Linux distributions without systemd
From Without Systemd
This article aims to list actively maintained open source Linux distributions without systemd in the default installation.
In order for a distribution to be listed here it needs to:
- have a default init system other than systemd
- be open source (provide the source code of the ISO files it provides)
- be actively maintained and provide contact information of the developers
- have a website
If you add a distro that does not meet these criteria, it will be moved to Linux distributions without systemd/unlisted.
Contents |
General purpose
Independent
| Name | Init | Package mgmt | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4MLinuxDW | BusyBox | ? | JWM window manager; supported architecture: i386, i686 |
| Alpine LinuxDW | OpenRC | apk (custom) | uses BusyBox and musl libc, supported architectures: i386, x86_64, armhf |
| Bedrock Linux | BusyBox / any | any | Bedrock Linux can utilize any of a large number of init systems as provided by other distributions |
| CRUXDW | BSD-style initscripts | tar.gz-based | ports; supported architectures: arm, x86_64 |
| Cucumber LinuxDW | SysV | from #Slackware | Kernel version 4.9 LTS, GNU Userspace utilities, XFCE desktop; i686, x86_64 |
| Dragora GNU/Linux LibreDW | Runit | ? | desktops: IceWM, spectrwm, XFCE desktop; i585, x86_64 |
| Fatdog64 LinuxDW | dumb-init | gslapt, SFS Loader | (3) x86_64; also FatDogArm for Raspberry Pi2 and Odroid-XU3/XU4 |
| GentooDW | OpenRC[1] | Portage | If Portage is pulling in systemd, please read this. Further suggested reading. |
| GoboLinuxDW | SysV + BootScripts | filesystem | a source-based distribution which employs a unique file structure (not FHS); supported architecture: x86_64 |
| GuixSDDW | GNU Shepherd | Guix | provides advanced package mgmt features such as transactional upgrades and roll-backs; i686, x86_64; FSF-approved |
| KaNaPi | Bash scripts | filesystem | educational+game apps; desktops: XFCE and Sugar; supported architectures: i686, x86_64, armhf |
| Lombix (Pre-Alpha) | SysV | filesystem | source compiled; eack pkg in its own directory (not FHS); no initramfs, no PAM; fluxbox wm |
| Milis Linux (Beta) | SysV | MPS | created with LFS; has a few of its own tools |
| MisiProject | SysV | PISI | armv7h, x86_64 |
| NuTyXDW | SysV | cards | inspired by LFS & BLFS; its "cards" pkg mgr can install individual or grouped binary packages, and can compile source pkgs from "ports" |
| OviOS LinuxDW | SysV | pacman | (2) previously used systemd; was rebuilt around sysV init because systemd proved unsuitable for a stable storage system |
| PCLinuxOSDW | SysV | APT+RPM | desktops: MATE and KDE; supported architecture: amd64 |
| Plop Linux DW | SysV | (PXE/liveboot) designed to rescue data from a damaged system, or to backup and repair operating systems; supports: armv6l, i486, x86_64 | |
| Puppy LinuxDW | SysV | Puppy Package Manager | Puppy Linux's position on systemd i386, x86_64 |
| SlackwareDW | SysV | pkgtool, installpkg, ... | supported architectures: amd64, i586, s390, arm |
| Source Mage GNU/LinuxDW | custom scripts | Sorcery | source-based; i386, i486, i586, i686, x86_64 |
| Void LinuxDW | runit | xbps | supported architectures: armv6, armv7, i686, x86_64. supported libcs: glibc, musl |
Non general purpose:
- RancherOSDW a minimalist Linux distribution designed to host Docker containers. Supported architecture: x86_64
- TLD Linuxfor server environments (no desktop support except for running VNC/RDP sessions for virtual machine management GUI) ; i686, x86_64
Unclear what init system they use:
| Name | Init | Package mgmt | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiny Core Linux DW | ? | ? | FLTK/FLWM desktop; i486, x86_64 (also: "CorePlus") (also "piCore" edition, for Raspberry Pi) |
| Sanity Linux | ? | ? | (formerly, "Pür Linux"), source-based, ports |
- QuirkyDW (3) supports armhf, i386, x86_64
- LinuxConsoleDW ?what init system?, offers 32 and 64bit editions; MATE or LXDE desktop, tailored to gaming / educational use
Derivatives
- CruxEX (based on #CRUX) (2)(3) x86_64 available only as a zip file, no iso; LXDE desktop
- Uplos32 (2) (based on #PCLinuxOS) targets i386 machines; uses APT+RPM package mgmt
Arch Linux based
Arch Linux's package manager is Pacman.
