自 Linux 首次创建以来的几十年里， Linux(Linux)已经发展成为数十种不同的发行版（或“发行版”）。每个人都有自己的粉丝群，以及一组特别擅长的用途。
Linux作为便携式操作系统也很受欢迎，可从USB驱动器启动，将您遇到的任何计算机变成您自己的临时Linux工作站。但是，某些发行版比其他发行版更适合便携式生活。因此，我们汇总了截至今年 的最佳可移植Linux发行版列表。(Linux)
为什么要在USB 记忆棒(USB Stick)上安装便携式Linux？
如果这是您第一次遇到在 USB 驱动器上运行 Linux 而不是将其安装在内部硬盘驱动器上的想法，您(USB)可能(Linux)想知道为什么有人一开始就想这样做。
实际上，Linux发行版的可移植、可引导版本有很多很好的用途。这里只是一些常见的：
- 解决计算机问题，例如病毒或损坏的硬盘驱动器。
- 用于网络安全目的，例如渗透测试。
- 拥有一个完成后不会留下任何痕迹的私有计算环境。
听起来(Sounds)不错，对吧？问题是什么使特定的Linux发行版(distro)更适合便携使用？让我们回顾一下我们正在寻找的主要功能。
在便携式Linux(Linux)发行版中寻找什么
虽然没有什么能阻止您将主流桌面Linux(Linux)发行版的全脂版本放在USB驱动器上，但在许多情况下，这与这一点无关。当然，如今USB驱动器容量大、耐用且速度快，但它们仍然不等于内置 SSD(internal SSD)。
您可能还需要不时使用一些相当简陋的计算机，具体取决于您需要USB Linux记忆棒的用途。这(Which)意味着您需要仔细考虑给定发行版所需的大小和系统要求。
在为该列表选择最佳可移植Linux发行版时，我们寻找以下特性：
- 安装尺寸小。
- 模块化(Modular)软件安装选择。
- 系统要求低。
虽然并非列表中的每个发行版都具有所有三个属性，但它们都具有从便携的角度来看具有吸引力的某些方面。
Puppy Linux一直以自己是一个小型、轻量级的Linux发行版而自豪，只要该土豆与其代码兼容，它实际上就可以在土豆上运行。
在上网本热潮的高峰期，它是最受欢迎的，用户将删除他们的上网本(Netbooks)附带的有限操作系统，然后用更灵活的 Puppy Linux取而代之。事实上，在一个 SSD 容量只有个位数的时代，它是完美的。
Puppy Linux实际上并不是一个单一的发行版。它实际上是一种适用于多个发行版的模板，因此您可以选择自己喜欢的一个作为体验的核心。
如果您需要一个可移植的Linux版本，它基本上可以完成更缓慢的版本所能做的所有事情，但保证可以在您遇到的任何系统上工作——无论规格有多低，它都是完美的。
Kali Linux并不适合所有人。这是专为网络安全目的而设计的Linux发行版。(Linux)如果它是这样一个小众的Linux发行版，为什么它看起来如此受欢迎？答案至少部分在于Kali出现在电视节目Mr. Robot中，这很可能是迄今为止在电视或电影中看到的最准确的黑客行为描述。
这给发行版带来了“酷”的公众声誉，但大多数用户不会觉得它很有用。尽管如此，它绝对是最好的便携式发行版之一，因为如果您正在寻找强大的网络安全工具来快速执行渗透测试或以其他方式将您周围的任何随机计算机变成黑客瑞士军刀。
松弛(Slax)
Slax是一个相对较新的Linux发行版，专门设计为可移植的Linux发行版，这与采用桌面(Linux)Linux发行版然后简单地将它们安装在可启动闪存驱动器上的传统做法不同。
Slax背后的主要理念是模块化。您可以仅使用所需的软件和组件快速自定义它。它也非常灵活，既支持持久更改，也支持根据需要启动到干净、非永久性的操作系统实时版本。
主要的缺点可能是核心产品是多么的极简和基本。如果您在便携式存储介质上寻找完整的桌面Linux体验，或许可以寻找其他地方。另一方面，如果你需要一些精简、平均、灵活和强大的东西，那么Slax绝对应该引起你的注意。
Ubuntu GamePack是(Ubuntu GamePack)Ubuntu的第三方再发行版，经过专门调整以兼容大量游戏(games)。从可与Ubuntu配合使用的最新 AAA 级游戏到适用于(Ubuntu)DOS或其他传统平台的经典游戏。
由于大多数人可能不允许在他们的工作计算机或其他共享计算机上安装或玩游戏，将Ubuntu GamePack安装到USB驱动器并用它重新启动计算机可以让您做一些有趣的事情，而不会在计算机上留下任何痕迹问题。
当然，您需要有一台可以处理您想玩的游戏的电脑，并有一个足够大的USB驱动器来容纳它们，但除此之外，它还可以玩游戏！
Ubuntu GamePack的一个重要方面是UALinux提供了许多不同的变体，具有不同的用户界面和桌面。上图的版本是“Like Win”版本，看起来像Windows 10。
波特斯(Porteus)
Porteus的出现很像每个发行版。它从现有的发行版开始，然后分叉到自己的分支中，成为新的东西。在Porteus的情况下，它是(Porteus)Slax的一个特殊版本，称为Slax Remix。
就像Slax一样，Porteus非常便携，采用模块化设计，安装占用空间小。但是，它确实以更快的性能脱颖而出。尤其是当整个操作系统加载到RAM中时。它还可以非常快速地启动和关闭，因为该发行版的开发人员已经重写了管理这些流程的代码，使其尽可能精简。
Linux A-Go-Go
虽然我们认为这些是一些最好的可移植Linux发行版，它们确实代表了一些最好的选择，但开源(Open Source)软件的美丽意味着您可以尝试所有这些，甚至更多。唯一阻碍您的是时间和带宽。
只需(Simply)启动虚拟机，下载您喜欢的所有发行版并享受乐趣。当然，从这个列表中看起来很有希望的那些开始。这可能会为您节省不少时间！
The Best Portable Linux Distributions (Updated 2021)
Linux has blossomed into dozens and dozens of different distributions (or “distros”) over the decades since it was first created. Each one has its own fanbase, as well as a set of uses that are its particular forte.
