SARDU

SARDU

SARDU is a Linux live CD/USB that allows you to use a variety of system diagnostic, data rescue, and operating system installation tools from one bootable image. It can be used to test hardware, recover data, securely erase drives, benchmark systems, reset passwords, install oper
SARDU image
diagnostic data-recovery installation testing benchmarking resetting-passwords

SARDU: Linux Live CD/USB for System Diagnostics and Data Recovery

A free, bootable Linux distribution for system diagnostics, data rescue, and operating system installation, allowing you to test hardware, recover data, securely erase drives, benchmark systems, reset passwords, and more.

What is SARDU?

SARDU (System Administrator's Rescue Disk Utilities) is a bootable Linux live system that provides a suite of utilities for system administrators and IT professionals to repair, rescue, maintain, and diagnose computers and hardware. It brings together a collection of open source system tools that run independently of the computer's installed operating system.

Some of the key features and tools included in SARDU are:

  • Hardware diagnostics and benchmarking tools like memtest86+, hard drive utilities, CPU burn-in tools
  • Data recovery tools like PhotoRec and TestDisk to recover lost files and partitions
  • Disk wiping utilities like nwipe and shred to securely erase drives
  • Password reset tools to clear forgotten passwords and access locked systems
  • Operating system installation and deployment tools
  • Network tools for scanning, troubleshooting, stress-testing networks
  • System rescue tools to fix boot issues, repair broken configurations
  • Cloning and imaging to backup full systems
  • Stress testing tools to analyze system stability
  • Forensics tools

SARDU runs independently of the installed OS from either a USB flash drive or optical disc, making it useful for recovering data from corrupted/unbootable systems. The fact that it bundles so many system admin and diagnostic tools into one interface makes it a valuable toolkit for any IT professional.

SARDU Features

Features

  1. Live CD/USB environment
  2. Includes a variety of diagnostic and system tools
  3. Can test hardware, recover data, erase drives
  4. Reset passwords, benchmark systems
  5. Install operating systems

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

Pros

Boots into a full Linux environment

Provides many useful system utilities

Handy for diagnostics and repairs

Open source and free to use

Cons

Requires burning ISO or making bootable USB

Limited for everyday computing use

Not all tools will work for every hardware configuration


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