Knoppix发行版几乎不需要介绍。它是第一个广为流传的提供了LiveCD的发行版；换句话说，它是一个可启动的CD-ROM，它可以无需磁盘而启动一个Linux系统，而不改变机器上已经安装的其它系统。在大多数的硬件配置上它可以自动检测可用硬件并正常工作。它的CD-ROM包含了近2GB（压缩过的）软件包，而其DVD-ROM版本包含了更多软件。

Combining this CD-ROM to a USB stick allows carrying your files with you, and to work on any computer without leaving a trace — remember that the distribution doesn't use the hard-disk at all. Knoppix uses LXDE (a lightweight graphical desktop) by default, but the DVD version also includes GNOME and Plasma. Many other distributions provide other combinations of desktops and software. This is, in part, made possible thanks to the live-build Debian package that makes it relatively easy to create a LiveCD.

请注意Knoppix也提供安装器：你可以先把它作为LiveCD来使用，然后把它安装到硬盘上以获取更好的性能。