Hello,

I'm planning to purchase an external hard drive, probably USB, to install Linux on so it's mixed up with my current PC and I can just take it out when I please.

I still haven't bought the hard drive and not sure if this would be as easy as it sounds.

I would appreciate any comments or suggestions.

Thank you.

I would say yes. It will be as easy as you think, with a caveat or 2. Make sure you have boot order set properly, USB/other or USB HD depending on your BIOS. It will need to boot first, before the other HDs, and just the the whole install, including boot to that drive, that way GRUB can handle allowing your other drives to boot while the USB is instlled, but you can still unhook it and boot as currently.

As for as Linux goes, just pick your flavor.

The only hang up you'll likely encounter is the absolute need to use an initrd (initial ramdisk) based on the way the kernel probes from USB devices. This page has more information: http://www.simonf.com/usb/

I don't want the USB drive tp be able to see my other HDDs, how would I enable/disable this?

What is GRUB? --FOUND--
I will take the time to read about the initial ramdisk tomorrow.. But is this something you must buy? Or software you must install?

Any other concerns I should have?

And.. Any recommendations for a external HDD?

Thanks.

Initial ramdisk is just a method of installation of the Linux Kernel. As far as seeing the other HDDs: just don't mount them and you'll be fine.

As far as external hard drives: on a GB/$ scale, I really like this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822101006

Thanks for clearing that up..

I'm thinking of buying a more brand name one.. and with less space I don't need 250GB.. I was thinking Maxtor or Western Digital.

Thanks.

I would not recommend either WD or Maxtor in terms of external drives, to be blunt. Both have serious heat issues, and short life spans(a few short years) due to this. I would recommend seagate, myself, the only top name brand I know that I haven't heard of said type of issues with.

In terms of GRUB,(or LILO) it is just about how it is going to boot, most linux install CDs/DVDs will take care of that for you.

As Matir said about the other drives, just don't mount them. And if you don't add them to the fstab, they won't be seen as available to mount anywho, which works one step better.

Good luck.

I hate to disagree with RedShirt, at least for internal drives. (I know you're looking at external, but I have far more experience with the internal drives). I have had one Seagate SATA drive need 3 RMAs, and had two Seagate PATAs fail. That's every Seagate I've owned in the last 3 years. Also one WD failure in that time period. Currently my main drive is a 300GB Maxtor. Really, I think it just depends on who you ask.

Of course, I'm asking to kill drives. I run about 5 computers 24/7, including one with nearly continuous disk activity. (It's a squid proxy server)

When it comes to internal HDs, this is a WHOLE different world than external drives. That said, everyone seems to have luck with various brands. I have never had a Maxtor last more than a few weeks myself, others swear by them for life. I have had flawless luck with WD and Seagate. Seagates also have 5 year warranties. Certain versions of all manufacturers make TERRIBLE drives(recall the Hitachi DeskStar aka DeathStars".) Those were Hitachi IBMs, but I am currently using a Hitachi SATA, and they are rated as some of the highest on all counts. So as Matir said... who you asks matters, but when you ask does too.

But currently in terms of external drives, which I do have a lot of personal and second hand experience, you don't really want either WD or Maxtor. That said, an external HD by its nature isn't going to be half as stable or last nearly as long as internal drives.

I'll look into some Seagates, thanks.