There are lots of Linux distributions that have a ‘Live CD’ that allow you to rescue your system or try before you bu\u2026 install.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a look at Knoppix<\/a>. It is one of the most popular Live CD\u2019s. In the CD structure of Knoppix there is a file that contains the root file system (rootfs). That file is a cloop<\/a> image file. Each block is compressed individually which allows decompression on the fly or at a specific point in the file.<\/p>\n This allows a rootfs to be about 1 GB in actual size but compressed it will fit into about 700 MB.<\/p>\n When a system boots from this CD [image], a kernel loads the cloop device and then opens the rootfs cloop file. Viola! The root file system is loaded into a ramdisk and is accessible as if it was an installed distribution.<\/p>\n This is great for Linux \u2013 not so great for FreeBSD. There are many Linux only or FreeBSD only file types and differences that make using the two systems on the same network very difficult.<\/p>\n I prefer FreeBSD because of its sheer solidness. It\u2019s like comparing a car that uses a gasoline engine (Linux) versus a diesel engine (BSD). Linux is the new hot-ness; fast, sleek, portable, adaptable, pump-n-go. FreeBSD is like the 80s era of cars; cast aside because they aren\u2019t sexy, requires the right glow plugs, needs patience, but it will run on any thing that has enough compression and it will go forever.<\/p>\n