1104:
1116:
1090:
193:. In 2004 reviewer Paul Zimmer wrote, "Although there are several other single-floppy Linux distributions, none can match muLinux's extensive and unique combination of useful features." The last version update was in 2004, when further development of this "linux-on-a-floppy" distribution ended.
230:
muLinux was based on the Linux 2.0.36 kernel. Development was frozen in 2004 at version 14r0, with some of the code and packages taken from software releases going back to 1998 (owing only to their smaller sizes). An experimental, unstable version called Lepton had the 2.4 kernel.
252:
came with a third floppy. One reviewer noted, "It's not gorgeous, but the whole X subsystem fits onto a single floppy. Egad." muLinux could also be unpacked and installed by a self-executable archive, or extracted directly, onto an old
284:
file system seen in other single-floppy takes on Linux). The OS was robust when used for text-based tasks along with basic file, light web page or email serving. It could also be adapted as a very tiny, stand-alone
319:
system which also happened to be an introduction to UNIX, written in an
English which the developer called "fractured." The OS had "cheery dialogues" and a friendly sense of humour sprinkled throughout.
328:
muLinux needed only minimal hardware, hence it would run on many thoroughly obsolete but still-working computers. Some machines from the later 1980s or very early 1990s may have needed additional
311:
distributions. Since the distribution was always wholly targeted at old hardware and meant to have a tiny footprint, Andreoli warned at the time that muLinux should not be used to
799:
804:
829:
1147:
1142:
185:. It was also designed for quickly turning any 80386 or later computer into a temporary, powerful Linux machine, along with system repair, education,
1050:
265:) partition without harming the current OS. If the machine had a floppy disk drive muLinux also would run on an otherwise diskless computer and no
377:
muLinux came with many packages, each of which fit on one floppy. muLinux was somewhat unusual in that all of the packages were wholly optional.
1108:
1063:
340:
so a still-working machine which when new in 1992 ran
Windows 3.1 would likely be able to handle a hard drive installation of muLinux:
646:
135:
1073:
814:
789:
30:
809:
678:
604:
159:
766:
1068:
1152:
761:
174:
hardware dating from 1986 through 1998) to be used as basic intranet/Internet servers or text-based workstations with a
857:
794:
499:
60:
895:
756:
162:
maintained by mathematics and physics professor
Michele Andreoli, meant to allow very old and obsolete computers (
900:
88:
910:
718:
455:
292:
muLinux was sometimes installed by
Windows users who wanted to learn about the commands and configuration of a
771:
949:
942:
890:
734:
576:
242:
could be had from but one floppy disk. Another floppy disk added workstation functionality and a legacy
1038:
867:
389:
345:
1026:
671:
401:
272:
Owing to its minimalist design muLinux was a single-user OS, with all operations performed by the
915:
781:
751:
516:
510:
393:
723:
186:
94:
872:
862:
703:
424:
296:
182:
155:
119:
112:
80:
650:
1058:
819:
608:
580:
483:
286:
1120:
982:
882:
824:
708:
664:
431:
101:
234:
muLinux could be both booted or installed to a hard drive on an obsolete machine from
139:
1136:
1032:
1004:
975:
968:
920:
852:
601:
307:
release, although on later computers this could easily be done with any one of many
1094:
961:
905:
728:
695:
397:
206:
1010:
996:
936:
713:
337:
316:
235:
210:
171:
629:
435:
405:
258:
239:
108:
989:
955:
847:
428:
293:
273:
179:
44:
465:+ scripting language, which also brings a few more X applications and tools
1016:
490:
439:
412:
243:
1021:
336:
but overall, the requirements were only slightly higher than those for
308:
487:
462:
266:
262:
551:
29:
509:
X server along with part of a small but highly obsolete version of
1089:
687:
496:
382:
365:
362:
300:
281:
167:
163:
151:
40:
315:
Linux or open source software. The OS came with a lean and pithy
506:
476:
420:
329:
277:
175:
660:
555:, The Linux Information Project, 2004, retrieved 16 August 2008
238:. A highly functional UNIX-like, network-enabled server with a
469:
449:
442:
416:
333:
304:
254:
249:
246:
124:
573:
215:
656:
627:(abstract): "Linux Journal" Volume 2000, Issue 75es
522:
Packages by other authors were also made available.
381:
SRV - basic server package with a web server, mail,
1049:
929:
881:
840:
780:
744:
694:
131:
118:
100:
87:
76:
59:
51:
36:
280:Linux native file system (rather than the slower
672:
630:Using Linux in Embedded and Real-Time Systems
222:, harking to the very small size of this OS.
