required system for USB boot

stu7 · 12-14-2009, 04:54 AM

I am looking to use Linux of some flavor booted from
a USB drive... thus, my question: is USB Booting more
distro dependent /or/ kernel dependent /or/
computer_board_chip dependent ?

I've looked at this for a while, but not really clear
on requirements.

It could easily be a combination of these factors... a
distribution which supports USB booting /as well as/ a
kernel and/or chip ?? Im repeating myself(!), though
not unduly.

Can someone clarify the requirements / interaction of these
factors ? Thanks

the trooper · 12-14-2009, 08:45 AM

The first question should be can your machine boot from usb?.
If not you can use plop boot manager:

http://www.plop.at/en/bootmanager.html

Then you need some way of putting an iso image and a means of booting on the usb,a common way of doing this is with unetbootin:

http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

AFAIK it does not matter which distro or kernel you use,so the choice is yours.
Hopefully Linus72 will add to this thread,as he's far more experienced in these matters than me.
In any case here's a link to his site:

http://multidistro.com/

linus72 · 12-14-2009, 08:50 AM

Thanks Trooper

I'll add to the thread Trooper if'n you can help me with e17 9.10 script??
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ml#post3790949

ok, stu7
as Trooper said; Plop bootmanager and Unetbootin

specifically though; what distro(s) do you wanna run from usb?

how big is usb too?

stu7 · 12-14-2009, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the trooper

The first question should be can your machine boot from usb?.
If not you can use plop boot manager:

http://www.plop.at/en/bootmanager.html

Then you need some way of putting an iso image and a means of booting on the usb,a common way of doing this is with unetbootin:

http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/
]

oh(!)... excuse me while I stop drooling(!).

both great USB boot links... as well as terrific clarification
of the issue for me. Thank you so much !

stu7 · 12-14-2009, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linus72

T
ok, stu7
as Trooper said; Plop bootmanager and Unetbootin

specifically though; what distro(s) do you wanna run from usb?

how big is usb too?

ahh... right... well, let me answer those two questions with
another question... that is, could I, with my set of Etch CDs,
put a minimal install on say, a 4GB USB drive ? If so, I wont
bother shopping for anything else.

I havent read Plop /or/ Unetbootin documentation thorougly,
but at some point Im assuming they will ask for an image file,
which Im further assuming I can copy to the USB drive (from my
CD #1) and compile thereupon ?

Thanks for your helpful reply

jlinkels · 12-24-2009, 08:16 PM

This gives you a USB based Debian installation in 5 minutes.
http://debian-live.alioth.debian.org/

There is also a detailed user manual as how to add/modify the installation. I didn't do that yet, but given the ease of creating the USB installation I have confidence in the rest as well.

jlinkels