Operating Systems
This section serves as a place to learn how to install and tweak some of the operating systems that Limbo supports in order to make them more mobile friendly. The list below also includes some OSes that might be too slow for your device, only way to know would be to try them out. Click on the links below to read more about how to install and customize them.
Slax Linux
Slitaz Linux
Debian Linux
DSL Linux
ReactOS
FreeDOS
AROS
Other
Slax Linux
Slitaz Linux
Debian Linux
DSL Linux
ReactOS
FreeDOS
AROS
Other
Other Operating Systems
You're probably wondering what other operating systems can run on Limbo? Can it boot Windows? Will it run Ubuntu?
Well it depends, but first get a legitimate licensed copy of whatever OS you're using. Now, all things considered Limbo will not run as fast as a real desktop computer unless you're using KVM and that's maybe nearly enough. KVM support in the kernel is something that is not offered with stock ROMs for ARM Android devices. With that in mind you can try some of the Operating Systems listed in this page and observe their performance but in general large OSes and modern kernels will have a hard time booting so keep that in mind when you start running things like Windows 8, 10, or Ubuntu. Also note that some of these operating systems are old and probably unsecure even though they work well very fast with Limbo.
Well it depends, but first get a legitimate licensed copy of whatever OS you're using. Now, all things considered Limbo will not run as fast as a real desktop computer unless you're using KVM and that's maybe nearly enough. KVM support in the kernel is something that is not offered with stock ROMs for ARM Android devices. With that in mind you can try some of the Operating Systems listed in this page and observe their performance but in general large OSes and modern kernels will have a hard time booting so keep that in mind when you start running things like Windows 8, 10, or Ubuntu. Also note that some of these operating systems are old and probably unsecure even though they work well very fast with Limbo.
Currently maintained
Alpine Linux
Alpine is another Linux distro that might have an acceptable performance on Limbo. You can download and run the Live CDROM ISO image to get an idea before you start installing to a virtual hard disk image. If you decide to install to hard disk you should also install a desktop manager like xfce4 to use with Limbo.
Limbo Configuration:
Make sure that the /ect/apk/repositories contains the configuration for the main and community repos:
https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.14/main
https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.14/community
Keep in mind the version in the path might be different check whatever version you have installed on your ISO image.
Then from the command prompt type:
apk add xfce4
Limbo Configuration:
- cpu: qemu64
- memory: 1024 MB
- mouse: ps2
- graphics: cirrus
- audio: sb16
- net: user
- network card: ne2k_pci
Make sure that the /ect/apk/repositories contains the configuration for the main and community repos:
https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.14/main
https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/v3.14/community
Keep in mind the version in the path might be different check whatever version you have installed on your ISO image.
Then from the command prompt type:
apk add xfce4
TinyCore
TinyCore is a very light weight and popular Linux distro that you can run on Limbo. There are 3 versions you can download:
Core, TinyCore, and CorePlus.
Core is a Live CD image and contains very basic utilities so you need to manually install additional packages.
TinyCore is also a Live CD with a slightly increased size than Core with the advantage of having a simple graphical user interface.
CorePlus is an installation cd that you can use to install to a virtual hard disk.
Limbo Configuration:
Install on hard disk image
To install on a hard disk drive create a virtual disk image:
"c:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-img" -f qcow2 tinycore.qcow2 20G
Now start the virtual machine and install the operating system to the virtual disk image, keep in mind you have to use the CorePlus ISO cdrom image this time:
"c:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-system-x86_64" -M pc -m 256 -cdrom CorePlus-current.iso -hda tinycore.qcow2 -accel hax -soundhw sb16 -soundhw adlib -net user -net nic,model=ne2k_pci
Choose the option to boot with OpenBox, you can use any of the other if you want, and once it boots to the desktop click on the tc-install icon to the bottom right.
Once the window for the installation appears choose "Frugal", "Whole disk", and select the hard disk at the bottom it should be something like "sda". Leave the "Install bootloader" checked.
Now select the disk partition format, it is recommended to use ext4 or you can select an older format if it is faster for your device.
