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The term MiniLinux (or Mini Linux Distribution refers to any Linux distribution that fits on memory card or a small number of floppies, usually one or two.
Such distributions may be tailored to system rescue (recovering from a crash), setting up a firewall or router, or other specialized tasks.
The term appears to be derived from the first distribution to work in this way (http://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.linux.announce/msg/11b2fcb628774a0f)
Linux floppydistro
A Linux floppydistro is a mini-Linux distribution that only uses 1 or 2 floppy diskettes to contain a Linux kernel and useful utilities.
There is a distinction between a bootfloppy and a floppydistro. A bootfloppy usually doesn't contain any useful utilities, and is used mostly when installing a Linux distro. A floppy distro contains both the Linux kernel and important utilities. An example of simple bootfloppy is syslinux and an example of a Linux floppydistro is BasicLinux.
List of MiniLinux distributions
* BasicLinux: a floppy distro that works on minimal hardware (2 FD).
* Bonzai Linux
* Buildroot project: http://buildroot.uclibc.org/
* Coyote Linux: a one-floppy distro for use as a firewall/router.
* Damn Small Linux (DSL):a very versatile 50MB mini desktop oriented Linux distribution
* DeLi Linux: "Desktop Light" Linux [http://www.delilinux.de/]
* Devil Linux: A stripped down floppy-bootable distribution designed for server use.
* DLX: http://www.wu-wien.ac.at/usr/h93/h9301726/dlx.html
* DragonLinux Lite: versatile 50MB mini desktop oriented Linux distribution [http://dragonlinux.sourceforge.net/]
* DSLinux: Linux distribution for the Nintendo DS.
* Embedded Debian: http://www.emdebian.org/
* FDLinux: http://www.fdlinux.com
* Feather Linux
* fli4l
* Flonix USB Edition
* FloppyFW
* Frazier Wall
* FREESCO
* [http://injector.sourceforge.net/ Injector Linux]
* IPodLinux: Linux distribution for Apple's iPod
* [http://sourceforge.net/projects/jnuxband/ JnuxBand]: one-floppy Linux kernel 2.6 distribution featuring the game Angband.
* hal91
* HVlinux
* Linux Router
* Mini dialup router
* mini Linux: earliest mini Linux distribution http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/historic-linux/distributions/mini-linux/
* Monkey Linux
* muLinux: a distribution which fits on one floppy disk
* Norm's firewall
* NucLinux
* pocketlinux
* Puppy Linux
* Recovery Is Possible: a small, specialized Linux distribution that includes a large number of system maintenance and recovery applications.
* RIMiRadio
* spyLinux
* Stresslinux
* Tiny Linux: http://tiny.seul.org/en
* tomsrtbt: a one floppy distro for rescue and other purposes
* Trinux
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