8:
299:before taking the step of installing a full
22:
679:
665:
657:
596:
594:
592:
590:
21:
1109:Free and open-source software portal
545:
543:
541:
539:
537:
535:
531:
351:16 MB RAM if booted from floppies, can
388:WKS - basic work station package with
633:, July 2000, retrieved 16 August 2008
615:, July 2005, retrieved 16 August 2008
7:
567:
565:
563:
561:
423:) along with early versions of both
1051:Professional related certifications
65:14r0 / February 10, 2004
14:
830:List of software package managers
815:Security-focused operating system
1148:Floppy-based Linux distributions
1143:Light-weight Linux distributions
1115:
1114:
1102:
1088:
28:
805:Distributions that run from RAM
625:ACM Indexed scientific database
358:about 20 MB of hard drive space
189:and what the developer called
160:lightweight Linux distribution
1:
552:muLinux: A Brief Introduction
762:GNU/Linux naming controversy
858:Linux Documentation Project
800:Netbook-specific comparison
419:environment (see below for
1169:
757:Criticism of desktop Linux
584:, retrieved 16 August 2008
1082:
767:Tanenbaum–Torvalds debate
647:muLinux official Web page
574:muLinux official web page
450:virtual network computing
355:from floppy with only 8MB
27:
479:interpreter with modules
348:if run from a hard drive
943:Free Software Magazine
873:Linux User Group (LUG)
515:NS2 - second part of
868:Linux Mark Institute
602:Roundup: MiniDistros
571:mulinux.sunsite.dk,
1153:Linux distributions
324:System requirements
24:
795:Distributions list
790:General comparison
752:Criticism of Linux
607:2006-10-01 at the
579:2008-09-14 at the
517:Netscape Navigator
511:Netscape Navigator
472:typesetting system
368:or later processor
269:drive was needed.
19:Linux distribution
1130:
1129:
600:Saunders, Mike, "
226:Minimalist design
187:forensic analysis
145:
144:
95:Monolithic kernel
1160:
1118:
1117:
1107:
1106:
1105:
1095:Linux portal
1093:
1092:
1064:Linux Foundation
863:Linux Foundation
681:
674:
667:
658:
634:
622:
616:
598:
585:
569:
556:
547:
303:distribution or
297:operating system
183:operating system
138:(Archived from:
132:Official website
72:
70:
32:
25:
16:Operating system
1168:
1167:
1163:
1162:
1161:
1159:
1158:
1157:
1133:
1132:
1131:
1126:
1103:
1101:
1087:
1078:
1045:
925:
877:
836:
820:Package manager
776:
740:
719:Booting process
690:
685:
649:(Archived from
643:
638:
637:
623:
619:
609:Wayback Machine
599:
588:
581:Wayback Machine
570:
559:
548:
533:
528:
502:virtual machine
432:window managers
404:and many other
375:
326:
287:embedded system
228:
218:symbol meaning
205:comes from the
199:
136:Micheleandreoli
103:
68:
66:
20:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1166:
1164:
1156:
1155:
1150:
1145:
1135:
1134:
1128:
1127:
1125:
1124:
1112:
1098:
1083:
1080:
1079:
1077:
1076:
1071:
1066:
1061:
1059:CompTIA Linux+
1055:
1053:
1047:
1046:
1044:
1043:
1036:
1029:
1024:
1019:
1014:
1007:
1002:
1001:
1000:
986:
983:Linux Magazine
979:
972:
965:
958:
953:
946:
939:
933:
931:
927:
926:
924:
923:
918:
913:
908:
903:
898:
893:
887:
885:
879:
878:
876:
875:
870:
865:
860:
855:
850:
844:
842:
838:
837:
835:
834:
833:
832:
827:
825:Package format
817:
812:
807:
802:
797:
792:
786:
784:
778:
777:
775:
774:
769:
764:
759:
754:
748:
746:
742:
741:
739:
738:
731:
726:
721:
716:
711:
706:
700:
698:
692:
691:
686:
684:
683:
676:
669:
661:
655:
654:
642:
641:External links
639:
636:
635:
617:
586:
557:
549:Zimmer, Paul,
530:
529:
527:
524:
520:
519:
513:
503:
493:
480:
473:
466:
459:
452:
446:
434:(based on the
409:
386:
374:
371:
370:
369:
359:
356:
349:
325:
322:
276:. It used the
227:
224:
198:
195:
143:
142:
133:
129:
128:
122:
116:
115:
106:
104:user interface
98:
97:
92:
85:
84:
78:
74:
73:
63:
61:Latest release
57:
56:
53:
49:
48:
38:
34:
33:
18:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1165:
1154:
1151:
1149:
1146:
1144:
1141:
1140:
1138:
1123:
1122:
1113:
1111:
1110:
1099:
1097:
1096:
1091:
1085:
1084:
1081:
1075:
1072:
1070:
