bootbased

Bootbased refers to a method of operating a computer system where the entire operating system and its necessary components are loaded directly from the bootable media, such as a USB drive, CD/DVD, or network boot server, without installation onto the local hard drive. This approach is commonly associated with live operating systems.

Live operating systems, often referred to as "live CDs" or "live USBs," allow users to run a fully functional operating system directly from removable media. This is achieved by loading the operating system into the computer's RAM. When the computer is shut down, any changes made during the live session are typically lost unless specific persistence mechanisms are employed.

The primary advantage of bootbased systems is their portability and the ability to use an operating system without altering the existing installation on the computer's internal storage. This is useful for a variety of purposes, including system recovery, malware scanning, software testing, and experiencing a different operating system without commitment. Many Linux distributions offer live versions, and specialized tools for system administration and forensic analysis also utilize bootbased methods. The process involves configuring the computer's BIOS or UEFI settings to prioritize booting from the designated removable media.