Yggdrasil Linux

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Yggdrasil Linux
Yggdrasil desktop.PNG
Yggdrasil Linux running in the 3.1 version of 86box emulating an ASUS P/I-P55T2P4
Creator: Adam J. Richter
Architecture: i386
Date Released: 1992


Yggdrasil Linux/GNU/X, also known as Yggdrasil or LGX, is an early Linux distribution that could be considered the first live CD Linux distribution. It describes itself as a “Plug-and-Play” Linux distribution, automatically configuring itself for the hardware. Yggdrasil, named after Norse mythology's world tree, aimed to provide a complete Linux system on a single CD.

Releases

There were 6 releases of Yggdrasil however you can only download 5 of them from here...

1992 Alpha

The 1992 alpha release was announced on the 25th of November 1992. The first release was on the 8th of December, 1992. The CD-ROM was in the ISO-9660 filesystem meaning you could view the contents from DOS, other Unix systems and Macintoshes as per the mailing list(?)

This release contained the following software on the CD-ROM:

  • Linux 0.98.1 kernel,
  • X windows (v11r5) for VGA displays with support for higher resolutions such as 1024x768 256 colors using the ET4000, ET3000, Paradise, or Genoa chip sets, and the standard Xlib/Xt development environment,
  • GNU utilities, including GNU C and C++, the GNU debugger, bison, flex, GNU make,
  • TeX and groff typesetting packages,
  • Ghostscript: a postscript interpreter that can drive a variety of printers and also display in an X window,
  • elvis and GNU emacs text editors,
  • kermit 5A telecommunications program, and
  • an installation script that uses the extended filesystem, which supports long filenames and symbolic links just like the BSD file system,
  • iso9660 filesystem with support for the Rock Ridge extensions for reading CDROM's (used by this CDROM distribution),
  • lots of other useful programs too numerous to mention.

A 386/486 CPU, 8MB RAM, high-density floppy, 100MB IDE, SCSI or ESDI disk (200MB with sources), SCSI CDROM drive with an Adaptec 1542B, Ultrastor 14F, Future Domain TMC-1660/1680, Seagate ST01/02, or Western Digital 7000fasst SCSI controller were required for this version of Yggdrasil. The alpha distribution consists of the CDROM, and 3.5" and 5.25" high-density bootable filesystem floppies.

1993 Beta

Fall 1993

Summer 1994

Fall 1994

Fall 1995