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List of Linux distributions that run from RAM

Updated: Wikipedia source

List of Linux distributions that run from RAM

This is a list of Linux distributions that can be run entirely from a computer's random-access memory (RAM), meaning that once the operating system (OS) has been loaded to the RAM, the media it was loaded from can be removed, and the distribution will run the personal computer (PC) from RAM only. This ability allows them to be very fast, since reading and writing data from and to RAM is far 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. This feature is implemented in live initial ramdisks (initramfs) and allows a user to run a live distro that does not run from RAM by default by adding toram to the kernel boot parameters. Further, some distributions can be configured to run from RAM, such as Ubuntu, using the toram option included in the initial ramdisk Casper utility scripts.

Tables

Linux distributions that run from RAM · Table
Alpine Linux
Alpine Linux
Distribution
Alpine Linux
Based on
Independent
RAM needed
base system uses less than 64 MB
Installing drive (type needed)
CD – USB flash drive – HDD
Latest release
2025-05-30 Version: 3
antiX Linux
antiX Linux
Distribution
antiX Linux
Based on
Debian
RAM needed
256 MB
Installing drive (type needed)
CD – USB flash drive – HDD
Latest release
2026-03-21 Version: 26
Arch Linux
Arch Linux
Distribution
Arch Linux
Based on
Independent
RAM needed
400 MB
Installing drive (type needed)
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
Latest release
2024-12-01 Version: 2024 Kernel: 6
AUSTRUMI
AUSTRUMI
Distribution
AUSTRUMI
Based on
Slackware
RAM needed
less than 100 MB
Installing drive (type needed)
CD – DVD – USB flash drive
Latest release
2024-04-05 Version: 4
CoreOS
CoreOS
Distribution
CoreOS
Based on
Independent
RAM needed
2048 MB
Installing drive (type needed)
USB flash drive – HDD
Latest release
2020-05-22 Version: 2512
Debian Live
Debian Live
Distribution
Debian Live
Based on
Independent
RAM needed
780 MB (required), 2048 MB (recommended)
Installing drive (type needed)
DVD – USB flash drive – HDD – Secure Digital
Latest release
2025-05-17 Version: 12 Kernel: 6
Grml
Grml
Distribution
Grml
Based on
Debian
RAM needed
256 MB (required), 512 MB (or more, recommended)
Installing drive (type needed)
CD – USB flash drive – HDD
Latest release
2025-05-15 Version: 2025 Kernel: 6
Kanotix
Kanotix
Distribution
Kanotix
Based on
Debian & Knoppix
RAM needed
1024 MB
Installing drive (type needed)
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
Latest release
2024-04-01 Version: Slowfire 2024 Kernel: 6
Knoppix
Knoppix
Distribution
Knoppix
Based on
Debian
RAM needed
1024 MB
Installing drive (type needed)
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
Latest release
2022-05-05 Version: 9
Lightweight Portable Security (LPS), currently known as Trusted End Node Security (TENS)
Lightweight Portable Security (LPS), currently known as Trusted End Node Security (TENS)
Distribution
Lightweight Portable Security (LPS), currently known as Trusted End Node Security (TENS)
Based on
Thinstation
RAM needed
1024 MB (basic), 1 GB (deluxe)
Installing drive (type needed)
CD – USB flash drive
Latest release
2021-04-30 Version: 3
Lightwhale
Lightwhale
Distribution
Lightwhale
Based on
Independent
RAM needed
400 MB
Installing drive (type needed)
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
Latest release
2026-05-01 Version: 3 Kernel: 6
Nanolinux
Nanolinux
Distribution
Nanolinux
Based on
Tiny Core Linux
RAM needed
64 MB
Installing drive (type needed)
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
Latest release
2015-04-05 Version: 1
Parted Magic
Parted Magic
Distribution
Parted Magic
Based on
Independent
RAM needed
175 MB – 312 MB
Installing drive (type needed)
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
Latest release
2025-01-22 Version: 2025_01_22
PCLinuxOS
PCLinuxOS
Distribution
PCLinuxOS
Based on
Mandriva
RAM needed
1024 MB
Installing drive (type needed)
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
Latest release
2024-10-17 Version: 2024 Kernel: 6
