SymphonyOS For Linux

SymphonyOS (formerly Symphony OS) is an open source and completely free distribution of Linux derived from the award winning Debian GNU/Linux operating system. It also borrows various elements from the KNOPPIX Live DVD distro, which is based on Debian too.

The SymphonyOS distribution can be downloaded from Softpedia or directly from its official website as a Live DVD ISO image that contains software packages optimized only for the 32-bit (i386) instruction set architecture.

The user must write the ISO image onto a blank DVD disc or on a USB flash drive of 1GB or higher capacity in order to boot it from the BIOS of a PC and use the operating system without installing anything on his or her computer.

From the Live DVD boot menu, the user can start the live system with default options or in safe graphics mode using the xforcevesa option, start the installer directly, perform a system memory test, as well as to boot an existing operating system from the local drive. The ISO image is bootable on 64-bit machines.

SymphonyOS’ unique graphical session is based on the FVWM window manager and provides users with a productive desktop environment comprised of two panels, one located on the upper side of the screen and used for accessing system settings and places, and the other one placed on the bottom edge of the screen, designed to allow you to quickly access installed apps through a Launchpad.

The distribution includes a decent selection of open source applications, which includes the Mozilla Firefox web browser, mtPaint graphic editor, PCManFM file manager, XTerm and LXTerminal terminal emulators, Sylpheed email client, Transmission torrent downloader and Synaptic Package Manager. Keep in mind though, that the password for the live session is “symphony” (without quotes).