Linux on a USB Flash Drive

[trapperjohn]

It is already possible, to use Qt/Embedded on x86 platforms - see http://www.trolltech.com/products/embed ... html?cid=5

[gzY^]

on a usb-flash-disk of 512 mb i think you would get xfree and maybe kde but on a 256 you would only get shell but that's not a problem i love to work in shell.

[TaLi]

so how is this going? anyone get anywhere... Im curious because I have a 256 flash drive also and am lookin for something todo in between irc whoring

[lighty14]

This would be nice, as I hate using knoppix at school (so slow). I might look into flonix but I'd like to have more apps on it, but i <3 fluxbox .... once I get a 256MB flash drive, I might do some experimentation with this.

[guard0]

Now, mkfoofs and mount the appropriate partitions at /foo/bar (and then /foo/bar/boot, etcetera for whatever else you desire). But, you most probably don't want to compile on the USB device, for space reasons, and you definitely don't want to redownload all those tarballs. So,

Code: Select all

cd /foo/bar
mkdir mnt/tarpit
mkdir mnt/compile
mount -o bind [your host system's DISTDIR path] mnt/tarpit
mount -o bind [your host system's PORTAGE_TMPDIR path] mnt/compile

Then, chroot into the new tree with

Code: Select all

chroot /foo/bar /bin/bash

After that, just follow the install instructions from the appropriate point (that is, directly after the chroot command), but make sure you set

Code: Select all

DISTDIR=/mnt/tarpit
PORTAGE_TMPDIR=/mnt/compile

when using a USB key, figure out the right cflags and USE flags(optimized for size, rather than speed..) and just mount /usr/portage and /usr/tmp/portage on a harddrive that would be used just to build that system..
move /var/log to that hard drive as well, possibly, or mount them in a small (4 meg?) ramdrive so that it gets wiped everytime the system boots..
i wonder if there is an extremely stipped down version of lilo or grub, which just has the basics, no need for framebuffer images or anything like that really..

and you could get an alternative xserver, one that is lite.. get icewm or some small window manager.. then build binary versions of software to throw on there (emerge --buildpkg, emerge -k package)

[raylpc]

Damn Small Linux and Puppy Linux are two super light distros < 50 MB. And they all come with X and wm. One plus is they load all the stuff from the flash drive to a 50MB ramdisk, so it's very very fast.

[guard0]

yeah, what's the fun in that tho?
i wanna see gentoo on a keychain.. possibly even a livecd or something booting from a keychain for restores and system builds..

[timfreeman]

Have you seen these threads?

http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic.php?t=57754
http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic.php?p=591401

I'm attempting a gentoo install at the moment...

[lblblb]

Yes, a great job was done with flonix. Have tried it and it´s very impressive !

Do you still have the download for flonix, as they have removed the downloads and apparently are going commercial now. :-/ (btw, the old homepage is gone, flonix resides at
www.flonix.com now.

If anyone does have it, please let me know -- lbryson\\AT//coldhardtruth\\DOT\\org

[lblblb]

the guy that did Stixx (the ZipSlack on usb device) distro wrote a bootdisk how-to at http://www.stixx.org/testi/bootdisk_howto.txt Not sure that's useful to you.

Or did you already get your usb-flash bootable gentoo working?

Flonix used syslinux to handle its booting, according to this rather incomplete how-to.

In case it's useful to other people trying to get a bootable flash distro working, the slightly fixed google translation of the stixx bootdisk_howto is this:

Code: Select all

Scompatto zipslack in the device.
For the moment I make the boot with mine bootdisk (see download/bootdisk.img)

I create an initrd file of 300k (boot image file, I believe -- lb):
dd if=/dev/zero of=initrd bs=300k count=1

Then format it (the boot image -- lb) to ext2:  
mke2fs -F - m0 initrd

I mount in loop device (not sure if there should be a space before the 'o' --lb):  
mount -t ext2 - o loop initrd /mnt

cd to /mnt and I create the directory structure:  
cd /mnt; mkdir bin dev lib

I create in root (/) the file 'linuxrc' with the following content, making it eseguibile (writeable?? --lb):  

