Debian-based distributions

Ubuntu ( ) is a Linux distribution based on Debian and composed primarily of free and open-source software. Developed by the British company Canonical and a community of contributors under a meritocratic governance model, Ubuntu is released in multiple official editions: Desktop, Server, and Core for IoT and robotic devices.

Knoppix, stylized KNOPPIX ( ), is an operating system based on Debian designed to be run directly from a CD or DVD (Live CD) or a USB flash drive (Live USB). It was first released in 2000 by German Linux consultant Klaus Knopper, and was one of the first popular live distributions. Knoppix is loaded from the removable medium and decompressed into a RAM drive. The decompression is transparent and on-the-fly.

Debian-derived Linux distribution

deepin (; formerly known as Linux Deepin and Hiweed Linux) is a Linux distribution, formerly based on Ubuntu and Debian, that features the Deepin Desktop Environment (DDE), a desktop environment built on Qt and available for a variety of distributions. The Deepin userbase is predominantly Chinese, though DDE is in most prominent Linux distributions' repositories as an alternative desktop environment. The company behind the development, Deepin Technology, a wholly owned subsidiary of UnionTech (), is based in Wuhan, China.

Linux distribution

Lightweight, desktop-oriented Linux distribution

Maemo is a Linux-based software platform originally developed by Nokia, now developed by the community, for smartphones and Internet tablets. The platform comprises both the Maemo operating system and SDK. Maemo played a key role in Nokia's strategy as an attempt to compete with Apple and Android; the only retail devices that shipped with Maemo were the Nokia Internet tablet line released in 2005 and the Nokia N900 smartphone in 2009.

SteamOS is a gaming-focused operating system released by Valve that incorporates the company's video game storefront, Steam. Based on Arch Linux and built specifically to support Steam, it is the default Linux distribution for Valve's line of gaming hardware, including the Steam Deck, Steam Machine, and Steam Frame. Beginning in 2025, Valve expanded official support to include third-party devices designated as "SteamOS Compatible", such as handhelds like the Lenovo Legion Go and Asus ROG Ally. It can also be installed on personal computers without official support from Valve. The core operatin

Slax is a LiveCD Linux distribution developed by Tomáš Matějíček and based on upstream customizable Linux distributions. Packages can be added by apt package manager or can be prepared as modules. The tagline for Slax refers to itself as "your pocket operating system".

Linux distribution for anonymity and privacy

dedicated operating system for Raspberry Pi

Linspire (formerly Lindows) is a commercial operating system based on Debian and Ubuntu and currently owned by PC/OpenSystems LLC. It had been owned by Linspire. Inc. from 2001 to 2008, and then by Xandros from 2008 to 2017.

gNewSense was a Linux distribution, active from 2006 to 2016. It was based on Debian, and developed with sponsorship from the Free Software Foundation. Its goal was user-friendliness, but with all proprietary (e.g. binary blobs) and non-free software removed. The Free Software Foundation considered gNewSense to be composed entirely of free software.

MEPIS was a set of Linux distributions, distributed as Live CDs or DVDs that could be installed onto a hard disk drive. MEPIS was started by Warren Woodford and MEPIS LLC.

Linux distribution

Linux distribution

Linux distribution

TrueNAS is a family of enterprise network-attached storage (NAS) products developed by iXsystems Inc., dba TrueNAS. The products consist of TrueNAS Enterprise and TrueNAS Community Edition. TrueNAS Enterprise is a family of storage appliances, with fully integrated software and hardware, that is sold as a commercial product with enterprise support. TrueNAS Community Edition can be installed for free on commodity x86-64 computers. The operating systems include components released under a proprietary license, GPL and BSD licenses.

Linux distribution for server virtualization

antiX () is a Linux distribution, originally based on MEPIS, which itself is based on the Debian Stable distribution. antiX initially replaced the MEPIS KDE desktop environment with the Fluxbox and IceWM window managers, making it suitable for older, less powerful x86-based systems. Unlike Debian, antiX does not use the systemd init system; instead, it provides an ISO image in which Runit is set as the default init system. The declared goal of the developers is to significantly extend the useful life of existing old & new computers by specifically selecting efficient software and operating sys

Linux distribution

Devuan is an open source, Debian-based Linux distribution that aims to maintain compatibility with other init systems and avoid lock-in by systemd. Devuan offers sysvinit, runit or OpenRC as alternatives to systemd.

Dreamlinux was a Brazilian computer operating system based on Debian Linux. It can boot as a live CD, from USB flash drive, or can be installed on a hard drive. The distribution's GUI aims to have a centered animated toolbar. As of October 2012, The Dreamlinux Project has been discontinued.

Linux distribution for Russian army

SparkyLinux is a desktop-oriented operating system based on the Debian operating system. The project offers a ready-to-use operating system with various desktops to choose from. SparkyLinux is released 3-4 times per year to provide the latest versions of all applications.

Emmabuntüs is a Linux distribution derived from Debian (previously Ubuntu) and designed to facilitate the restoration of computers donated to humanitarian organizations like the Emmaüs Communities.

PureOS is a Linux distribution focusing on privacy and security, using the GNOME or KDE Plasma desktop environment. It is maintained by Purism for use in the company's Librem laptop computers as well as the Librem 5 and Liberty Phone smartphones.

Kanotix, also referred to as KANOTIX, is an operating system based on Debian, with advanced hardware detection. It can run from an optical disc drive or other media i.e. USB-stick without using a hard disk drive.

