|  Knoppix is a Linux distribution LiveCD. Knoppix is a Debian based Linux distribution running on a CD or DVD drive without using the hard drive or installing any files onto the hard drive. Knoppix was developed by GNU/Linux consultant Klaus Knopper. The popularity of Knoppix is due to many factors. Its extensive hardware detection allows the majority of systems to boot straight into a graphical environment without the need for manual configuration. It connects automatically to most kinds of networks, and includes software both for use as a computer system (notably web browsers, OpenOffice.org, and the GIMP) and for system repair. The complete graphical environment and networking make it much more comfortable than the previous generation of boot floppies for system administrators repairing systems whose hard drives won't boot. Starting from version 4.0, Knoppix has been split into a DVD "maxi" edition (with over 9GB of software), and a CD "light" edition, both developed in parallel. | Knoppix has a wide variety of free software. More than 2600 software packages are included on the DVD edition and more than 1000 are included on the CD edition. Up to 9 gigabytes can be stored on the DVD in compressed form. When a program is used, it is decompressed into a RAM drive. The decompression is transparent and on-the-fly. Knoppix recommends at least 128 mb of RAM in order to accommodate this RAM drive.Unlike most Linux distributions, it does not require a hard drive installation; the system can boot from a single 4.7 gigabyte DVD or a 700 megabyte Compact disc. One needs a bootable CD or DVD-ROM drive to start Knoppix from the CD. |
| In order to start the CD/DVD, it may be necessary to enter the BIOS Setup of your computer and, in the boot order, select the CD drive before the hard drive or floppy drive. Insert the CD/DVD and restart the computer. The KNOPPIX start-up script goes through hardware autodetection and brings up the graphical user interface. When starting a program it is loaded from the CD or DVD. There are different possible uses of the Knoppix live CD: -
an introduction to Linux, especially as a desktop operating system -
advocacy or demonstration at conferences -
in-store testing whether a computer system is compatible with Linux before purchasing it -
restoring a defunct system or some of its data -
running a firewall or router -
bootstrapping a Debian (or other Linux) installation -
Drawbacks of Knoppix Knoppix has two important drawbacks: -
Knoppix works on a fairly high number of PCs or laptops but not on all as the automatic hardware detection cannot cope with all hardware. Sometimes the drivers used will not be optimal. Knoppix being a LiveCD cannot be upgraded with driver upgrades easily. Knoppix has difficulty recognizing cards before 1998, or motherboards with a BIOS before 2002. So before buying a used computer people use KNOPPIX to test the hardware. -
Memory usage: Knoppix requires memory of at least 128 MB if people want to run the KDE environment, and even then Knoppix has long loading times when running from the CD or DVD (see accelerating the speed above). The need for large amounts of memory is in fact is a point which KNOPPIX shares with LiveCDs in general. |
