List of Linux distributions

Linux is a kernel, in itself not an extremely useful piece of software to the user, but very important: it provides hardware resources management, and access to the hardware is necessary to get anything done, of course. To have a fully functional operating system, some basic software is needed as well. A GNU/Linux distribution is the complete package. Most modern distributions also come with graphical installers to help with the initial setup.

Special categories

 * Live CD distributions
 * Source distributions
 * Firewall distributions
 * Embedded Linux
 * Linux in Windows

Alphabetical distribution listing

 * ALTLinux
 * Amigo Linux
 * Arch Linux
 * Ark Linux
 * BackTrack
 * BasicLinux
 * BeatrIX
 * BioKnoppix
 * BLAG
 * CentOS
 * ClusterKnoppix
 * Conectiva
 * CRUX
 * Cucumber Linux
 * DamnSmallLinux
 * Debian
 * DeLi Linux
 * Devil-Linux
 * DragOnLinux
 * Dyne:Bolic
 * Elive
 * Feather
 * Fedora
 * Floppix
 * Foresight
 * Freesco
 * Freespire
 * Frugalware
 * G2Linx
 * Gentoo
 * Goodgoat
 * Gnoppix
 * GoboLinux
 * IPCop
 * IpodLinux
 * Kanotix
 * Kate OS
 * Knoppix
 * Kubuntu
 * Kurumin
 * Linspire, formerly LindowsOS
 * Linux From Scratch
 * Lunar Linux
 * Lycoris
 * Mandriva, formerly Mandrake
 * Manjaro
 * MEPIS
 * Morphix
 * muLinux
 * Pardus
 * PCLinuxOS
 * PHLAK
 * PocketLinux
 * Puppy Linux
 * Red Hat
 * Red Hat Enterprise Linux
 * Slackware
 * SLAX
 * SmoothWall
 * Source Mage
 * Sun JDS
 * SuSE
 * SystemRescue
 * TopologiLinux
 * TurboLinux
 * Turkix
 * Ubuntu Linux
 * Univention Corporate Server
 * VectorLinux
 * Whitebox Linux
 * Yellow Dog Linux
 * Yoper
 * Xandros
 * Zenwalk Linux formerly MiniSLack

Family-Tree distribution listing

 * Arch Linux
 * CRUX
 * Cucumber Linux
 * Debian
 * Corel Linux
 * Xandros
 * Floppix
 * G2Linx
 * Knoppix
 * BioKnoppix
 * ClusterKnoppix
 * DamnSmallLinux
 * Feather
 * Gnoppix
 * Kanotix
 * Kurumin
 * MEPIS
 * Morphix
 * PHLAK
 * Linspire, formerly LindowsOS
 * Ubuntu
 * Kubuntu
 * Lubuntu
 * Xubuntu
 * Linux Mint:it is based on Ubuntu which is based on Debian..the easiest distribution in the arsenal
 * Edubuntu
 * Devil-Linux
 * Dyne:Bolic
 * GenToo
 * Lunar Linux
 * SystemRescue
 * PardUs
 * GoboLinux
 * IPCop
 * IpodLinux
 * Linux From Scratch
 * Lycoris
 * muLinux
 * Red Hat
 * Ark linux
 * BLAG
 * Conectiva
 * Fedora
 * Mandrake
 * PCLinuxOS
 * ALTLinux
 * Turkix
 * Red Flag Linux (Chinese)
 * Redhat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
 * CentOS
 * Whitebox Linux
 * TurboLinux
 * Yellow Dog Linux
 * sLackWare
 * Zenwalk Linux formerly MinisLack
 * Amigo Linux
 * BasicLinux
 * DeLi Linux
 * DragOnLinux -- currently inactive
 * PuppyLinux
 * Slax
 * VectorLinux
 * SmoothWall
 * Source Mage
 * SuSE
 * Sun JDS
 * Yoper

Don't know what distribution is right for you? See Choosing a Linux distribution.

Sites with distro lists

 * Linux.com Distrocenter
 * Not a very long list but includes all the major distributions.


 * Distromania.com
 * Extensive list of distros. Download links.


 * Distrowatch-Distro Modification List
 * List of distros and the distros that span off from them


 * Linux Distro Family Tree
 * Graphical representation of the history of the distros


 * Alphabetical list
 * With links to corresponding reviews, LQ forums, and more.


 * Linux.org
 * Great site that includes a search tool that lets you search for distro based on language, platform, and category.


 * osdir.com
 * Has screenshots of all Distros, GREAT BEFORE Picking one.


 * Wikipedia List of Distributions
 * Exhaustive list with relativly independent reviews. Warning, some may no longer be actively maintained!