MiniOS offers three main editions, each tailored for specific use cases:
- 🚀 Standard - The reliable workhorse for daily computing tasks
- 🧰 Toolbox - Power user's toolkit with advanced system utilities
- ⚡ Ultra - All-in-one powerhouse with complete feature set
For detailed descriptions of each edition's features and included software, see About MiniOS.
Download Options:
- Official Website: minios.dev - Complete edition overview and direct downloads
- GitHub Releases: Latest releases - All versions and release notes
For a detailed breakdown of packages included in each edition, see the Package List.
Recommended Installation Methods:
- Rufus ⭐ - Simple and reliable
- Balena Etcher ⭐ - Cross-platform GUI
- Ventoy ⭐ - Multi-boot support
- dd command ⭐ - Fast command-line tool
- Balena Etcher ⭐ - User-friendly GUI
- Balena Etcher ⭐ - Easy-to-use GUI
- dd command ⭐ - Built-in terminal tool
- MiniOS Installer - Built-in graphical tool
Additional methods: UNetbootin, Drive Utility, Original Method
- Standard (787 MB): minimum 2 GB
- Toolbox (1.2 GB): minimum 4 GB
- Ultra (1.7 GB): minimum 4 GB
- Recommended size: 8 GB or larger for comfortable operation with change persistence
Important Notes:
- Each link above provides detailed step-by-step instructions
- Recommended methods (⭐) are tested for reliability and ease of use
- Choose the method that best fits your operating system and experience level
After booting from USB, explore the MiniOS desktop environment:
Key features to discover:
- Applications menu (bottom-left panel)
- System settings and preferences
- File manager (Thunar)
- Pre-installed applications (browser, office suite, utilities)
- Desktop customization options
The default desktop environment is XFCE, providing a balance of features and performance.
Configure your system language, keyboard, timezone, and other preferences:
Access: Applications Menu → System → Configure MiniOS
Key settings you can configure:
-
🌍 Language & Locale: Set system language (e.g.,
en_US.UTF-8,ru_RU.UTF-8,pt_BR.UTF-8) -
⏰ Timezone: Configure your time zone (e.g.,
Europe/Berlin,America/New_York,Asia/Tokyo) -
⌨️ Keyboard: Set layouts and switching options (e.g.,
us,ruwithAlt+Shifttoggle) - 👤 User Settings: Change username, full name, and user groups
- 🔐 Passwords: Set secure passwords for user and root accounts
- 🖥️ System: Configure hostname, enable/disable services
- 🔧 Advanced: Boot options and system behavior
How to use:
- Open MiniOS Configurator from the system menu
- Navigate through tabs to configure different aspects
- Make your changes and save
- Reboot to apply changes - settings take effect after restart and persist across reboots
Technical note: MiniOS Configurator modifies /etc/live/config.conf,
which is MiniOS's main configuration file that controls system behavior
at boot time. For detailed information on configuration parameters and
their behavior, see the Configuration File guide.
Immediate changes (applied right away):
# Set system locale for current session sudo localectl set-locale LANG=en_US.UTF-8 # Set keyboard layout with switching sudo localectl set-x11-keymap us,ru pc105 ,dvorak grp:alt_shift_toggle # Set timezone sudo timedatectl set-timezone Europe/Berlin # Change user password passwd live
For persistent changes across reboots: Use MiniOS Configurator or edit /etc/live/config.conf directly.
-
Direct file editing: Edit
/etc/live/config.confmanually for advanced users - Boot-time setup: Use Boot Parameters to configure system before it starts
- Configuration file guide: See Configuration File for detailed config.conf reference
- Pre-installation: Configure before installing with MiniOS Installer
Important: Changes to /etc/live/config.conf (via MiniOS Configurator or manual editing) require a reboot to take effect. Command-line tools like localectl and timedatectl apply changes immediately but may not persist across reboots without proper configuration.
MiniOS provides multiple ways to install software:
Basic Debian package management - use man apt for detailed command reference.
Advanced SquashFS modules for persistent software - see Creating Modules guide.
Key difference: APT installations require persistence to survive reboots, while modules are automatically persistent.
Good news: MiniOS automatically sets up data persistence during installation! Your files, settings, and software installations are automatically saved.
