Knoppix is a Linux distribution that can be run from a cd-rom without having to be installed to a hard drive.

   * It can be installed to a hard drive if desired.  The install is amazingly easier than the regular [Debian] install process.
   * It is based off the [Debian] distribution -- when installed to hard drive it becomes in all respects (except hardware detection?) a normal debian installation.
   * It is reputed to have some of the best hardware detection of all of the Linux distributions.
   * It is available for free download and is easily burned to cd-rom.
   * It is apparently relatively easy to modify to create special purpose versions or different collections of software packages
   * It seems to be becoming quite popular.

The best English site for information about Knoppix seems to be http://www.knoppix.net

The official site for Knoppix is Klaus Knopper's website: http://www.knoppix.org