Linux bootable USB keydrive HOWTO

OpenFacts, the Open Source Knowledge Database

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

[Wrong - this page just explains that Flonix CAN boot from USB disk. It doesn't actually explain HOW to do it. And the link it provides to Flonix's home page is a 404.]

What is a bootable USB Keydrive?

Nowadays, are more and more used the keydrives ( also know as USB flash memory drives or USB keys), that Plugs & Plays (driverless) via standard USB 2.0 interface. It has up to 2 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 could take 14 ants to carry one!

USB flash drives are about the size of a stick of gum. If you share a computer, USB flash drives are a great way to store personal information – 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, keydrives are bootable from BIOS. So it can diagnose system problems without going into operating system.

Booting from BIOS

In nowadays BIOS, the user can select the first, second and third device for the booting, between them : floppy, LS-120, Hard disk (HDD-0 - for the first available hard disk-, HDD-1, HDD-2, HDD-3), SCSI, CDROM, ZIP, USB (USB-FDD, USB-ZIP, USB-CDROM, USB-HDD). USB-ZIP is the generally used for to boot USB key.

Flonix

Flonix is a distribution of the Linux free source operating system inspirated on Debian Knoppix. The names comes from the invertor, Florent, and Knoppix. Flonix USB can be installed in a USB keydrive (at least 64 MB)

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

To boot the USB key, Flonix used Syslinux.

External links

Debian GNU/Linux

Howto install a bootable Debian GNU/Linux with everything but /boot encrypted.

External Links

http://www.debian-administration.org/articles/179