Yes i know theres heaps of threads about portable Linux requesting it etc, but this isn't about that.
I'm wondering how many people have a portable linux distro on their flash drive, if so:
What distro is it?
Why did you choose it?
What do you use it for?
I recently discovered Nimblex which is a neat little distro based on slackware.
I chose it because it includes KDE, and comes in a 200mb version, a custom build your own (on the website(AJAX!)) 200mb version and a 100mb version(i chose this one for size). Its very nice since it runs KDE, and I've managed to get it to run off a single FAT partition with grub(made a tutorial), so it lives in harmony with PortableApps.
I've only just put it on there recently, so I've only used it a few times. I plan on using it as a windows alternative and for rescuing buggered up windows installs. (needs ntfs support)
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I've been in PendriveLinux and didn't found any OS that nice. Their own OS was using Gnome, that I don't like (now you're chocked, aren't you
), and was very clumsy. That OS seems good, I might give him a shot. I would even use it on my pen if it wasn't for having to use it just on nowhere, and my Bios forgets what is a mouse, and a keyboard connected by PS/2 (that's why my mouse is on usb) when booting from a usb device.
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I forgot to note that nimblex runs by default as root. This may be an issue to some people, it is a bit of a security problem as well, but its not designed to be used where security is a necessity, and users and passwords can be changed and added.
I'm trying to do a revised version of my FAT install tutorial, but the forums over there are down. This is probably what most people over here want, rather than 2 partitions.
is it a boot linux or an emulated linux? (Do you have to start the computer off of usb to use it or can you start the linux in windows?)
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I suppose that it has to boot from it. But you can "portabilize" (see my idea) an Emulator, and create a virtual hard drive for booting it.
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2 partitions are better, in fact. One in ext3, for storing nimblex (that way, there are minor problems running it from pendrive), and another, in FAT32, for storing the home partition, this one, is the only visible trough Windows (because Window$ doesn't recognise ext2/3 partitions without 3rd party apps
), making life easy for anyone who tries to see you pen, instead of seeing some "strange directories".
Oh! And for NTFS support, just install NTFS3G.
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2 partitions = not better
When you are using locked down computers with more security restrictions than north korea (not really(sarcasm)), they won't detect two flash drives plugged in at once, or two partitions as FAT or FAT32, let alone one being ext3. The simpler you keep it in this case, the better.
Also, i want to save space. Its a 1gb drive with lots of stuff on it. Extra partitions take up space in formatting also, and allocating space per partition isn't really what i want to do.
I added the FAT install as a wiki article on there, it details reasons on why you would want to do this. Remember it is designed to be a frugal install, rather than a full install. Theres plenty of Pros/Cons for a frugal install, google them.
It also makes it easier for newbies too, instead of having to create multiple partitions, you just have one which will work on almost any OS, and will boot.
But if you're using Windows, then all you must make sure is that the home partition is on a FAT or FAT32 partition on the start of the pen. The following partitions are not recognised, even if on FAT/FAT32. And, as said in many forums, you can make a frugal install and have a custom /home partition, or others.
Windows doesn't need to read the second partition. and if you're making a tutorial for having Linux, that will only be able to boot from the pc directly (for a virtual pc like Quemu I would understand), then the people that will follow that tutorial will know something about Linux for sure (I don't see someone who wants Portable Firefox for having his settings on many pcs, that don't even know that there is a non portable one, to follow ANY tutorial).
Sorry if it's sounding like a discussion, I don't want to sound like disputing. I am just talking.
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Well i don't think extra partitions would go down well with the computers i use, as mentioned not even 2 drives work at any one time. I think grub has to be on the first partition also, however i'm not sure.
This works out fine for me i've found, however there is a wiki, feel free to add your own methods in fact, as they could be a lot more convenient.
I wrote the tutorial because this type of install with DSL is popular (w/DSL embedded + syslinux), so i thought it could be relevant.
Extra partitions are commonly used to save setting that you don't want to loose (my kubuntu wanted to install everything in one partition and I told him to make a /home partiyion). Grub can work on second partitions (Windows doesn't); Grub can even run on it's own partition (but that is already over reacting).
The one partition method is better for beginners and the classic way is better for advanced users that want to have a little bit more security.
And a pendrive can have more than two partitions (I think that you're thinking that I am talking of two pendrives), and windows, by default (kernel limitation) only recognises the first partition, so, if booting from the pen, then it will work better; and inserting the pen to a local windows installation would only show the first partition of the pen (kernel limitation) ignoring the others, and thinking that the partition is all the pendrive, even with your computer being "more restricted that North Korea", it wont happen nothing, and will work normally.
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Yes i know you can partition a usb drive. I was giving the 2 usb drives as an example of a problem that these computers for some reason have, as i dont know of any others like that.
However that kernel limitation seems to be the issue here im guessing, im not completely sure about it, but i have tried the other method of using multiple parititions, however windows didnt pick up the FAT one that i had also.
If you'd write up a tutorial on how to properly partition a USB drive while still allowing windows to read it, that would be great, as currently i have to use a nimblex.data file.
If you want to use 2 partitions then all you need is a good partition program, that is not inside Windows, try a Linux distribution with Gparted (or PartedMagic LiveCd); then, the FAT/FAT32 partition must be on the most left partition of the pendrive, and the other partitions beside that will not be seen by Windows (because of the well known kernel limitation). The other partitions can be made the way you want.
Be sure that it is a flash drive and not a exterior hard disk.
Windows will think that the first partition (represented on the left previously) is the pendrive itself.
It worked for me; but if it doesn't work, then make the other partitions ext2/3 or ReiserFs, because Windows doesn't recognise these (I think this is not kernel fault but MS "tastes").
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* Knoppix, Slax
* I like Knoppix, and Slax, it is very useful, and its derivatives too.
* I don't use it much, but I used it to fix my computer systems if I am messing around with something.