List of Linux distributions that run from RAM

This is a list of Linux distributions that can be run entirely from a computer's RAM, meaning that once the OS has been loaded to the RAM, the media it was loaded from can be completely removed, and the distribution will run the PC through the RAM only. This ability allows them to be very fast, since reading and writing data from/to RAM is much faster than on a hard disk drive or solid-state drive. Many of these operating systems will load from a removable media such as a Live CD or a Live USB stick. A "frugal" install can also often be completed, allowing loading from a hard disk drive instead.

Tiny Core Linux is an example of Linux distribution that run from RAM

This feature is implemented in live-initramfs and allows the user to run a live distro that does not run from ram by default by adding toram to the kernel boot parameters.^[1]

Additionally some distributions can be configured to run from RAM, such as Ubuntu using the toram option included in the Casper scripts.^[2]

Table

Linux distributions that run from RAM

Distribution	Based on	RAM required	installation drive/required size
Alpine Linux[3][4]	Independent	base system uses less than 64 MB	CD – USB flash drive – HDD
antiX Linux[5]	Debian	256 MB	CD – USB flash drive – HDD
Arch Linux[citation needed]	Independent	400 MB	CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
AUSTRUMI[6]	Slackware	less than 100 MB	CD – DVD – USB flash drive
CoreOS[7]	Independent	2048 MB	USB flash drive – HDD
Debian Live[8]	Independent	780 MB (required), 2048 MB (recommended)[9][10]	DVD – USB flash drive – HDD – Secure Digital
Grml[11]	Debian	256 MB (required), 512 MB (or more, recommended)	CD – USB flash drive – HDD
Kanotix[12]	Debian & Knoppix	1024 MB	CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
Knoppix[13]	Debian	1024 MB	CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
Lightweight Portable Security (LPS), currently known as Trusted End Node Security (TENS)[14]	Thinstation	1024 MB (basic), 1.5 GB (deluxe)	CD – USB flash drive
Nanolinux[15]	Tiny Core Linux	64 MB[16]	CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
Parted Magic[17]	Independent	175 MB – 312 MB	CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
PCLinuxOS[18]	Mandriva	1024 MB	CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
Porteus[19]	Slackware	512 MB	CD – DVD – USB flash drive
Puppy Linux[20]	Independent	64 MB (required), 512 MB (recommended)[21]	CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
Slax[22]	Debian and Slackware 15.0.0	512 MB	CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
SliTaz[23]	Independent	192 MB (48 MB for base)	CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD[24] – Floppy disk[25]
Tails[26]	Debian	2048 MB (recommended)	DVD – USB flash drive – HDD – Secure Digital
Tin Hat Linux[27]	Hardened Gentoo	4096 MB
Tiny SliTaz[28]	SliTaz	4 MB	CD – USB flash drive – HDD – Floppy disk
Tiny Core Linux[29]	Independent	46 MB[29]	CD – HDD – USB flash drive

See also

• tmpfs; by mounting a tmpfs and running files that are placed on this, files and programs can be run from RAM, even on Linux distros that do not run completely in RAM
• Clustered file system; network file systems are another way to avoid needing to use a (slow) hard disk
• initrd ("initial ramdisk"), a scheme for loading a temporary root file system into memory in the boot process of the Linux kernel
• Light-weight Linux distribution
• List of live CDs
• List of tools to create bootable USB
• SYSLINUX, a suite of lightweight PC MBR bootloaders for starting up computers with the Linux kernel
• Windows PE, a non-Linux operating system that can also be run from RAM, but does not have all of the needed software