1067:
1065:
1062:
1060:
1057:
1056:
1054:
1052:
1048:
1042:
1041:
1037:
1035:
1034:
1033:Revolution OS
1030:
1028:
1025:
1023:
1020:
1018:
1015:
1013:
1012:
1008:
1006:
1005:Linux Outlaws
1003:
999:
998:
994:
993:
992:
991:
987:
985:
984:
980:
978:
977:
976:Linux Journal
973:
971:
970:
969:Linux Gazette
966:
964:
963:
959:
957:
954:
952:
951:
947:
945:
944:
940:
938:
935:
934:
932:
928:
922:
921:Linux malware
919:
917:
914:
912:
909:
907:
904:
902:
899:
897:
894:
892:
889:
888:
886:
884:
880:
874:
871:
869:
866:
864:
861:
859:
856:
854:
853:Linux Counter
851:
849:
846:
845:
843:
841:Organizations
839:
831:
828:
826:
823:
822:
821:
818:
816:
813:
811:
808:
806:
803:
801:
798:
796:
793:
791:
788:
787:
785:
783:
782:Distributions
779:
773:
772:SCO and Linux
770:
768:
765:
763:
760:
758:
755:
753:
750:
749:
747:
745:Controversies
743:
737:
736:
732:
730:
727:
725:
722:
720:
717:
715:
712:
710:
707:
705:
702:
701:
699:
697:
693:
689:
682:
677:
675:
670:
668:
663:
662:
659:
652:
648:
645:
644:
640:
632:
631:
626:
621:
618:
614:
610:
606:
603:
597:
595:
593:
591:
587:
583:
582:
578:
575:
568:
566:
564:
562:
558:
554:
553:
546:
544:
542:
540:
538:
536:
532:
525:
523:
518:
514:
512:
508:
504:
501:
498:
494:
492:
489:
485:
481:
478:
474:
471:
467:
464:
460:
457:
453:
451:
447:
445:respectively)
444:
441:
437:
433:
430:
426:
422:
418:
414:
411:X11 - legacy
410:
407:
403:
399:
395:
391:
387:
384:
380:
379:
378:
372:
367:
364:
360:
357:
354:
350:
347:
343:
342:
341:
339:
335:
331:
323:
321:
318:
314:
310:
306:
302:
298:
295:
290:
288:
283:
279:
275:
270:
268:
264:
260:
256:
251:
248:
245:
241:
237:
232:
225:
223:
221:
220:one millionth
217:
214:which is the
213:
212:
208:
204:
196:
194:
192:
191:proselytizing
188:
184:
181:
177:
173:
169:
165:
161:
157:
153:
149:
140:
137:
134:
130:
126:
123:
121:
117:
114:
110:
107:
105:
99:
96:
93:
90:
86:
82:
79:
75:
64:
62:
58:
54:
52:Working state
50:
46:
42:
39:
35:
31:
26:
1119:
1100:
1086:
1039:
1031:
1009:
995:
988:
981:
974:
967:
962:Linux Format
960:
948:
941:
916:Range of use
733:
696:Linux kernel
628:
624:
620:
613:Linux Format
612:
572:
550:
521:
408:applications
376:
352:
327:
312:
291:
271:
236:floppy disks
233:
229:
219:
209:
207:Greek letter
202:
200:
190:
147:
146:
1011:Linux Voice
997:Ubuntu User
950:Full Circle
937:DistroWatch
810:Lightweight
724:Kernel oops
714:Linux-libre
709:Linus's law
338:Windows 3.1
332:for enough
317:online help
172:Pentium Pro
1137:Categories
526:References
448:VNC - for
436:Windows 95
415:16 colour
406:Unix shell
259:Windows 9x
240:Unix shell
158:-language
109:Unix shell
69:2004-02-10
990:LinuxUser
956:Linux.com
848:LinuxChix
491:emulators
429:Afterstep
294:Unix-like
274:root user
201:The name
127:and other
83:and later
77:Platforms
45:Unix-like
37:OS family
1121:Category
1040:The Code
1027:Phoronix
1017:LugRadio
901:Embedded
891:Adopters
883:Adoption
605:Archived
577:Archived
458:compiler
440:NeXTSTEP
413:X Window
385:and more
373:Packages
313:evaluate
244:X Window
1069:Red Hat
1022:LWN.net
896:Desktop
704:History
475:PERL -
309:live CD
203:muLinux
156:English
152:Italian
148:muLinux
120:License
102:Default
67: (
23:muLinux
1074:Ubuntu
911:Mobile
906:Gaming
505:NS1 -
495:JVM -
488:Dosemu
482:EMU -
468:TEX -
463:Tcl/Tk
461:TCL -
454:GCC -
425:fvwm95
267:CD-ROM
263:umsdos
150:is an
113:fvwm95
89:Kernel
81:x86-32
55:Frozen
930:Media
735:more…
688:Linux
497:Kaffe
383:samba
366:80386
363:Intel
344:4 MB
330:SIMMs
301:Linux
282:Minix
168:80486
164:80386
41:Linux
651:here
507:SVGA
500:Java
486:and
484:Wine
477:Perl
438:and
427:and
421:SVGA
394:lynx
390:mutt
353:boot
278:ext2
197:Name
180:like
176:UNIX
170:and
111:and
91:type
729:Tux
611:",
470:TeX
443:GUI
417:VGA
402:pgp
398:ssh
361:an
346:RAM
334:RAM
305:BSD
257:or
255:DOS
250:GUI
247:VGA
125:GPL
1139::
653:.)
589:^
560:^
534:^
400:,
396:,
392:,
289:.
216:SI
211:mu
166:,
154:,
680:e
673:t
666:v
456:C
261:(
178:-
141:)
71:)
47:)
43:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.