Knoppix, or KNOPPIX ( ), is a GNU/Linux operating system based on Debian designed to be run directly from a CD / DVD. Knoppix was developed by Linux consultant Klaus Knopper. When starting a program it is loaded from the optical disc and decompressed into a RAM drive. The decompression is transparent and on-the-fly.

Although Knoppix is primarily designed to be used as a Live CD, it can also be installed on a hard disk like a typical operating system. Computers that support booting from USB devices can load Knoppix from a live USB flash drive or memory card.

There are two main editions of Knoppix: the traditional Compact Disc (700 megabytes) edition and the DVD (4.7 gigabytes) "Maxi" edition. Each of these main editions has two language-specific editions: English and German.

Knoppix mostly consists of free software, but also includes proprietary software.

Usage

Knoppix can be used to back up files easily from hard drives with inaccessible operating systems. To quickly and more safely use Linux software the Live CD can be used instead of installing another OS.

Contents

Prose: date=October 2008

• Part of KDE, the default desktop environment, including the Konqueror web browser and the KMail e-mail client. Knoppix is also packaged with several other window managers, including, Fluxbox, twm, IceWM, and GNUstep.
• XMMS, with MP3 audio, and Ogg Vorbis audio playback support
• Internet access software, including the KPPP dialer and ISDN utilities
• The Iceweasel web browser (based on Mozilla Firefox)
• K3b, for CD (and DVD) authoring and backup
• GIMP, an image manipulation program
• Partition management tools GParted or QtParted
• Tools for data rescue and system repair
• Network analysis and administration tools
• OpenOffice.org, a comprehensive office suite
• Many programming and development tools

Requirements

Requirements to run Knoppix:

• Intel-compatible processor (i486 or later)
• 32 MB of RAM for text mode, at least 96 MB for graphics mode with KDE (at least 128 MB of RAM is recommended to use the various office products)
• Bootable CD-ROM drive, or a boot floppy and standard CD-ROM (IDE/ATAPI or SCSI)
• Standard SVGA-compatible graphics card
• Serial or PS/2 standard mouse or IMPS/2-compatible USB-mouse

Saving changes in the environment

Prior to Knoppix 3.8.2, any documents or settings a user created would disappear upon reboot. This lack of permanence made it necessary to save documents explicitly to a hard drive partition, over the network, or to some removable medium, such as a USB flash drive.