Open source Linux OS’s: 3

Others (RPM-based)


TinyMe
A lightweight distribution based on PCLinuxOS
aLinux
A distribution for home use designed to be equivalent to Windows XP Home (formerly known as Peanut Linux).
ALT Linux
Several distributions including Master, Compact, and Junior. Provides support for Cyrillic languages.
Annvix
A security-focused server distribution. Originally based on Mandrake 9.2 but has diverged a lot.
Ark Linux
A distribution focused on ease of use and ease of learning.
Berry Linux
A medium-sized Fedora-based distribution that provides support in Japanese and English.
Caixa Mágica
A Portuguese distribution.
Caldera Linux
Caldera bought SCO then took the SCO name and no longer produces a Linux distribution. Last release: 3.1.1 - Jan. 30, 2002
cAos Linux
A general purpose distribution. Designed to have low overhead, run on older hardware, and be easily customizable
EduLinux
A distribution for educational purposes (cf. Guadalinex, Skolelinux).
EnGarde Secure Linux
Server-only distribution designed to be secure.
Linkat
A distribution promoted by the government of Catalonia, Spain.
Mandriva Linux Free
Free
MCNLive
A Mandriva-based distribution designed to run from CD or USB Flash Drive, focused on multimedia, internet, graphics.
PCLinuxOS
A Live CD distribution. Originally based on Mandrake 9.2. Later rebased on Mandriva 2007.
Red Flag Linux
A distribution developed in China and optimized for the Chinese market.
Red Hat Linux
Split into Fedora Core and Red Hat Enterprise Linux. The last official release was Red Hat Linux 9 in March 2003.
SAM Linux
A live and installation CD based on PCLinuxOS 2007 and Xfce.
SUSE Linux
A desktop-oriented Linux distribution supplied by Novell, Inc.. SUSE is one of the most popular distributions in Europe. Like Red Hat Linux, it is a large distribution on several CDs/DVDs. Free Eval versions are available for the SUSE Linux Enterprise versions.
· openSUSE - A branch developed by the community and sponsored by Novell. openSUSE maintains a strict policy of ensuring all code in the standard installs will be from Free/Libre/Open-Source Software solutions, including Linux kernel Modules. Novell's enterprise Linux products are all based on the codebase that comes out of the openSUSE project.
· SUSE Linux Enterprise Server - A server-oriented Linux distribution supplied by Novell, Inc. and targeted at the business market.
· SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (previously branded Novell Linux Desktop) - A desktop-oriented Linux distribution supplied by Novell, Inc. and targeted at the enterprise market.
· SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time - A specialized version of the SUSE distribution from Novell designed to support low latency for time critical operations.
Trustix
A distribution focused on security.
Turbolinux
Based on Red Hat Linux.
Vine Linux
A Japanese distribution based on Red Hat Linux.
YOPER
A desktop distribution from New Zealand that focuses on optimizing system performance for workstation use.
Slackware-based
Slackware is known as a highly customizable distribution that stresses ease of maintenance and reliability over cutting edge software and automated tools. Generally considered a distribution for advanced users, it is often suggested to those who want to learn the inner workings of a Linux operating system.


Austrumi
A business card size (50 MB) bootable live CD
BasicLinux
A mini linux designed to run in old PCs (386). Has a certain degree of compatibility with Slackware packages.
Frugalware
A general purpose Linux distribution designed for intermediate users.
GoblinX
A live CD that features multiple customizable desktop environments.
HostGIS
HostGIS Linux is a Slackware based distribution specifically made for handling GIS information.
Slackintosh
An unofficial port of Slackware to the PowerPC architecture.
Slamd64
An unofficial port of Slackware to the x86-64 architecture.
SLAX
A very popular live CD which aims to provide a complete desktop for general use. Permanent installation of SLAX is not recommended or supported, it is designed for "live" use only.
SMS - Slack Mini Server
A full feature preconfigured server (inc. dovecot, postfix, mailscanner, clamav, spamassassin, openldap), manageable through webmin interface or kde enviroment. Also features TorrentFlux (a php bittorrent client).
Topologilinux
Designed to run from within Microsoft Windows, Topologilinux can be installed without any changes to the user's hard disk.
Vector Linux
A lightweight distribution designed to be easy to use even for new users. Generally considered well suited for older hardware.
Zenwalk Linux
Originally a minimal version of Slackware, Zenwalk has evolved into a very different operating system; however, compatibility with Slackware is still maintained.
SLAX-Based
SLAX's modularity and reputation of quality have made it a popular base for other live CD projects.


