GalliumOS is a

Linux distribution A Linux distribution (often abbreviated as distro) is an operating system made from a software collection that includes the Linux kernel and, often, a package management system. Linux users usually obtain their operating system by downloading one ...

for

ChromeOS ChromeOS, sometimes stylized as chromeOS and formerly styled as Chrome OS, is a Linux-based operating system designed by Google. It is derived from the open-source ChromiumOS and uses the Google Chrome web browser as its principal user interfac ...

devices, developed by the community-supported GalliumOS project. The distribution is made for Chrome hardware including

Chromebook A Chromebook (sometimes stylized in lowercase as chromebook) is a laptop or tablet running the Linux-based ChromeOS as its operating system. Initially designed to heavily rely on web applications for tasks using the Google Chrome browser, Chromeb ...

Chromebox A Chromebox is a small form-factor PC running Google's ChromeOS operating system. The first device debuted in May 2012. History Chromeboxes, like other ChromeOS devices including Chromebook laptops, primarily support web applications, thereby ...

Chromebit The Chromebit is a stick PC running Google's ChromeOS. It is able to be plugged into any display via HDMI to act as a personal computer. Keyboards and mice are able to be connected over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The device was announced in April 2015 ...

and

Chromebase A Chromebook (sometimes stylized in lowercase as chromebook) is a laptop or tablet running the Linux-based ChromeOS as its operating system. Initially designed to heavily rely on web applications for tasks using the Google Chrome browser, Chromeb ...

. GalliumOS beta1 was released on 10 November 2015.

Features

GalliumOS is based on

Xubuntu Xubuntu () is a Canonical Ltd.–recognized, community-maintained derivative of the Ubuntu operating system. The name ''Xubuntu'' is a portmanteau of ''Xfce'' and ''Ubuntu'', as it uses the Xfce desktop environment, instead of Ubuntu's Unity a ...

and maintains compatibility with the

Ubuntu Ubuntu ( ) is a Linux distribution based on Debian and composed mostly of free and open-source software. Ubuntu is officially released in three editions: ''Desktop'', ''Server'', and ''Core'' for Internet of things devices and robots. All the ...

repositories. Multiple sources indicate that Galliums' boot time is faster than other Linux distributions made for

. It is optimized to limit stalls and has integrated touchpad drivers. GalliumOS is compatible with some ChromeOS devices. It is necessary to prepare the device in different ways based on the hardware

chipset In a computer system, a chipset is a set of electronic components An electronic component is any basic discrete device or physical entity in an electronic system used to affect electrons or their associated fields. Electronic components are ...

. As of 2022, the GalliumOS project has been discontinued. Their wiki advises existing GalliumOS users to migrate to another Linux OS due to security hazards.

Prerequisites

Some Chromebooks require a third-party firmware update before they can boot other operating systems, including GalliumOS. Chromebook firmware can be updated after disabling hardware write-protect, a process that varies by model. A firmware installer script is available for most models, written by MrChromebox.

References

External links

Official website GalliumOS wiki MrChromebox firmware
{{Linux distributions Ubuntu derivatives Linux distributions