Tiny Core Linux is an example of a Linux distribution that runs 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.

Table

Linux distributions that run from RAM
DistributionBased onRAM neededInstalling drive (type needed)Latest release
Alpine LinuxIndependentbase system uses less than 64 MBCD – USB flash drive – HDD2025-05-30 Version: 3.22.0
antiX LinuxDebian256 MBCD – USB flash drive – HDD2024-10-06 Version: 23.2
Arch LinuxIndependent400 MBCD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD2024-12-01 Version: 2024.12.01 Kernel: 6.12.1
AUSTRUMISlackwareless than 100 MBCD – DVD – USB flash drive2024-04-05 Version: 4.9.3
CoreOSIndependent2048 MBUSB flash drive – HDD2020-05-22 Version: 2512.3.0
Debian LiveIndependent780 MB (required), 2048 MB (recommended)DVD – USB flash drive – HDD – Secure Digital2025-05-17 Version: 12.11 Kernel: 6.1
GrmlDebian256 MB (required), 512 MB (or more, recommended)CD – USB flash drive – HDD2025-05-15 Version: 2025.05 Kernel: 6.14.4
KanotixDebian & Knoppix1024 MBCD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD2024-04-01 Version: Slowfire 2024 Kernel: 6.6.13
KnoppixDebian1024 MBCD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD2022-05-05 Version: 9.3
Lightweight Portable Security (LPS), currently known as Trusted End Node Security (TENS)Thinstation1024 MB (basic), 1.5 GB (deluxe)CD – USB flash drive2021-04-30 Version: 3.0.4.1
NanolinuxTiny Core Linux64 MBCD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD2015-04-05 Version: 1.3
Parted MagicIndependent175 MB – 312 MBCD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD2025-01-22 Version: 2025_01_22
PCLinuxOSMandriva1024 MBCD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD2024-10-17 Version: 2024.10 Kernel: 6.10.10
PorteusSlackware512 MBCD – DVD – USB flash drive2023-09-26 Version: 5.01 Kernel: 6.5
Puppy LinuxIndependent64 MB (required), 512 MB (recommended)CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD2025-02-13 Version: BookwormPup64 10.0.10
SlaxDebian and Slackware 15.0.0512 MBCD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD2023-10-10 Version: 12.2.0
SliTazIndependent192 MB (48 MB for base)CD – DVD – USB flash drive – HDD – Floppy disk2023-10-01 Version: 5.0 Kernel: 3.2.53
TailsDebian2048 MB (recommended)DVD – USB flash drive – HDD – Secure Digital2025-06-26 Version: 6.17
Tin Hat LinuxHardened Gentoo4096 MB2002-02-01 Version: 1.0
Tiny SliTazSliTaz4 MBCD – USB flash drive – HDD – Floppy disk2025-04-06
Tiny Core LinuxIndependent46 MBCD – HDD – USB flash drive2025-03-31 Version: 16.0 Kernel: 6.12.11

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

External links