<---- CUT HERE ---->
#!/bin/lash
echo "Loading usbcore module"
insmod /lib/usbcore.o
echo "Loading usb-uhci module"
insmod /lib/usb-uhci.o
echo "Loading usb-ohci module"
insmod /lib/usb-ohci.o
echo "Loading usb-storage module"
insmod /lib/usb-storage.o
echo "Wait 5 to initializing a drive"
sleep 5
<---- CUT HERE ---->

I create the console device (from within / --lb):  
mknod dev/console c 5 1

I copy the modules in lib:
usbcore.o
usb-uhci.o
usb-ohci.o
usb-storage.o

I copy the binary of busybox (patched) and compiled with uClibc (see download/boot/busybox) in /bin and I create following link:
ln -s busybox echo
ln -s busybox insmod
ln -s busybox lash
ln -s busybox sleep

I take apart (translated from smonto?? --lb) the image and zip it:  
gzip -9 initrd

I create the boot diskette:
fdformat /dev/fd0
mkdosfs -n STIXX -c /dev/fd0
syslinux /dev/fd0

I copy to the diskette:
vmlinuz 
initrd.gz
syslinux.cfg
message.txt
F1.txt

These are mine:  

syslinux.cfg:

<---- CUT HERE ---->
default vmlinuz initrd=initrd.gz root=/dev/sda1 vga=normal rw SLACK_KERNEL=bare.i 
prompt 1
timeout 1200
display message.txt
F1 f1.txt
F2 message.txt
#
label ramdisk
  kernel vmlinuz
  append vmlinuz ramdisk_size=7000 root=/dev/fd0u1440 vga=normal rw SLACK_KERNEL=bare.i
#
label mount
  kernel vmlinuz
  append ramdisk_size=7000 ro SLACK_KERNEL=bare.i
#
label usb
  kernel vmlinuz
  append initrd=initrd.gz root=/dev/sda1 vga=normal rw SLACK_KERNEL=bare.i
<---- CUT HERE ---->

message.txt:

<---- CUT HERE ---->
.0C
                        88
                  ,d    ""
                  88
      ,adPPYba, MM88MMM 88 8b,     ,d8 8b,     ,d8
      I8[    ""   88    88  `Y8, ,8P'   `Y8, ,8P'   ,--()
 ()-- `"Y8ba,     88    88    )888(       )888( ---'-.-------|>
      aa    ]8I   88,   88  ,d8" "8b,   ,d8" "8b,     `--[]
      `"YbbdP"'   "Y888 88 8P'     `Y8 8P'     `Y8.07

  To boot into the default USB device (/dev/sda1) just hit ENTER 
                         Hit F1 for help
           Log in as root, and change your password.
        Take a look at swapfile.txt to extend the swap space.

                           Have fun :^)
<---- CUT HERE ---->

F1.txt:

<---- CUT HERE ---->
To boot the default device (/dev/sda1) just hit ENTER.  
This is another example, like an USB Zip drive:
  usb root=/dev/sda4 rw

If you want to boot from an IDE hard drive or IDE zip drive, try this:
  mount root=/dev/hda1 rw
  mount root=/dev/hdb4 rw
<---- CUT HERE ---->
After booting, I modify:  

/etc/rc.d/rc.local

<---- CUT HERE ---->
#!/bin/sh
#
# /etc/rc.d/rc.local:  Local system initialization script.
#
# Put any local setup commands in here:

if [ -r /tmp/nic ]; then
  cat /tmp/nic
elif [ -r /var/lib/pcmcia/stab ]; then
  cat /var/lib/pcmcia/stab
else
  echo "NO CARD FOUND!"
fi
echo "Log in as root and remember to change your password"
<---- CUT HERE ---->

