or another hard memory to this later - after the next power-up or on a different computer - to use again can.
Depending on the target group and scope build live systems running on different operating systems and include various applications. Because no write access is required to optional ROM to live systems especially for hardware diagnostics, troubleshooting and data recovery and secure Internet surfing are.
Development and Outlook
Already the first disk -oriented operating systems ( DOS) could be directly from the ( read-only ) operate starting medium to which no after the start - had to be accessed by reading - or only in exceptional cases. Examples are early versions of Unix, AmigaOS, CP / M, MS- DOS 1.0 (1981) and Mac OS (1984 ), which were then still run by "Live - floppy "; this term itself was but earlier unknown: they had simply no other storage media, because hard drives - so they were even available to the system because - were " priceless " expensive. With greater complexity of the operating systems installations were necessary later on the hard drive and live boot media were forgotten.
Convenient handling of live CDs allowed then Mac OS 7 It was delivered with a bootable installation CD or multiple diskettes. By simply moving a system folder on the CD is a fully functional live CD did create. Macintosh applications usually run easily from a CD, since they are not dependent on a writable Windows registry database or similar.
Great interest of the public and increasing prevalence found live CDs with the development of Knoppix, of which there are now numerous derivatives.
The Microsoft Company has for managing large corporate networks Windows PE ( Preinstalled Environment ) distributed to developers - a non- publicly available live CD with Windows 2000, the company had to be created no interest in simply and easily usable live CDs, as a result. only once acquired any Windows version and the manufacturer did not use transparently on different computers, which is against the license terms, if created by an operating system single license live CDs and given to third parties; therefore, Microsoft also does not support the project Bart PE. From Windows Vista, however, a PE version was distributed as a supplement to computer magazines. In addition, Windows Vista PE has been free on the Internet as part of WAIK available and there are on the Microsoft Web site freely accessible instructions for creating a Windows PE disk.
The Linux operating system Mandriva Move was designed as a live system that has been sold commercially. The distribution, however, was reinstated after only a short time, and Mandriva released since his live distribution under the name Mandriva One. These can both be downloaded for free as can also be ordered ready-made CD. The price of the CD probably only covers the administrative and shipping costs as it moves in similar price ranges as for other Linux distributions on CD or DVD. It is questionable how much can be marketed live systems, since on the one hand are many relatively mature, free variations, on the other hand, is limited to the continued application of a live CD in practice to applications such as firewalls, because the contents of the CDs does not change can be. For this purpose, the installation can be stored for at an arbitrarily large USB stick ( Persistent mode).
There are now by most Linux distributions a live version at the recommended testing. Since live systems bring as a free download version of a large amount of software, they are enjoying increasing popularity. In the case of system crash or virus attack they are an easy-to -use medium that offers a wide range of relief efforts.
With Damn Small Linux and Puppy Linux, there are other operating systems that can be installed completely on CDs or USB sticks. The storage capacities of today's ( writable) storage drives and SD cards, even for live systems DVD extent, do not have free space left for data, settings and additional programs. Thus, live systems are connected with a USB stick as a mobile workplace (eg Mandriva Move).
Uses of live systems
To try out
Since a live system basically has to write data to the hard disk, it is to try out alternative operating systems without running the risk of causing damage to misconfiguration or installation problems.
Moved to a new system disk or another computer
It boots from a separate medium can be operating system (s) and data completely or selectively to another hard disk transfer ( migration). The prerequisite is that the original disk is a corresponding memory map (image) was created by means of backup. For Windows systems, such as the free software for home DriveImage XML can be used.
Repair of an existing system
Many live systems (such as Knoppix) contain analysis programs (see Boot CD ): In case of difficulties with an installed operating system can be booted from a live system to find and fix bugs. By working with root or administrator permissions full access is possible to the hard drives. Thus data can using live CD may still be saved or the system to be repaired. After an irreparable breakdown of the system can be an alternative to reinstalling a previously saved memory image ( image backup ), for example, with DriveImage XML write back ( restore).
Sure the Internet
If not writable disks are granted, it is virtually impossible to catch a virus, worm, Trojan horse or other malicious program (malware) on a live system from the Internet, as these are no longer available due to lack of storage after a reboot - against " phishing" However, this method is basically powerless, but security for applications such as Internet banking is increased if for a system is used, which is used exclusively for this purpose since it can not be infected by alien uses such as surfing. On these considerations is based also published by BSI BitBox for highly secure web browsing.
Media Center
A live system works well as streaming client for audio and video data and can also be used as a streaming server or for appearances as a DJ and VJ. The live system dyne: bolic support some of these features.
