MCNLive

What is MCNLive?

MCNLive is a complete operating system running from CD or USB stick. It is based on Mandriva Linux and designed for desktops and notebooks. Included software for all your needs: internet applications, office suite, networking tools, multimedia software. MCNLive operates in a so-called live mode. It's a great way to carry your entire 'computer' wherever you are. With automatic hardware detection. A portable Pocket OS without the need to install permanently on a hard disk. A secure, comfortable and fast desktop with a pleasant look and an easy to use graphical user interface.
A computer (min. i586 or compatible) with at least 192 MB RAM, 512 MB if you would like to enjoy the full functionality. Bootable from CD ROM. A recent BIOS capable to boot from USB will give you the full experience of the LiveUSB version. Monitor with at least 1024x768 resolution. Keyboard, mouse.

What's in a name

MCNLive is a project of the Dutch MandrivaClub. The abbreviation MCNL stands for MandrivaClub.NL. This mixed with the word Live seems to be a good name for a live system created by MCNL.

First steps

Make sure your computer BIOS is set to boot from CD-ROM prior to hard disk. Download for free the MCNLive .iso file. Burn the file to a CD-R, CD-RW or DVD-R/RW medium. Reboot your computer with inserted MCNLive cd. Follow the instructions on the boot screen. No changes will be made to your hardware or installed operating system. Find more informations on the download page.

Live Mode - Flash Memory - Installation - Limits

• MCNLive is designed to run from CD or from an USB Flash Drive (with flash memory), it is designed to run in live mode and to be portable, with dynamic hardware detection. MCNLive includes small wizards to save your personal settings and documents.
  Go to MCNLive On A Stick to find out how easy it is to set it up.
  Update ::: On MCNLive "Delft" and "Toronto" it is possible to make all changes persistent. This feature is not on "Kris".
  It does not include any automatic way/scripts to make the system wide settings (network settings, hardware related configurations, additional installed software) persistent after a reboot.
  But it does come with a pretty cool feature to create your very own live version, with your programs and system settings.
• We have tested and made MCNLive to run from USB Flash Memory (USB sticks, pendrives, flash cards ...). Flash memory has a limited life time, it depends on the quality of the hardware and how many write-cycles are made. We don't want MCNLive to damage your flash drive. Some Linux Live distros have a feature to store/write sytem wide changes, mostly implemented in a way that accesses (write to it) the Flash Drive constantly while running it. When you use a Flash Drive regularly this way you will damage it within a few months (if not weeks).
  Update ::: Since MCNLive "Delft" it is possible to make all changes persistent.
  So far I could not find a 99% secure, reliable and userfriendly way for automatic and persistent changes. The default MCNLive on a flash drive does not write to your drive at all, or only once per session when you save your personal documents/settings with the included wizards.
• The best way to use Linux/Mandriva Linux on an internal harddrive or a powered external hard drive is to just perform a normal installation of the official Mandriva Linux distribution. Mandriva will take care of a sane re-partitioning of the drive, no matter if you have NTFS or FAT filesystems, no matter if you already have a MS Windows system installed. It will do fine in 99,9% cases. A 'live mode' system with special startup scripts, with dynamic hardware detection performed at every boot, with the special limitations of a live system, is really not recommended.
  Besides a graphical wizard to setup the Live USB mode MCNLive also includes the 'normal' installation program. But I don't recommend it. Please use for this purpose the official Mandriva Linux.
• Tired of dual-booting, re-booting, re-partitoning and messing with a bootloader? You may want to install MCNLive as a guest system inside a linux host or a Windows XP host. Tested with VirtualBox and VMware.