3.4.5  Hands on Linux prior to migration

Many Linux distribution vendors are now providing live or bootable 

CD ROM based distributions. One notable live CD distribution is provided by 

Knoppix:

http://www.knoppix.com

The following description from Knoppix further explains what a live CD provides:

KNOPPIX is a bootable CD with a collection off 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 Linux demo, educational CD, 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 CD can have 

up to 2 GB of executable software installed on it. 

A live CD can be used to provide users with the ability to run a bootable Linux 

system on their desktop. They can use it to test and evaluate the UI, applications, 

and other facets of the Linux client, before an actual client migration occurs. And 

this can be done without harming the host operating system install on the local 

hard disk. Another benefit of using a live CD as part of a migration plan is for 

detection of hardware and device problems. The live CD should be able to help 

validate proper hardware detection and device support, and identify any issues 

prior to actual client migration.

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Linux Client Migration Cookbook   A Practical Planning and Implementation Guide for Migrating to Desktop Linux