install linux distro on external hard drive

liverpoolynwa · 04-29-2014, 08:35 PM

hello....title says it all: is it possible to install a linux distro on an external hard drive(500 gb or 1 tb).

thanks

syg00 · 04-29-2014, 09:01 PM

Yes.
Lots of similar theads here on LQ - some of which will be listed below (on this page).

John VV · 04-29-2014, 09:05 PM

yes and maybe no

you give no information

what linux distro ?
the hardware being used ?
the type of connection this drive is using ?
network , usb2 , usb3 , firewire

liverpoolynwa · 04-29-2014, 10:19 PM

maybe linux mint 16 on usb2

Shadow_7 · 04-29-2014, 10:28 PM

Posible, of course. It's a harddrive, a linux install is basically data on a partition on a harddrive or other storage device. If the default distro installer doesn't make it easy, you can rsync an install to the external harddrive from an internal one. Which you can do from a different machine of the same architecture. A few minor tweaks and it's bootable. Assuming the computer supports booting an external drive. Most since 2006-ish seem to support booting external (usb) devices from my limited experience.

jefro · 04-30-2014, 03:56 PM

For the most part, almost all linux uses an internal drive and an external drive exactly the say way. Most new systems even use the usb as a hard drive order choice and not a usb zip or usb floppy way.

This assumes a common newish distro and a somewhat newish system.

I make real installs to usb flash and usb hard drives all the time. Just be sure to remove the internal hard drive. (while you don't have to, I suggest it)