Linux: Specialised Distros...

[ic]

I've been trying to investigate some specialised Linux distros, anyways I was wondering if anyone has an opinion on any of these:

• Devil-Linux
  
  I got as far as installing this in a VMware machine, looked good and then I decided it was too complicated for my needs at the time, I am thinking perhaps I might have outgrown SmoothWallExpress v2, and I should look at Devil-Linux again...
  
  Recommendations?
  .
• PenguinSleuth - forensics distro, been trying to download the iso since April on iBurst, keeps stalling in ReGet Deluxe after going great at 90kBytes/s for 200MB, I'm still trying to get it downloaded...
  .
• Helix - also a forensics distro, trying to download it now...

Any other interesting/specialised Linux distros that would be useful for firewalling or forensics or general Internet Security?

 

[andres101]

you can turn gentoo into anything you want it to be!

 

[rsachoc]

For a complete list of LiveCD's, check out http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php


Have personally used Smoothwall and IPCop, as well as Astaro (very comprehensive)

*edit* there are some very good forensics LiveCD's listed on the page above

 

[Slip]

Try Whoppix!

 

[Karnaugh]

you can turn gentoo into anything you want it to be!

As long as your time isnt valuable and you dont mind spending your life recompiling the whole world.

 

[Compl33t]

I know someone that did it in two days! Although, this guy is a real codemonkey.

 

[MFour]

Might be a dumb question, (in fact I'm sure it is) but what are the advantages of a forensic distro? How does it differ from say, Ubuntu or Xandros? I gather that it is more security focused, and therefore my interest.

If the answer is too long and complicated, maybe someone can point me toward some web info, please

 

[rsachoc]

Forensics is for just what it says, they are usually live CD's and you can boot with them, peform security stuff (wireless) . Some are also to recover broken installations (windows and Linux)

Hope this helps

 

[MFour]

Forensics is for just what it says, they are usually live CD's and you can boot with them, peform security stuff (wireless) . Some are also to recover broken installations (windows and Linux)

Hope this helps

Yes thanks, think I'll look into that a bit further

 

[Cybersleuth]

Forensic Live CDs are written by Investigators for Investigators. They have specialised tools for say capturing of data etc. Remember that the data integrity needs to preserved so special care needs to be taken while doing cyber forensics.

Helix is one my personal favs.