Porteus
Porteus
Distribution
Porteus
Based on
Slackware
RAM needed
512 MB
Installing drive (type needed)
CD – DVD – USB flash drive
Latest release
2023-09-26 Version: 5 Kernel: 6
Puppy Linux
Puppy Linux
Distribution
Puppy Linux
Based on
Independent
RAM needed
64 MB (required), 512 MB (recommended)
Installing drive (type needed)
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
Latest release
2025-02-13 Version: BookwormPup64 10
Slax
Slax
Distribution
Slax
Based on
Debian and Slackware 15
RAM needed
512 MB
Installing drive (type needed)
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
Latest release
2023-10-10 Version: 12
SliTaz
SliTaz
Distribution
SliTaz
Based on
Independent
RAM needed
192 MB (48 MB for base)
Installing drive (type needed)
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD – Floppy disk
Latest release
2023-10-01 Version: 5 Kernel: 3
Tails
Tails
Distribution
Tails
Based on
Debian
RAM needed
2048 MB (recommended)
Installing drive (type needed)
DVD – USB flash drive – HDD – Secure Digital
Latest release
2025-06-26 Version: 6
Tin Hat Linux
Tin Hat Linux
Distribution
Tin Hat Linux
Based on
Hardened Gentoo
RAM needed
4096 MB
Latest release
2002-02-01 Version: 1
Tiny SliTaz
Tiny SliTaz
Distribution
Tiny SliTaz
Based on
SliTaz
RAM needed
4 MB
Installing drive (type needed)
CD – USB flash drive – HDD – Floppy disk
Latest release
2025-04-06
Tiny Core Linux
Tiny Core Linux
Distribution
Tiny Core Linux
Based on
Independent
RAM needed
46 MB
Installing drive (type needed)
CD – HDD – USB flash drive
Latest release
2025-03-31 Version: 16 Kernel: 6
Distribution
Based on
RAM needed
Installing drive (type needed)
Latest release
Alpine Linux
Independent
base system uses less than 64 MB
CD – USB flash drive – HDD
2025-05-30 Version: 3
antiX Linux
Debian
256 MB
CD – USB flash drive – HDD
2026-03-21 Version: 26
Arch Linux
Independent
400 MB
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
2024-12-01 Version: 2024 Kernel: 6
AUSTRUMI
Slackware
less than 100 MB
CD – DVD – USB flash drive
2024-04-05 Version: 4
CoreOS
Independent
2048 MB
USB flash drive – HDD
2020-05-22 Version: 2512
Debian Live
Independent
780 MB (required), 2048 MB (recommended)
DVD – USB flash drive – HDD – Secure Digital
2025-05-17 Version: 12 Kernel: 6
Grml
Debian
256 MB (required), 512 MB (or more, recommended)
CD – USB flash drive – HDD
2025-05-15 Version: 2025 Kernel: 6
Kanotix
Debian & Knoppix
1024 MB
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
2024-04-01 Version: Slowfire 2024 Kernel: 6
Knoppix
Debian
1024 MB
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
2022-05-05 Version: 9
Lightweight Portable Security (LPS), currently known as Trusted End Node Security (TENS)
Thinstation
1024 MB (basic), 1 GB (deluxe)
CD – USB flash drive
2021-04-30 Version: 3
Lightwhale
Independent
400 MB
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
2026-05-01 Version: 3 Kernel: 6
Nanolinux
Tiny Core Linux
64 MB
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
2015-04-05 Version: 1
Parted Magic
Independent
175 MB – 312 MB
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
2025-01-22 Version: 2025_01_22
PCLinuxOS
Mandriva
1024 MB
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
2024-10-17 Version: 2024 Kernel: 6
Porteus
Slackware
512 MB
CD – DVD – USB flash drive
2023-09-26 Version: 5 Kernel: 6
Puppy Linux
Independent
64 MB (required), 512 MB (recommended)
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
2025-02-13 Version: BookwormPup64 10
Slax
Debian and Slackware 15
512 MB
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD
2023-10-10 Version: 12
SliTaz
Independent
192 MB (48 MB for base)
CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD – Floppy disk
2023-10-01 Version: 5 Kernel: 3
Tails
Debian
2048 MB (recommended)
DVD – USB flash drive – HDD – Secure Digital
2025-06-26 Version: 6
Tin Hat Linux
Hardened Gentoo
4096 MB
2002-02-01 Version: 1
Tiny SliTaz
SliTaz
4 MB
CD – USB flash drive – HDD – Floppy disk
2025-04-06
Tiny Core Linux
Independent
46 MB
CD – HDD – USB flash drive
2025-03-31 Version: 16 Kernel: 6
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