Bio-Linux

Bio-Linux is an open source operating system based on the world’s most popular free distribution of Linux, Ubuntu, built around the modern Unity desktop environment, and designed from the ground up to be used by bioinformaticians.

Distributed as a single, dual-arch Live DVD

The distro can be downloaded from Softoware as a single, dual-arch Live DVD ISO images of approximately 3GB in size, supporting both 64-bit (x86_64) and 32-bit (i386) instruction set architectures. It must be deployed to either a USB flash drive or DVD disc in order to boot it from the BIOS of a computer.

Boot options

Being based on Ubuntu, it features an identical boot loader, designed to allow you to try the operating system without installing anything, directly start the installer, test the RAM for errors, boot from the first disk, as well as to check the integrity of the bootable medium (only if using a DVD media).

Modern and productive desktop environment powered by Unity

As mentioned, the distribution’s default and only desktop environment is Unity, which uses a panel/dock layout. While the panel, which is located on the upper part of the screen, is perfect for interacting with running programs, the dock will help you to quickly launch your favorite applications.

Some of the best open source bioinformatics apps

Some of the best open source bioinformatics applications are included in this Ubuntu-based operating system, among which we can mention Act, Arb, Cn3D, cytoscape, Archaeopteryx, Artemis, BTmapqtl, clustalx, Dendroscope, DDV Sequence Alignment Viewer, Entrez, Eqtl, Galaxy, GAP4, GAP5, FastQC, Geneious, GGobi, ISACreator, KiNG, LRmapqtl, mesquite and Jemboss.

Bottom line

Summing up, Bio-Linux is a really fast and productive operating system based on the latest upstream Ubuntu version and using the GNOME Classic desktop environment, as well as some of the best open source bioinformatics applications.

What is new in this release:

• Addresses a recent issue with the desktop failing to start on VirtualBox due to incompatible drivers.
• Updates various packages, notably QIIME and Bowtie-Bio tools.
• Adds the pandaseq paired end assembler.
• Adds the updated beginners tutorial specific to Bio-Linux 8.

What is new in version 8.0.2:

• New Ubuntu 14.04 base system supports the latest hardware and provides up-to-date office software, multimedia, etc.
• Updated versions of key bioinformatics applications like QIIME, Mothur, Jalview, Artemis, BLAST, Bowtie-Bio tools and many more (users who do not upgrade will no longer get updates).
• Up-to-date versions of many R packages, including ggplot2, DESeq and edgeR plus updated Bioconductor and thousands more packages available for direct installation via C2D4U.
• Provision of pre-prepared templates for use on VMWare/VirtualBox.
• Replacement of NX with x2go, a more flexible version of the fast and secure remote-desktop system.
• Inclusion of the MATE desktop as a lightweight alternative to Unity.
• A more robust packaging of Galaxy, with support for loading tool-shed tools, Apache proxy, automated PostgreSQL set-up, authentication to local accounts and SFTP file uploads.
• A free kitten with every download!
• ... ok, I may have lied about the kitten but we do have some gorgeous new wallpapers submitted by the user community - see below.

What is new in version 7.0.3:

• Bio-Linux 7 is a fully featured, powerful, configurable and easy to maintain bioinformatics workstation. Bio-Linux provides more than 500 bioinformatics programs on an Ubuntu Linux 12.04 LTS base. There is a graphical menu for bioinformatics programs, as well as easy access to the Bio-Linux bioinformatics documentation system and sample data useful for testing programs.
• Bio-Linux 7 adds many improvements over previous versions, including the Galaxy analysis environment. There are also various packages to handle new generation sequence data types.
• You can install Bio-Linux on your machine, either as the only operating system, or as part of a dual-boot setup which allows you to use your current system and Bio-Linux on the same hardware.
• Bio-Linux also runs Live from the DVD or a USB stick. This runs in the memory of your machine and does not involve installing anything. This is a great, no-hassle way to try out Bio-Linux, demonstrate or teach with it, or to work with when you are on the move.
• Bio-Linux is built on open source systems and software, and so is free to to install and use.