Combat viruses to no longer bootable systems
The c't editorial published at regular intervals based on Knoppix live distribution Desinfec't (formerly Knoppicillin ), contains the Linux versions of several virus scanners and drivers for all major file systems including NTFS ( Windows) and can be used for virus track and other malware and delete that can not be discovered by the initiated host system might be low. ( Virus scanners are no longer included in the download version! )
Overview Live - systems
Linux
Most common are the live system on CD or DVD to learn about Linux. Let the hard disk content aware unchanged. Most live systems can be installed outside on the hard drive and use it as a full-fledged operating system.
Some examples are listed here for an extensive list of known live distributions see list of Linux distributions
- Bankix is developed by c't magazine for secure e-banking and based on Ubuntu.
- CentOS provides usable as a live system CD or DVD images for download.
- Damn Small Linux is a company specializing in low resource live distro from USB flash drive bootable
- Fedora offers since version 7 to version each individual expenditure ( spins) for download that can be used as a live system.
- Fluxflux is a live system (CD or USB / SD ( HC )) with the Openbox window manager for desktops, notebooks and netbooks ..
- Grml is suitable for system administrators and users of text-based tools, including as a rescue disk.
- INX is a console Linux Live - CD based on Ubuntu. It is suitable for beginners who want to learn how to use the console and its possibilities. It does not contain a graphical desktop.
- Kanotix is a Debian-based live distribution with very good support for the latest hardware. In addition, an Installer allows you to install kanotix on a hard disk.
- Knoppix is the best-known Linux live distribution on DVD or CD
- Lightweight Portable Security (LPS ) was developed by the U.S. Department of Defense. It allows safe browsing the internet (eg online banking, online sessions on other people's computers ) and prevents access to local disks.
- Freespire, a free version of the commercial Linspire operating system
- Linux Mint is an Ubuntu -based distribution. The actual installation of the operating system via the live system.
- Mandriva One live distro of Mandriva
- Morphix is a project in which you can build your own live CD from existing modules (no longer developed )
- Pardus is a sophisticated desktop operating system with excellent hardware support, which can also be used as a live system from CD / DVD.
- Parted Magic is a GNU / Linux live system, inter alia, data recovery for example, with TestDisk and disk partitioning
- Puppy Linux is a space-saving Linux distribution that can be started, among other things directly from CD or USB stick
- Scientific Linux as a live system provides usable CD or DVD images for download.
- Slack2Go was based on Slackware Live distribution with very good support for current netbooks
- SliTaz is one of the smallest modern operating systems with a graphic interface. It can also be installed on the hard disk.
- SystemRescueCd is a Gentoo Linux live system. The CD was designed as a small rescue and emergency system to repair operating systems and recover data.
- Ubuntu Privacy Remix is an Ubuntu -based live CD with the goal to provide a sealed off and safe working environment for processing sensitive data.
- Ubuntu existed until version 5.10 on separate live and Install CD Version 6:06, there is a CD / DVD, from which a live system can boot. About this live system a graphical installation is possible. Nevertheless, there is still the possibility of text - based mode for installing slower computers and special settings.
- Vyatta open- firmware router is a Debian based router solution.
BSD
Windows
- Microsoft Windows PE
- BartPE ( Windows XP based )
- WinBuilder ( Windows based )
- Live system per (on Windows XP, Vista, Win7 and Win8 based )
Other operating systems
- AFROS Live CD: AFROS is a completely free TOS (Atari ) compatible operating system, set for the live CD on a Linux distribution as a substructure, such as Slax or Knoppix. All the substructure compatible computer can AFROS run as a live system.
- Durafox Live Distribution: base is Unix
- eComStation: ( OS/2-Nachfolger )
- FreeDOS CD Distribution
- Mac OS X live CD: Can be created individually with BootCD by running OS X
- MS- DOS: All versions can also be run from a floppy disk
- OpenSolaris Live CD
- SchilliX Live CD: base OpenSolaris
- Syllable live CD
Create live systems themselves
Meanwhile, there are also some tools that make creating your own live systems:
Creation of Linux-based Live CDs
- For the Fedora distribution: Kadischi
- For the Ubuntu distribution: remastersys ( development set )
- Slackware: Slax
- For Mandrake-Projekt/PClinuxOS: mklivecd
- For the Debian distribution: dfsbuild, bootcd, (never further ) remastersys
- For the Debian distribution: Morphix, extensive collection of tools and ready-made modules for creating Debian -based live CDs
- For Dreamlinux: MKDistro
- For Archlinux: Larch
- For openSUSE: SuseStudio is suitable as extensive online help environment for creating live operating systems on the basis of a openSUSE distribution ( server JeOS, KDE, Gnome, MinimalX )
Creating a Linux live systems running Windows
- Linux Live USB Creator for building various Linux live system on bootable USB stick from Windows
- UNetbootin is a tool for creating bootable USB flash drives from Linux ISOs is complete with bootloader. Available as Linux and Windows version. Can a selection of distributions, directly download or use any bootable ISOs.
Creating Windows-based Live CDs
- Windows XP, Windows Server 2003: Bart PE
- From Windows XP: WinBuilder
- Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8: Live system per