NOTE: Even with an OS installed on a physical hard disk, the initrd is used for the boot process. Since the RAM Disk is in RAM, everything in it runs faster since RAM has faster access time than a physical hard disk. The initrd is a compressed file which is extracted to a RAM Disk to be executed as the initial bootloader.Ī RAM Disk is a portion of Random Access Memory (RAM) which is used as if it were a hard disk. The initial part of the Live CD (and any Linux distro) is the Initial RAMDisk (initrd).

Live CDs can also be beneficial for systems with no internal hard drive or storage media. Once loaded, the OS can be used without changing any local data on the hard disk (unless the boot media is for that purpose, such as a Live CD of Gparted or the like). The boot files cause the CD/DVD device to be used as boot media which causes the local OS to be loaded into memory. The ISO images can also be used to load into a virtual system such as Virtual Box. NOTE: The term CD/DVD is used, but it is possible to place the contents of the image onto a USB thumb drive and boot from it. First, the ISO image contains the files necessary to boot from the media to which the ISO is placed. Now, to get back to what a Live CD is and how it works. The website has an extensive list of Live CD/DVDs which includes a home page and download page for each Live CD/DVD. These categories are used at the website. There are many uses for a Live CD/DVD which can include, but not being limited to, the following: Hardware compatibility can be tested as well as software issues with required applications needed on the local PC. Once booted, the OS is loaded into memory and the OS can be used in a similar fashion as if it were installed on the local hardware. By downloading and burning the ISO image to a CD/DVD, the disc can then be used to boot the PC. The main purpose for a Live CD is to test drive a version of Linux which may need to be installed. The data on the hard disks are not touched or changed, unless a specific Live CD is used, which are for desired purposes such as data rescue.

When the Linux Operating System is run, it is running in memory only. For those who haven't, a Live CD is a bootable CD (or DVD) which runs a version of Linux. Most Linux users have come across Live CDs.

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