- Automatic Setup: All installation methods create persistence automatically
- Smart Detection: System chooses optimal persistence mode for your drive filesystem
- Portable: Your data travels with you on the USB drive
For custom persistence setup, see detailed Configuration File guide and Boot Parameters reference.
-
User:
live/evil -
Root:
root/toor
- Change passwords immediately - Default credentials are publicly known
- Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts
- 🔧 Recommended: Use MiniOS Configurator (Applications Menu → System → Configure MiniOS → User tab)
-
💻 Command Line:
passwd liveandsudo passwd root - 📋 Advanced: See Security Hardening guide for detailed security setup
⚠️ Never use default credentials on networked systems!
- Desktop themes and wallpapers via Settings
- Panel layout and application preferences
- Keyboard shortcuts and system settings
- Boot Parameters: Complete reference for system tuning
- Performance: Optimization guide for better speed
- Hardware: Compatibility guide for device support
- Custom Builds: Building MiniOS from source
- Module Creation: Advanced modules development
- Kernel Updates: Kernel replacement guide
- Official Website: minios.dev - Latest news and downloads
- All Guides: Available in this documentation collection
- Bug Reports: GitHub Issues
- Source Code: GitHub Repository
- Debian Documentation: www.debian.org/doc - Since MiniOS is Debian-based
- Linux Basics: General Linux tutorials apply to MiniOS
You now have everything needed to get started with MiniOS. The system combines Linux power with portable convenience - perfect for system recovery, portable computing, or daily use.
Next steps: Choose your edition, create your USB drive, and start exploring! 🚀
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Step 1: Choose the Right MiniOS Edition 📦
MiniOS offers three main editions, each tailored for specific use cases:
🚀 Standard - The reliable workhorse for daily computing tasks
🧰 Toolbox - Power user's toolkit with advanced system utilities
⚡ Ultra - All-in-one powerhouse with complete feature set
For detailed descriptions of each edition's features and included software, see About MiniOS.
Download Options:
Official Website: minios.dev - Complete edition overview and direct downloads
GitHub Releases: Latest releases - All versions and release notes
For a detailed breakdown of packages included in each edition, see the Package List.
Step 2: Create a Bootable USB Drive 🔌
Recommended Installation Methods:
🖥️ Windows
Rufus ⭐ - Simple and reliable
Balena Etcher ⭐ - Cross-platform GUI
Ventoy ⭐ - Multi-boot support
🐧 Linux
dd command ⭐ - Fast command-line tool
Balena Etcher ⭐ - User-friendly GUI
🍎 macOS
Balena Etcher ⭐ - Easy-to-use GUI
dd command ⭐ - Built-in terminal tool
🏠 From MiniOS
MiniOS Installer - Built-in graphical tool
Additional methods: UNetbootin, Drive Utility, Original Method
Drive Size Requirements
Standard (787 MB): minimum 2 GB
Toolbox (1.2 GB): minimum 4 GB
Ultra (1.7 GB): minimum 4 GB
Recommended size: 8 GB or larger for comfortable operation with change persistence
Important Notes:
Each link above provides detailed step-by-step instructions
Recommended methods (⭐) are tested for reliability and ease of use
Choose the method that best fits your operating system and experience level
Step 3: Boot and Explore 🖥️
After booting from USB, explore the MiniOS desktop environment:
Key features to discover:
Applications menu (bottom-left panel)
System settings and preferences
File manager (Thunar)
Pre-installed applications (browser, office suite, utilities)
Desktop customization options
The default desktop environment is XFCE, providing a balance of features and performance.
Step 4: System Configuration 🌐
Configure your system language, keyboard, timezone, and other preferences:
🔧 Using MiniOS Configurator (Recommended)
Access: Applications Menu → System → Configure MiniOS
Key settings you can configure:
🌍 Language & Locale: Set system language (e.g., en_US.UTF-8, ru_RU.UTF-8, pt_BR.UTF-8)
⏰ Timezone: Configure your time zone (e.g., Europe/Berlin, America/New_York, Asia/Tokyo)
⌨️ Keyboard: Set layouts and switching options (e.g., us,ru with Alt+Shift toggle)
👤 User Settings: Change username, full name, and user groups
🔐 Passwords: Set secure passwords for user and root accounts
🖥️ System: Configure hostname, enable/disable services
🔧 Advanced: Boot options and system behavior
How to use:
Open MiniOS Configurator from the system menu
Navigate through tabs to configure different aspects
Make your changes and save
Reboot to apply changes - settings take effect after restart and persist across reboots
Technical note: MiniOS Configurator modifies /etc/live/config.conf, which is MiniOS's main configuration file that controls system behavior at boot time. For detailed information on configuration parameters and their behavior, see the Configuration File guide.
