I'm not sure if anyone else has done this but here goes.
I travel a lot and like the idea of a USB key to give me some feeling of security when I'm working on a public computer. I've used PortableApps for the last few the years to work on foreign computers. I recently switched to PCLinuxOS (6 months now) and that has become my OS of choice. Using Linux requires booting the device with the USB key in it but some computers don't allow that.
I decided to put on PortableApps and MCNLive Linux on the same 1GB key. This allows me to use PortableApps on the windows side but I also have a complete operating system and all its programs if I'm able to reboot the machine with a USB key. This works on most modern computers if you are able to reboot it and it also has USB as part of the boot sequence. As an added bonus, I have 200MB free space for data, MP3's or other programs. I can easily exchange files between either system since everything is on Fat32. It works like a charm.
If anyone else is interested and wants a little more detail doing this just leave a message here. For $10, I feel I have the ultimate system now. It should work with some of the smaller Linux distros such as Puppy or DSL and still fit on a 256MB key.
Cheers
Clive
Visit the Community page
Join our forums
Subscribe to our email newsletter
Subscribe with RSS
Follow us on BlueSky
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Mastodon
Follow us on Twitter
"Using Linux requires booting the device with the USB key in it but some computers don't allow that."
what on ure pc(with linux installed to the local hardrive) or with a liveCD or LiveUSB on a public computer? if u mean ure pc then ure completely wrong, ever try installing a boot manager like lilo or grub? to the mbr of the hardrive or even a floppy if u mean on a public pc then use a LiveCD, Most Public computers have those :)and learn to add what u want configure linux with isolinux and build with MKISOFS
also i dont get rest of ure post? are u saying have PAM for Linux or
"a guide to making linux run from USB?" if so then check out this post
"https://portableapps.com/node/8425" there are two ways to do it the easy way as mcnlive does which is with syslinux on a fat32 partition or with extlinux with ext partitions
Slackware 12 for system
MCP (For XP and Server 2003)
Network + Certified
aim is "nycjv321" (minus quotes)
I was referring to using public computers that may not allow (in the Bios) booting from a USB key. I obviously don't require this on my own computer since I can do whatever I want. If the public computer allows a power cycling and recognizes a USB boot then I can use Linux. If you can't power cycle or it has a hard IP address (ie no DHCP) then you can use the Windows with the PortableApps on a USB key. Just trying to cover all possibilities!
Cheers
C
"If you can't power cycle or it has a hard IP address (ie no DHCP) "
That just means that the Public Computer boots windows over a network you just have to check the bios and put the Usb earlier in order then the local hardrive? if not(you cant, not enough rights etc.. etc... dont know the bios password) why not try a LiveCD most bios have booting from CD enabled
Slackware 12 for system
MCP (For XP and Server 2003)
Network + Certified
aim is "nycjv321" (minus quotes)
There are obviously many ways to skin the cat - I prefer to have a USB in my pocket as opposed to a 5.25" disk - it fits! I always have it with me to take work home from the office anyway.
C
Finally, after weeks of researching, I was able to put Ubuntu 6.06 (the whole thing) on my USB-HDD. Of cource I partitioned it: 1st 4GB Ubuntu, 2nd 750MB swap, 3rd remainder usable space a.k.a. PortableApps. If anybody wants to do this let me know.
---------------
"Truth is a river that is always splitting up into arms that reunite. Islanded between the arms, the inhabitants argue for a lifetime as to which is the main river." -- Cyril Connolly
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." -- Robert Frost
"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: baby ain't mine." -- Adam Holguin
RE: "For $10, I feel I have the ultimate system now. It should work with..."
-----------
Um, you mean to tell us that you spent $10 for PCLinux OS, and/or the portableapps; or, are you referring to the fact that you picked up the 1 GB thumb for $10???...
(and if you mean the thumb, I picked a "Verbatim" one up for $8.50 just last weekend at Orifice Max - it pays to shop around!)
"I don't hate cats...as long as they stay on the freeway, where they belong."
- Brad Stine
I'm sure next month they'll be $5 somewhere but I can't wait!
C
Clive -
Thanks for the post.
I'm interested, but keep reading that Linux runs very slowly off a USB key.
What's been your experience, and how do you make it happen?
Best,
Scott A.
...in my exper. w/ them (recently) is that they run reasonably well.
In fact, I've never seen *Puppy* go faster!!!
As to "how", I simply followed the directions on the websites of each distro for putting said distro on a thumbdrive ("Live USB" is what this mode is referred to as).
"I don't hate cats...as long as they stay on the freeway, where they belong."
- Brad Stine
I should have chosen my words more carefully.
I'm a reasonably experienced Linux user, and pretty much can follow the directions for various installs.
But every distro has its ideosyncracies and I'm always interested in what worked, what sorta worked and what required workarounds.
And..I don't know PCLinuxOS firsthand at all.
s.
...Puppy worked excellently.
As for MCNlive, my only complaint was that I couldn't get it to boot to the thumb drive w/o first having the live CD in the drive also (My mobo came out around '02, so it's right on the cusp of being "USB device bootable" - has the option in the BIOS, but maybe I didn't configure it correctly...)
Then again, I haven't really played around with it much since the initial experience, so YMMV.
"I don't hate cats...as long as they stay on the freeway, where they belong."
- Brad Stine