Linux distribution

Linux distribution

Q4OS is a light-weight Linux distribution based on Debian, targeted as a replacement for operating systems that are no longer supported on outdated hardware. The distribution is known for an addon called XPQ4, which adds themes intended to replicate the look and feel of Windows 2000, XP, 7, 8 and 10.

LiMux was a project launched by the city of Munich in 2004 in order to replace the software on its desktop computers, migrating from Microsoft Windows to free software based on Linux. By 2012, the city had migrated 12,600 of its 15,500 desktops to LiMux. In November 2017 Munich City Council resolved to reverse the migration and return to Microsoft Windows-based software by 2020. In May 2020, it was reported that the newly elected politicians in Munich, while not going back to the original plan of migrating to LiMux wholesale, will prefer Free Software for future endeavours.

alt=Screenshot of the front page of FreedomBox|thumb|Front page of the FreedomBox user interface with most of the applications installed. FreedomBox is a free software home server operating system based on Debian, backed by the FreedomBox Foundation.

Parsix GNU/Linux was a live-CD Linux distribution based on Debian. The Parsix project's goal was to provide a ready-to-use, easy-to-install, desktop and laptop-optimized operating system based on Debian's testing branch and the latest stable release of GNOME. It was possible to install extra software packages from the project's own APT repositories.

Linux distribution

BackBox is a penetration test and security assessment oriented Ubuntu-based Linux distribution providing a network and informatic systems analysis toolkit. It includes a complete set of tools required for ethical hacking and security testing.

thumb|Finnix 102 default startup on an x86_64 system Finnix is a Debian-based Live CD operating system, developed by Ryan Finnie and intended for system administrators for tasks such as filesystem recovery, network monitoring and OS installation. Finnix is a relatively small distribution, with an ISO download size of approximately 500 MiB, and is available for the X86-64 architecture. Finnix can be run off a bootable CD, a USB flash drive, a hard drive, or network boot (PXE).

Grml is a Linux distribution based on Debian. It is designed to run mainly from a live CD, but can be made to run from a USB flash drive. Grml aims to be well-suited to system administrators (sysadmin) and other users of text tools. It includes an X Window System server and a few minimalist window managers such as wmii, Fluxbox, and openbox to use the graphical programs like Mozilla Firefox which are included in the distribution.

Libranet was an operating system based on Debian.

Vyatta is a software-based virtual router, virtual firewall and VPN product for Internet Protocol networks (IPv4 and IPv6). A free download of Vyatta has been available since March 2006. The system is a specialized Debian-based Linux distribution with networking applications such as Quagga, OpenVPN, and many others. A standardized management console, similar to Juniper JUNOS or Cisco IOS, in addition to a web-based GUI and traditional Linux system commands, provides configuration of the system and applications. In recent versions of Vyatta, web-based management interface is supplied only in th

Guadalinex was an Ubuntu-based operating system promoted by the government of Andalusia (Spain). It is used in schools, public libraries, centers for elderly people and Guadalinfo centers.

Linux distribution

OpenZaurus is a defunct embedded operating system for the Sharp Zaurus personal mobile tool PDA.

Linux distribution

Linux distribution

Armbian is a software framework for building system images for single-board computers (SBCs). It is not a Linux distribution in its own right but builds upon Debian or Ubuntu, providing a minimal base system optimized for SBC hardware and maintaining its own kernels. The framework allows users and manufacturers to deploy ready-made images or create customized ones for specific hardware.

WIENUX is a Debian-based Linux distribution developed by the City of Vienna in Austria. Its main purpose is to replace proprietary operating systems and applications on the municipality's thousands of desktop computers with free and open source alternatives based on KDE, OpenOffice.org and Firefox. WIENUX was released in 2005 under the General Public License and was available for free download from the distribution's web site until 2008 when the download page was taken offline. In 2009 the migration to Linux as operating system was stopped and most desktop computers were equipped with a Window

HandyLinux is a simplified Linux operating system developed in France, derived from the Debian stable branch. It was designed to be easily accessible and downloadable, so that it could be used by people with very little computer experience and on a range of older hardware that was no longer supported by the latest versions of proprietary operating systems. It was particularly aimed at older people with dated hardware who do not need nor possess the skill to use many features afforded by state-of-the-art operating systems.

Webconverger is a discontinued Linux-based operating system designed solely for accessing Web applications privately and securely. Based on the Debian distro, it is able to boot live from removable media like CD-ROM or USB flash drive but can also be installed to a local hard drive. Webconverger is pre-compiled to run on any x86 hardware. It does not have high system requirements and will also run on older machines.

SolydXK is a Dutch Linux distribution based on Debian. It aims to be simple to use, providing an environment that is stable, secure, and ideal for small businesses, non-profit organizations and home users.

Mobile penetration testing platform for Android devices

Linux distribution

Linux enterprise distribution with integrated management system and Active Directory functions

DoudouLinux is a discontinued Linux distribution based on Debian intended for children as young as 2 years old. DoudouLinux is named after the French word which refers to a wubby, which is a comfort object such as a small blanket or a teddy bear.

VyOS is an open source network operating system Linux distribution based on Debian.

Linux-based operating system

GNU/Linux distribution

Linux distribution

UserLinux was a project to create an operating system based on Debian, and targeted at business customers. The goal was to provide businesses with a freely available, high quality operating system accompanied by certifications, service, and support options.

Reconstructor is a program that allows anyone to customize an ISO image of Ubuntu or its variants (Kubuntu, Xubuntu). The website is no longer functioning.