💻 Alternative: Command Line Configuration
Immediate changes (applied right away):
# Set system locale for current session
sudo localectl set-locale LANG=en_US.UTF-8
# Set keyboard layout with switching
sudo localectl set-x11-keymap us,ru pc105 ,dvorak grp:alt_shift_toggle
# Set timezone
sudo timedatectl set-timezone Europe/Berlin
# Change user password
passwd live
For persistent changes across reboots: Use MiniOS Configurator or edit /etc/live/config.conf directly.
📋 Additional Configuration Options
Direct file editing: Edit /etc/live/config.conf manually for advanced users
Boot-time setup: Use Boot Parameters to configure system before it starts
Configuration file guide: See Configuration File for detailed config.conf reference
Pre-installation: Configure before installing with MiniOS Installer
Important: Changes to /etc/live/config.conf (via MiniOS Configurator or manual editing) require a reboot to take effect. Command-line tools like localectl and timedatectl apply changes immediately but may not persist across reboots without proper configuration.
Step 5: Software Installation 🔄
MiniOS provides multiple ways to install software:
📦 APT Package Manager
Basic Debian package management - use man apt for detailed command reference.
🔄 Module System
Advanced SquashFS modules for persistent software - see Creating Modules guide.
Key difference: APT installations require persistence to survive reboots, while modules are automatically persistent.
Step 6: Data Persistence 💾
Good news: MiniOS automatically sets up data persistence during installation! Your files, settings, and software installations are automatically saved.
How It Works
Automatic Setup: All installation methods create persistence automatically
Smart Detection: System chooses optimal persistence mode for your drive filesystem
Portable: Your data travels with you on the USB drive
Advanced Configuration
For custom persistence setup, see detailed Configuration File guide and Boot Parameters reference.
Step 7: Security Setup 🔐
👤 Default Accounts
User: live / evil
Root: root / toor
🔒 Important Security Steps
Change passwords immediately - Default credentials are publicly known
Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts
Password Configuration Methods
🔧 Recommended: Use MiniOS Configurator (Applications Menu → System → Configure MiniOS → User tab)
💻 Command Line: passwd live and sudo passwd root
📋 Advanced: See Security Hardening guide for detailed security setup
⚠️ Never use default credentials on networked systems!
Step 8: Customization & Advanced Topics 🛠️
🎨 Basic Customization
Desktop themes and wallpapers via Settings
Panel layout and application preferences
Keyboard shortcuts and system settings
🚀 Advanced Configuration
Boot Parameters: Complete reference for system tuning
Performance: Optimization guide for better speed
Hardware: Compatibility guide for device support
🔧 Power User Features
Custom Builds: Building MiniOS from source
Module Creation: Advanced modules development
Kernel Updates: Kernel replacement guide
Getting Help & Community Resources 💬
📚 Documentation
Official Website: minios.dev - Latest news and downloads
All Guides: Available in this documentation collection
🐛 Support & Issues
Bug Reports: GitHub Issues
Source Code: GitHub Repository
📖 Learning More
Debian Documentation: www.debian.org/doc - Since MiniOS is Debian-based
Linux Basics: General Linux tutorials apply to MiniOS
Welcome to MiniOS! 🎉
You now have everything needed to get started with MiniOS. The system combines Linux power with portable convenience - perfect for system recovery, portable computing, or daily use.
Next steps: Choose your edition, create your USB drive, and start exploring! 🚀
Pages 31
🏠 Home
📋 About MiniOS
🚀 Getting Started
Quick Start Guide
📖 User Guide
Hardware Compatibility
Installing MiniOS
Boot Menus
Configuration File
Boot Parameters
live-config Parameters
Session Management
Kernel Management
Security Hardening
Performance Optimization
Virtualization
System Architecture
Package List
🛠️ Development
Building MiniOS
Creating Modules
CondinAPT
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