Linux Distributions
Every major Linux distribution in one place — what it's based on, who it's for, its desktop environment and package manager, with a link to download it.
21 distributions
Astra Linux
Based on DebianA Debian-based Russian operating system certified for use in classified government, military, and critical-infrastructure environments, with mandatory access-control security features built in.
CAINE (Computer Aided Investigative Environment)
Based on UbuntuAn Italian-developed, Ubuntu-based live distribution built specifically for digital forensics investigations, with a unified graphical interface tying together its forensic tools and a focus on evidence integrity.
Clonezilla
Based on DebianA free, open-source disk imaging and cloning tool distributed as a bootable live Debian-based image, widely used as a free alternative to commercial tools like Norton Ghost.
Emmabuntüs
Based on Debian / Ubuntu (two parallel editions)A French humanitarian-project distribution built specifically for refurbishing donated computers destined for charities and disadvantaged communities, distributed both as Debian- and Ubuntu-based editions.
Finnix
Based on DebianA small, no-frills live distribution built as a sysadmin's toolkit for system maintenance and disaster recovery, deliberately excluding a desktop environment or unnecessary extras.
GParted Live
Based on DebianA minimal live distribution built around a single purpose: running the GParted graphical partition editor to resize, move, create, or delete disk partitions outside of any installed operating system.
Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre
Based on Arch Linux (originally; now an independent long-term-support base)An FSF-endorsed, security- and simplicity-focused distribution that broke from Arch's rolling-release model in favor of a more conservative, long-term-support-style base while keeping Arch package compatibility.
IPFire
Based on Independent (Linux From Scratch-inspired)A dedicated, independently built Linux firewall and router distribution, managed entirely through a web interface, with a modular add-on system for extending its networking and security capabilities.
OpenMediaVault
Based on DebianA Debian-based, plugin-extensible NAS operating system created by a former FreeNAS developer, offering a lighter-weight alternative to TrueNAS for home and small-office file-server use.
Parabola GNU/Linux-libre
Based on Arch LinuxA fully free-software fork of Arch Linux, removing proprietary packages and non-free firmware from Arch's repositories and shipping the Linux-libre kernel instead of mainline Linux.
PureOS
Based on DebianPurism's Debian-based, privacy- and free-software-focused distribution, developed as the default OS for its Librem laptops and phones and also FSF-endorsed.
ROSA Linux
Based on Independent (originated as a Mandriva fork)A Russian-developed distribution that originated as a fork of the now-defunct Mandriva Linux, continuing development independently across desktop, enterprise-desktop, and enterprise-server editions.
Rescatux
Based on DebianA Debian-based rescue live distribution built around Rescapp, a guided graphical wizard that walks non-expert users through common boot-repair and password-recovery tasks step by step.
Rescuezilla
Based on UbuntuA user-friendly, graphical disk-imaging and backup live distribution built on the same underlying engine as Clonezilla, designed to make backup/restore approachable for non-experts.
Robolinux
Based on Ubuntu (LTS)An Ubuntu-LTS-based distribution built specifically to run Windows applications inside an integrated virtual machine, aimed at businesses and individuals migrating off Windows without giving up specific Windows software.
SystemRescue
Based on Arch LinuxA long-running live distribution (formerly SystemRescueCd) built for repairing broken systems -- disk partitioning, data recovery, backup, and Windows/Linux repair tools, all on one boot medium.
Trisquel GNU/Linux
Based on UbuntuAn Ubuntu-based distribution that strips out every trace of proprietary software and non-free firmware, one of the small number of distributions officially endorsed by the Free Software Foundation.
TrueNAS SCALE
Based on DebianiXsystems' Linux-based network-attached storage (NAS) operating system, built on Debian with ZFS, offering enterprise-grade storage features plus built-in container and VM support through a web interface.
Tsurugi Linux
Based on UbuntuAn Ubuntu-based digital forensics and OSINT distribution with a dedicated computer-vision analysis toolset and kernel-level device write-blocking, aimed at DFIR investigators and researchers.
Ubuntu Kylin
Based on UbuntuAn official Ubuntu flavor developed jointly by Canonical and the Chinese government's National University of Defense Technology, tailored to the Chinese market and Chinese-language input/software needs.
XCP-ng
Based on CentOS (Xen-based)A free, open-source virtualization platform built on the Xen hypervisor, forked from Citrix Hypervisor to remain a fully open alternative for running and managing virtual machines at scale.