You can enter additional parameters to the boot line or leave it empty as default.
Choose Core and X/GUI Desktop since things are more interesting with a desktop.
Click Proceed and wait till it finishes, it should be really fast.
Now restart the virtual machine with the command line (without the cdrom):
"c:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-system-x86_64" -M pc -m 256 -hda tinycore.qcow2 -accel hax -soundhw sb16 -soundhw adlib -net user -net nic,model=ne2k_pci
Make sure everything is ok and take the time to customize it since it is faster on your desktop before you transfer it to your Android device.
Core, TinyCore, and CorePlus.
Core is a Live CD image and contains very basic utilities so you need to manually install additional packages.
TinyCore is also a Live CD with a slightly increased size than Core with the advantage of having a simple graphical user interface.
CorePlus is an installation cd that you can use to install to a virtual hard disk.
Limbo Configuration:
- cpu: qemu32
- memory: 256 MB
- mouse: ps2
- graphics: std
- audio: sb16
- net: user
- network card: ne2k_pci
Install on hard disk image
To install on a hard disk drive create a virtual disk image:
"c:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-img" -f qcow2 tinycore.qcow2 20G
Now start the virtual machine and install the operating system to the virtual disk image, keep in mind you have to use the CorePlus ISO cdrom image this time:
"c:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-system-x86_64" -M pc -m 256 -cdrom CorePlus-current.iso -hda tinycore.qcow2 -accel hax -soundhw sb16 -soundhw adlib -net user -net nic,model=ne2k_pci
Choose the option to boot with OpenBox, you can use any of the other if you want, and once it boots to the desktop click on the tc-install icon to the bottom right.
Once the window for the installation appears choose "Frugal", "Whole disk", and select the hard disk at the bottom it should be something like "sda". Leave the "Install bootloader" checked.
Now select the disk partition format, it is recommended to use ext4 or you can select an older format if it is faster for your device.
You can enter additional parameters to the boot line or leave it empty as default.
Choose Core and X/GUI Desktop since things are more interesting with a desktop.
Click Proceed and wait till it finishes, it should be really fast.
Now restart the virtual machine with the command line (without the cdrom):
"c:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-system-x86_64" -M pc -m 256 -hda tinycore.qcow2 -accel hax -soundhw sb16 -soundhw adlib -net user -net nic,model=ne2k_pci
Make sure everything is ok and take the time to customize it since it is faster on your desktop before you transfer it to your Android device.
KolibriOS
You can download kolibriOS from here. Make sure you download the Live CDROM in ISO format. KolibriOS can boot also from a Floppy image all you have to do is to download the Universal image Flash/HDD image from the same webpage and extract the file kolibri.img. You can then transfer the kolibri.img file to your Android device and attach it to the FDA floppy drive in Limbo.
Limbo Configuration:
Limbo Configuration:
- cpu: qemu64
- memory: 1024 MB
- mouse: ps2
- graphics: cirrus
- audio: sb16
- net: user
- network card: e1000 (or leave it as default)
Older Operating Systems
This is a list of Operating System that work with Limbo with good performance though they are discontinued or not supported. You can try them out but be aware they cannot receive security updates.
- Feather Linux
- MINIX
- Knoppix (v7 2013 )
- Syllable
- DeLi Linux
- Delicate Linux
- Hikarunix
- Puppy Linux
- Trinux
Too Heavy for Limbo
This is a list of some operating systems that might just be too heavy for Limbo but you can try them out perhaps they make a good match for what you're looking for your Android device:
- HelenOS (USB mouse)
- AntiX Linux(slow)
- Lubuntu (too slow)
- Arch Linux (too large)
- Bhodi Linux (too large)
- SparkyLinux (too large)
- GhostBSD (too large)
- Puppy Linux (recent versions are too large since they are based on ubuntu, Slacko is also too slow)
- Peppermint Linux (too large)
- Knoppix (newest versions are too large)
Not Working
These are some interesting operating systems that we would like to work with Limbo though currently are not working if you have any success booting them up let us know.
- visopsys (kernel panic)
- Haiku (not booting up)