| Name | Init | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Artix LinuxDW | OpenRC | eudev, replaces Manjaro-openrc |
| Obarun | s6-rc | x86_64 |
| Parabola OpenRC Edition DW | OpenRC | [2],[3] A part of the GNU project; x86_64, armv7h, i686; FSF-approved |
Debian based
Debian's package manager is dpkg and APT. See DebianReleases.
| Name | Debian version | Init | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| antiX LinuxDW | 9 Stretch | SysV | flexible remastering and persistence tools. Multiple WMs: JWM+iceWM+fluxbox; amd64, i486 |
| DevuanDW | 8 Jessie | SysV / OpenRC | XFCE desktop; supported architectures: amd64, i686, arm (see: /embedded, and notes) |
| KNOPPIXDW | merge of stable, testing and unstable | SysV | (video: "Defying systemd") employs systemd-shim |
| LMDE(Linux Mint Debian Edition) | 8 Jessie | SysV | (faq) Cinnamon or MATE desktop; amd64, i386 |
| MX LinuxDW | 9.3 Stretch | SysV | (Mepis+antiX) XFCE desktop; includes antiX remastering n persistence tools; supported architectures: amd64, i386 |
| Window Maker Live(2)DW | 8 Jessie | SysV | both windowmaker + XFCE are preinstalled; amd64, i386 |
Devuan based
| Name | Init | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Exe GNU/LinuxDW | SysV | features Trinity Desktop Environment; amd64, i686 |
| Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre | OpenRC | (2) "LTS Arch snapshot versions + security/stability patches ported from Devuan"; amd64, i686 |
| Refracta | OpenRC | (2) (3) amd64, i386; also: (Refracta Devuan 2) Openbox, eudev |
Gentoo based
- Adélie Linux uses Gentoo's Portage, Alpine's(?) APK package manager, and musl-libc x86 (32/64), PowerPC (32/64), MIPS (32/64), ARM (32-bit)
- Calculate LinuxDW OpenRC init; Cinnamon, KDE Plasma, LXQt, MATE, or Xfce (wiki spamfilter block to project site: calculate-linux.org)
- Chromium OS (2) upstart init (boot-design doc)
- Funtoo LinuxDW FAQ (source-based; uses git-housed, distributed Portage tree and Funtoo overlay) OpenRC init; i486, i686, x86_64, sparc64
- Slontoo (based on Funtoo) OpenRC; XFCE 4.12, MATE 1.12
- Redcore LinuxDW OpenRC or SysV init; serves pre-built binary packages from repository; openbox window manager
NOTE: additional Gentoo/*BSD subprojects exist, providing ports to various BSD-derived operating systems. See: Gentoo/Alt
Puppy Linux based
- Legacy OS (2) (3) (previous name: TEENpup) Pentium 3 and 4 (Sept2017 release still has Linux kernel v2.6.18)
Other pages listing more Puppy Linux derivatives: [4][5][6]
Slackware based
- Absolute LinuxDW (based on Slackware64-current) IceWM+ROX; supported architectures: i686, amd64
- Salix OSDW i486, i686, amd64
- ConnochaetOSDW (based on Slackware+Salix) removes upstream proprietary software and binary blobs, ships free (libre) software only. IceWM; supported architectures: i486, i686
- SlackelDW (based on Slackware+salix) amd64, i486, i686
- Slint (2) (3) (based on Slackware + Salix) accessible to visually impaired users (speech and braille device)
- SARPi (2) Slackware ARM on Raspberry Pi
- SlaXBMC ( 2)
- Superb Mini Server (2) fluxbox WM; i486, amd64
- Vector Linux (2) i486, amd64
- ZenwalkDW suported architectures: amd64, i486, i686
Available without standard GNU tools
- #Alpine Linux
- Easy Linux (2)(3)(4) aufs layered filesystem, containers; ROX desktop
- JanusLinux (2) BusyBox init, musl libc; supported architectures: x86_64
- NanoLinuxDW BusyBox init; (derived from Tiny Core Linux : microcore) SLWM window manager. Requires only 14 MB disk space
- Sabotage Linux (musl libc + BusyBox init) i386, x86_64, MIPS, PowerPC32, ARM(v4t+)
- #Void Linux
- XBian (based on Debian) media center distribution for the Raspberry Pi, CuBox-i, and other arm devices (init: Upstart)
