boot loader on a usb stick

gothicbob · 08-19-2007, 07:34 AM

Could you put the bootloader for linux onto a usb stick, so that your computer would only be bootable when the usb stick was inserted?

Kind of like having a key to start a car, someone would need the usb stick (or something else) to start your computer. It wouldnt really be super-secure but it'd stop most people from accessing your computer when you didnt want them to.

pixellany · 08-19-2007, 07:47 AM

It depends on whether the BIOS will recognize the device. On this machine (Compaq nc8000), I don't see any BIOS options for booting USB devices.
How about using a floppy?

You could also put something essential like the GRUB config file (menu.lst) on the USB stick---or maybe add something to the init scripts that looks for a file on the stick.

gothicbob · 08-19-2007, 07:59 AM

Well I know most newer computers have bios support for booting from usb, and I know mine does so it shouldn't be a problem I dont think.

amishtechie · 08-19-2007, 08:42 AM

You sure can. just did it yesterday with grub.
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=578059

saikee · 08-19-2007, 11:03 AM

One can put Grub into a USB flash drive in the same way he/she would do so with an internal hard disk.