Arudius
An information assurance suite that includes many vulnerability assessment utilities and source code auditing tools.
ParsLinux
Pars Linux is a live and installation CD derived from Slax and based on slackware. It is a complete Kde centric desktop oriented distribution. Beside of the dozens supported languages, Pars Linux also supports Persian keyboard. You can install and use Pars Linux as your PC's operating system.
BackTrack
A network security suite developed by RemoteExploit.org. It includes many penetration testing utilities and development tools. While BackTrack is principally used as a live CD, it can also be installed permanently.
DNALinux
A small distribution designed for running bioinformatics software, including BLAST and EMBOSS.
SLAMPP
Designed to be used on a home server.
Others
The following distributions either use another packaging system, do not use any, or are simply not categorized.


Arch Linux
An i686- and x86-64-optimized, independently developed distribution targeted at experienced users. Arch runs on a rolling release system and uses the pacman utility for package management. Extra software to customize the system is added via pacman from the Arch repositories.
Coyote Linux
Router/firewall distribution.
CRUX
CRUX is a lightweight, i686-optimized Linux distribution targeted at experienced Linux users. The primary focus of this distribution is "keep it simple", which is reflected in a simple tar.gz-based package system, BSD-style initscripts, and a relatively small collection of trimmed packages
DD-WRT
Embedded firewall distribution.
DeLi Linux
A desktop based mini distribution with office suite, web browser and other graphical programs to run on a 486. Built from scratch with some influences from Slackware and CRUX.
Devil-Linux
firewall/router/server distribution running from CD.
DSLinux
Version of Linux designed for the Nintendo DS.
dyne:bolic
Live CD geared toward multimedia (audio and video) production, but comes with other non-media specific application (eg: word processor, desktop publisher). It is completely free software as defined by the Free Software Foundation.
Familiar Linux
Distribution for iPAQ handhelds.
Fli4l
a single floppy ISDN, DSL and Ethernet-Router.
Foresight Linux
A distribution built around the Conary package manager.
FREESCO
A free replacement for proprietary routers supporting up to 10 network cards and up to 10 modems.
Fedora
A free workstation for home or company workers.
GeeXboX
Live CD media center distribution, mainly to play special-encoded video files (eg: .ogg, XVID) on home theater.
GoboLinux
An alternative Linux distribution which redefines the entire file system hierarchy by installing everything belonging to one application in one folder under /Programs, and using symlinks from /System and its subfolders to point to the proper files.
Hikarunix
A distro solely for studying and playing the game of Go.
IPCop
Router/firewall distribution.
iPodLinux
Embedded Linux firmware for the Apple iPod based on the µCLinux kernel.
Jlime
Distribution for the HP Jornada 6xx and 7xx and NEC MobilePro 900(c) handhelds.
Lunar Linux
A source code-based distribution descended from Sorcerer GNU/Linux.
Lycoris
Desktop/LX: Fell down to one employee and then acquired by Mandriva.
MCC Interim Linux
MCC Interim Linux, possibly the first Linux distribution. Created by the Manchester Computing Centre in February 1992.
MkLinux
A distribution for PowerPC systems that runs the Linux kernel as a server on top of the Mach microkernel.
Mobilinux
By Montavista for smartphones.
MontaVista Linux
Embedded systems distro by MontaVista Software.
NASLite
a floppy-based Linux designed to turn an old computer into a simple Network Attached Storage device.
Nitix
Developed by Net Integration Technologies Inc., Nitix claims to be the first autonomic Linux-based server operating system.
OpenWrt
Embedded firewall distribution.
Pardus
Developed in Turkey. It uses PISI as package manager, COMAR as configuration framework.
PS2 Linux
Sony Computer Entertainment distribution released officially for the PlayStation 2 video game console.
Puppy Linux
A mini distribution which runs well under low-end PCs - even under 32 MB RAM. Includes Slackware 12 support (since version 3).
Rocks Cluster Distribution
A distribution for building a High-performance computing computer cluster.
rPath
A distribution built around the Conary package manager.
Sentry Firewall
A firewall, server or intrusion detection system distribution.
SliTaz GNU/Linux
A small desktop distro. The ISO is 25 MB; runs entirely in RAM.
Smallfoot
Developed by the Santa Cruz Operation ( SCO UNIX / SCO Group ), formerly Caldera.
SmoothWall
Router/firewall distribution.
Softlanding Linux System
One of the earliest distributions, developed from 1992-1994; Slackware was originally based on it.
Sorcerer
A source code-based distribution.
Source Mage GNU/Linux
A source code-based distribution, descended from Sorcerer.
Tinfoil Hat Linux
Bootable floppy distribution focusing on extreme security
tomsrtbt
Root boot disk.
Tuga
Commercial desktop distribution made in Italy, based on QiLinux.
Yggdrasil Linux/GNU/X
One of the oldest Linux distributions, not updated since 1995.