KNOPPIX is a bootable Live system on DVD, consisting of a representative collection of GNU/Linux software, automatic hardware detection, and support for many graphics cards, sound cards, SCSI and USB devices and other peripherals. KNOPPIX can be used as a productive Linux system for the desktop, educational DVD, rescue system, or adapted and used as a platform for commercial software product demos. It is not necessary to install anything on a hard disk. Due to on-the-fly decompression, the DVD can have up to 10 GB of executable software installed on it.

Software Packages

A variety of software packages from the Debian software repositories is installed. The CD version contains at least:

• LXDE as the standard desktop,
• Open Office,
• the Firefox WWW browser,
• GNU Image Manipulation Program GIMP,
• MPlayer Multimedia System,
• Internet-access software for (W)LAN, modem, isdn, umts/gprs,
• Tools for data rescue, network analysis and system repair.

The DVD version contains additional software packages for office productivity as well as software development and engineering (various programming languages and development environments), education and gaming.