Linux Compatible Devices

Compatible Linux Devices: PCs (Personal Computers) which allow booting from USB:

  • AIO (All-In-One) Computers
  • Desktop Computers
  • Mini PC Computers
  • Laptops
  • Tablets
  • Workstations
  • Raspberry Pi
  • Intel CPU Apple macs

 

Overall, Linux is incredibly versatile and supports a wide range of devices, but compatibility depends on the hardware and the Linux kernel version. Here is a more extended/detailed list of Linux supported devices and components:

1. Desktop/Laptop Computers

  • Major Brands:
    • Dell (e.g., XPS Developer Edition with Ubuntu pre-installed)
    • Lenovo (ThinkPads are highly compatible)
    • HP (some EliteBook and ZBook models are Linux-friendly)
    • Framework Laptop (modular, repairable, Linux-compatible)
  • Custom Builds: Desktop PCs are generally easy to configure for Linux if components (like GPU, Wi-Fi, etc.) are chosen carefully.

2. Single-Board Computers

  • Raspberry Pi (fully Linux-compatible, with distros like Raspberry Pi OS)
  • ODROID, RockPro64, and BeagleBone series (compatible with specialized Linux distros)

3. Graphics Cards

  • NVIDIA: Supported but may require proprietary drivers for full functionality.
  • AMD: Open-source drivers (AMDGPU) are built into the kernel and work well.
  • Intel: Integrated GPUs are very well-supported with open-source drivers.

4. Networking Devices

  • Most Intel and Realtek Wi-Fi cards have solid Linux driver support.
  • Some Broadcom cards require proprietary drivers.
  • USB Wi-Fi adapters are often hit-or-miss; check for chipset compatibility.

5. Storage Devices

  • SSDs, HDDs, and NVMe drives from major brands (Samsung, Western Digital, Crucial) work seamlessly.
  • External storage drives generally work fine if formatted in a Linux-compatible filesystem (e.g., ext4).

6. Peripherals

  • Keyboards/Mice: Most are plug-and-play, though advanced features may need software support (e.g., Logitech options via piper or solaar).
  • Printers: HP printers have excellent Linux support (via HP Linux Imaging and Printing). Check compatibility for Canon, Epson, and Brother models.
  • Scanners: Devices supported by the SANE project will work with Linux.

7. Audio Interfaces

  • Most USB audio interfaces (e.g., Focusrite Scarlett, Behringer UMC) work well in Linux, especially with JACK and ALSA.
  • Pro-level support is better on distributions like AV Linux (you might already be familiar with this!).

8. Gaming Devices

  • Gamepads like Xbox, PlayStation, and most generic controllers work via xpad or ds4drv.
  • Steam Deck is a Linux-based gaming handheld.

9. Mobile Devices

  • PinePhone and Librem 5 are Linux-native smartphones.
  • Android devices can interact with Linux using tools like ADB.

10. Specialized Hardware

  • IoT devices like Arduino, ESP32, and microcontrollers are supported with IDEs like Arduino IDE or PlatformIO.
  • FPGA boards like Xilinx and Intel (with proper software).

Incompatible Linux Devices: (most could run Linux, but there is no way to easily boot with a USB flash drive and install it):

  • Android devices (computers/tablets/smartphones) [technically doable, but require advanced knowledge]
  • non-Intel CPU (M1/M2, Apple Silicon M3) Apple macs [may be doable in future]
  • iPhones
  • Chromebook [technically doable, but require advanced knowledge]
  • Video game systems