Linux from scratch
Linux from ScratchDW is not a distribution, it's a book on how to build your own Linux system from source. It can be used with SysV. i386, x86_64; (also CLFS, aka Cross LFS supports additional architectures: mips, powerpc, ppc64, alpha, sparc, hppa, arm)
Special purpose
- IPFire (2)(3) (forked from IPCop, based on LFS) firewall distribution for x86 and ARM-based systems; armv5tel, i586, x86_64
- Maemo Leste(based on Devuan) for Nokia N900, Motorola Droid 4, Allwinner Tablets[7] openrc init ; Hildon desktop; architectures: armel, armhf and amd64
- PicarOS "suitable for kids from 3 to 12 and teachers" ; XFWM + LXDE desktop; i486, i686
- Porteus KioskDW BusyBox init; lightweight kiosk
- TinyPaw-Linux (based on CorePlus) a self-described "passive & aggressive WiFi attack distro"
Live medium
- AUSTRUMIDW bootable live CD, to be run from RAM (iso images via ftp)
- heads (based on Devuan) The Heads incognito live OS, intended as a systemd-free alternative to Tails, the Amnesia incognito live OS
- LiveslakLiveslak is the project which generates the ISO images for many variants of the Slackware Live Edition . Supported architectures: i486, i586, amd64.
- Minimal Linux Live (2)(3) Linux kernel, GNU C library, and BusyBox init; i386, x86_64
- Parted Magic ?what init system?, liveboot distribution providing disk partitioning and data recovery tools. Openbox WM; i486, i686, x86_64 FOSS? (licensed GPL)
- PentooDW Gentoo-based security-focused live CD; i686, x86_64
- PorteusDW (based on Slackware 14.2) lightweight modular live CD/USB; i486, amd64
- SliTaz GNU/LinuxDW BusyBox + SysV, uses tazpkg, lightweight live CD/USB, supported architectures: armel, i386, x86_64
- SystemRescueCdDW (Gentoo/OpenRC based system rescue disk) JWM, Xfce; i586
- TAZ (2)(3) (SliTaz fork) (also: a gentoo-based version ) runs entirely from RAM; openbox desktop
- ToOpPy Linux (2) (based on PuppyLinux) liveboot, operates completely in RAM; JWM desktop
Embedded devices
- ChibiOS/RT (2) forum ARM7, Cortex-M0, Cortex-M3, Cortex-M4, PowerPC e200z, STM8, AVR, MSP430, ColdFire, H8S, x86
- DD-WRT (2) a Linux based alternative OpenSource firmware suitable for a variety of WLAN routers and embedded systems
- DevuanEmbedded (xref: Devuan GNU+Linux)
- Gargoyle work is underway to port Gargoyle to the latest version of LEDE
- LEAF (Linux Embedded Appliance Framework) xref: Bering-uClibc
- LEDE Project(2) (3) (OpenWRT sibling / successor) Linux Embedded Development Environment
- libreCMC(LibreWRT successor) supports a wide range of routers, plus some small single board computers. FSF-approved
- Moebius Linux ?what init system?, armhf changelog minimal (no X) distro currently focused on RaspberryPi v3
- OpenWRT (2) (xref: LEDE Project) provides a fully writable filesystem, and package management.
- PiBox (BusyBox init) an embedded distribution for the Raspbery Pi
- postmarketOS (2)(3) a touch-optimized, pre-configured Alpine Linux tailored for smartphones and other mobile devices
- ProteanOS (2) (BusyBox init) an FSF-approved Linux-libre distribution for embedded systems
Non-English
- aldOS Spanish distro, uses upstart, eudev, ConsoleKit2[8]; MATE desktop
- mdrights live Chinese Liveslak-based distro, mdrights is a Chinese social rights movement; amd64
- Pisi LinuxDW Turkish distro (sysvinit + python init scripts) x86_64
- Plamo LinuxDW Japanese Slackware-based distro; i486, amd64
- Vine LinuxDW Japanese Debian-based distro, Kanji support across most applications; Japanese input support via FreeWnn or Canna input server; i686, powerpc, x86_64
- wifislaxDW(3) Spanish Slackware-based distro; i486
