How to Create a "Live Thumb Drive"?

edwin11 · 03-12-2006, 12:56 AM

Hi all,

I am toying with the idea of having a a Linux installation on a thumb drive. The concept is like a live CD, i.e. just plug in the thumb drive, and Linux boots up from there. Of course, in the case of a thumb drive, settings and such can be persisted by writing back to the drive.

Alas, i'm absolutely clueless on how to start. i don't even know what questions to ask as i really do not know the steps invovled.

Is there any good resources around that i can look up on this?

TIA and Regards,
Edwin

Joe Nayares · 03-12-2006, 01:51 AM

http://www.marcelgagne.com/cwl082005.html
shows how to put Damn Small Linux on a thumb drive, just adjust the recipe to use the
distibution of your choice.
Joe

edwin11 · 03-15-2006, 12:12 AM

Thank for the link, Joe.

The article provides instructions on how to install Linux on a thumb drive, but that only applies for DSL and Puppy Linux right?

E.g. for DSL, it provides an option under Apps -> Tools to install it to a USB pen drive.

However, i don't think there is such a function, in, say, Ubuntu? (At least, i'm using Ubuntu and i haven't seen such an option.)

Thanks and Regards,
Edwin

tamoneya · 03-15-2006, 12:23 AM

Gentoo can also be run on a flash drive and only requires 64MB although i would recommend more.

J.W. · 03-15-2006, 03:01 AM

Note that your ability to boot from a USB device (eg, the pen drive) would require that your BIOS support booting from USB, and also that the USB device is listed in the boot sequence above booting from the hard drive. Good luck with it