Linux is also popular as a portable operating system, bootable from a USB drive to turn any computer you encounter into your own temporary Linux workstation. However, some distros are better suited to the portable life than others. So we’ve rounded up a list of the best portable Linux distributions as of this year.
Why Have Portable Linux on a USB Stick?
If this is the first time you’ve encountered the idea of running Linux off a USB drive rather than installing it on an internal hard drive, you may wonder why anyone would want to do it in the first place.
There are actually plenty of great uses for portable, bootable versions of a Linux distro. Here are just a few common ones:
- To troubleshoot a computer issue such as a virus or corrupted hard drive.
- To use for cybersecurity purposes such as penetration testing.
- To have a private computing environment that will leave no trace once you’re done.
Sounds great, right? The question is what makes a particular distro of Linux better for portable use? Let’s review the main features we’re looking for.
What to Look for in a Portable Linux Distribution
While nothing is stopping you from putting the full-fat version of mainstream desktop Linux distros on a USB drive, in many cases that defeats the point. Sure, USB drives are capacious, durable and fast these days, but they still aren’t equal to an internal SSD.
You may also need to use some rather humble computers every now and then, depending on what you need the USB Linux stick for. Which means you need to think carefully about the size and system requirements a given distro would need.
When picking the best portable Linux distributions for this list, we looked for the following features:
- Small installation sizes.
- Modular software installation choices.
- Low system requirements.
While not every distro on the list has all three attributes, they all have some aspect to them that’s attractive from a portable point of view.
Puppy Linux has always prided itself on being a small, lightweight Linux distribution that will practically run on a potato as long as that potato was code-compatible with it.
It was a favorite during the peak of the Netbook craze, where users would remove the limited operating systems their Netbooks shipped with and then replace it with the more flexible Puppy Linux. In fact, it was perfect in an era where you had SSDs in the single digits when it came to capacity.
Puppy Linux isn’t actually a single distribution. It’s actually a sort of template applied to multiple distros, so you can choose which one you prefer at the core of the experience.
It’s perfect if you need a portable version of Linux that can do essentially everything more sluggish versions can, but is guaranteed to work on any system you encounter — no matter how low the specifications.
Kali Linux is not for everyone. This is a Linux distribution designed specifically for cybersecurity purposes. If it’s such a niche Linux distro, why does it seem so popular? The answer lies at least in part with Kali being featured in the TV show Mr. Robot, which was quite possibly the most accurate depiction of hacking yet seen on TV or film.
This has given the distro a “cool” public reputation, but most users aren’t going to find it very useful. Nonetheless, it’s definitely one of the best portable distros because if you are looking for powerful cybersecurity tools to quickly perform penetration testing or otherwise turn any random computer around you into a hacking Swiss army knife.
Slax is a relatively new Linux distro that’s designed specifically as a portable Linux distribution, which is different from the traditional practice of taking desktop Linux distros and then simply installing them on a bootable flash drive.
The main philosophy behind Slax is modularity. You can quickly customize it with only the software and components you need. It’s also very flexible, supporting both persistent changes and the ability to boot into a clean, impermanent live version of the operating system as you need it.
The main drawback is perhaps how ultra-minimal and basic the core offering is. If you’re looking for the full desktop Linux experience on a portable storage medium, perhaps look elsewhere. If, on the other hand, you need something lean, mean, flexible and powerful then Slax should definitely have your attention.
The Ubuntu GamePack is a third-party redistribution of Ubuntu that has been specifically tweaked to be compatible with a large number of games. From the latest triple-A titles that can work with Ubuntu to classic games meant for DOS or other legacy platforms.
Since most people probably aren’t allowed to install or play games on their work computers or on other shared machines, installing Ubuntu GamePack to a USB drive and rebooting a computer with it allows you to do something entertaining without leaving any trace on the computer in question.
Of course, you need to have a computer that can handle the games you want to play and have a USB drive large enough to accommodate them, but other than that it’s game on!
One important aspect of Ubuntu GamePack is that UALinux offers it in many different variants with different user interfaces and desktops. The version pictured above is the “Like Win” version meant to look like Windows 10.
Porteus came about much like every distro. It started with an existing distro and then forked off into its own branch, becoming something new. In the case of Porteus, it was a special version of Slax known as Slax Remix.
Just like Slax, Porteus is very portable with a modular design and small installation footprint. However, it does set itself apart with faster performance. Especially when the entire operating system is loaded into RAM. It also boots and shuts down extremely quickly, since the developers of this distro have rewritten the code that governs those processes to be as lean as possible.
Linux A-Go-Go
While we think that these are some of the best portable Linux distributions really that represent some of the best options out there, the beauty of Open Source software means that you can try them all and many more besides. The only thing standing in your way is time and bandwidth.
Simply fire up a virtual machine, download all the distros you like and have fun. Of course, start with the ones on this list that look promising. That might save you quite a bit of time!
