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Linux bootable USB key HOWTO

OpenFacts, the Open Source Knowledge Database

Linux bootable USB key HOWTO

OpenFacts, the Open Source Knowledge Database

This document explains how to boot Linux from a USB key (without installation on a hard disk).

What is a bootable USB Key?

Nowadays, there are more and more USB keys (also known as keydrives or USB flash memory drives), that Plug & Play (driverless) via the standard USB 2.0 interface. These drives currently have up to 8 GB storage capacity. USB flash drives weigh about the same as a car key. In fact, some USB flash drives are so lightweight that, hypothetically, it would take only 14 ants to carry one!

USB flash drives are about the size of a pack of gum. If you share a computer, USB flash drives are a great way to store personal information or use them instead of the computer's hard drive. According to some manufacturer's specifications, USB flash drives can maintain data for 10 years. In that same period you'll probably have to replace your computer's hard drive three times.

Generally, newer BIOSes allow USB flash drives to be bootable devicies. So it can be used to diagnose system problems without going into the operating system. USB keys can also be used to kickstart a system which is then booted the rest of the way from the hard disk; this is often the case with computers using encrypted filesystems, with the flash drive storing the decryption key.

Booting from BIOS

In a modern BIOS, the user can select the first, second and third boot device: floppy, LS-120, Hard disk (HDD-0 for the first available hard disk-, HDD-1 etc), SCSI, CDROM, ZIP, USB (USB-FDD, USB-ZIP, USB-CDROM, USB-HDD). USB-ZIP is generally used with USB flash drives.

Debian GNU/Linux

A short, fairly simple Howto install a Debian GNU/Linux onto a USB Key with everything but /boot encrypted at Feraga.com.

External Links:

• http://feraga.com/node/30

Gentoo

Flash Linux provides a customized Gentoo environment for USB Flash Drives.

External Links:

• http://flashlinux.org.uk/

Flonix

Flonix is a distribution of the Linux free source operating system inspired by Debian Knoppix. The name comes from the inventor, Florent, and Knoppix. Flonix USB can be installed on a USB flash drive with a minimum 64Mb capacity.

Flonix is directly based in Damn Small Linux, because it uses the Fluxbox window manager (instead of Knoppix KDE) and is small in small size (business card CDROM size).

To boot the USB key, Flonix used Syslinux.

External links

• http://www.flonix.com/
• http://www.damnsmalllinux.org
• http://www.8ung.at/spblinux/

Cool Stuff!

Pendrivelinux

Offers a Community Forum with complete information on How To install and Boot many different versions of linux from USB devices.

External links:

• http://www.pendrivelinux.com

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