Editing Linux distribution (section)

== Installation-free distributions (live CD/USB) ==
{{Main|Live CD|Live USB}}

A "live" distribution is a Linux distribution that can be booted from removable storage media such as [[optical disc]]s or [[USB flash drive]]s, instead of being installed on and booted from a [[hard disk drive]]. The portability of installation-free distributions makes them advantageous for applications such as demonstrations, borrowing someone else's computer, rescue operations, or as installation media for a standard distribution.

When the operating system is booted from a read-only medium such as a CD or DVD, any user data that needs to be retained between sessions cannot be stored on the boot device but must be written to another storage device, such as a USB flash drive or a hard disk drive.<ref name="9y8MA">{{cite web | url = https://lwn.net/Articles/447650/ | title = Debating overlayfs | date = 2011-06-15 | access-date = 2015-01-05 | author = Jonathan Corbet | publisher = [[LWN.net]] | archive-date = July 24, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150724115553/https://lwn.net/Articles/447650/ | url-status = live}}</ref>

Many Linux distributions provide a "live" form in addition to their conventional form, which is a network-based or removable-media image intended to be used only for installation; such distributions include [[SUSE Linux|SUSE]], Ubuntu, [[Linux Mint]], [[MEPIS]] and [[Fedora Linux]]. Some distributions, including [[Knoppix]], [[Puppy Linux]], Devil-Linux, [[SuperGamer]], [[SliTaz GNU/Linux]] and [[dyne:bolic]], are designed primarily for live use. Additionally, some minimal distributions can be run directly from as little space as one floppy disk without the need to change the contents of the system's hard disk drive.<ref name="TBjY5">{{cite web | url = http://www.asashi.net/pages/pitux.html | title = PiTuX – a micro serial terminal distro | access-date = 2015-01-06 | website = asashi.net | archive-date = February 2, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150202214045/http://asashi.net/pages/pitux.html | url-status = live}}</ref>