/etc/rc.d/rc.netdevice

<---- CUT HERE ---->
#!/bin/sh
echo "Probing for Network Cards"
rm -f /tmp/nic

    for card in 3c59x acenic de4x5 dgrs eepro100 epic100 hp100 lance \
    ne2k-pci olympic pcnet32 rcpci rtl8139 8139too 8139cp sktr tulip via-rhine \
    yellowfin natsemi ; do
      /sbin/modprobe $card 2> /dev/null
      if [ $? = 0 ]; then
        echo "A networking card using the $card.o module has been detected." > /tmp/nic
        echo "$card" > /cardfound
        break;
      fi
     done
     if [ ! -r /cardfound ]; then
         for card in depca ibmtr 3c501 3c503 3c505 3c507 3c509 3c515 ac3200 \
         acenic at1700 cosa cs89x0 de4x5 de600 \
         de620 e2100 eepro eexpress es3210 eth16i ewrk3 fmv18x hostess_sv11 \
         hp-plus hp lne390 ne3210 ni5010 ni52 ni65 sb1000 sealevel smc-ultra \
         smc-ultra32 smc9194 wd ; do
         /sbin/modprobe $card 2> /dev/null
         if [ $? = 0 ]; then
           echo "A networking card using the $card.o module has been detected." > /tmp/nic
#          echo "$card" > /cardfound
           break
         fi
       done
     fi
#    if [ ! -r /cardfound ]; then
#      echo "NO CARD DETECTED" > /tmp/nic
#    fi

rm -f /cardfound
<---- CUT HERE ---->


/etc/lilo.conf

<---- CUT HERE ---->
# LILO configuration file
# generated by 'liloconfig'
#
# Start LILO global section
lba32 # Allow booting past 1024th cylinder with a recent BIOS
boot = /dev/sda
disk = /dev/sda
   bios = 0x80
message = /boot/boot_message.txt
prompt
timeout = 1200
# Override dangerous defaults that rewrite the partition table:
#change-rules
#reset
# Normal VGA console
vga = normal
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x64k
# vga=791
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x32k
# vga=790
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
# vga=773
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x64k
# vga=788
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x32k
# vga=787
# VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x256
# vga=771
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x64k
# vga=785
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x32k
# vga=784
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x256
# vga=769
# End LILO global section
# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /boot/vmlinuz
initrd = /boot/initrd.gz
root = /dev/sda1
label = stixx
read-write
# Linux bootable partition config ends
<---- CUT HERE ---->


/boot/boot_message.txt

<---- CUT HERE ---->
Welcome to the LILO Boot Loader!

Please enter the name of the partition you would like to boot
at the prompt below.  The choices are:

stixx - stick linux!
<---- CUT HERE ---->

I copy vmlinuz to /boot and I can give 'lilo -v'.
Finally to the riavvio, if the bios supports the booting from Usb-hdd Usb-zip, it posts and and there you have it!

(best translation I could do in a short while, with google. see original doc at http://www.stixx.org/testi/bootdisk_howto.txt . I'd love to see a detailed natively English how-to for booting to linux from a usb-flash device. Any pointers?)

[mundri]

Hello every body .....i was searching about my solution on net .........so i get here
well ....... isnt it believeable ....ihave done it ........but

actually ....... i got my usb partitioned ..put my os on it ........but it wont let me boot
but when i do the same without partitions ... it works ..........
now i have a solution .............. if any one thinks that it would help us in any case
........
How do i be able to put any bootloader...as lilo on MBR of flash and direct it to get the
kernel from first patitions ...........

Only help me about this bootloader and i will be able to do this ........

[boglin]

Just a bump to let you know that I've put a lite-gentoo on my USB 512MB stick, and I recorded what I did. There's a quasi-HOWTO at http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_Small_Foot ... too_on_USB

I didn't do anything cool like /proc on a RAM-disk or creating the root filesystem in a cloop - but it works. If anyone knows how to do these things, please update the wiki page, or email me if you are allergic to wiki-markup

[greap]

Have you looked at the "Damn Small Linux" distribution?

http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/ - 50Mb Distro

[panphage]

This is probably the coolest idea I have ever heard. I'm working on a "remaster" of Jollix (english page, main page auf Deutsch) to fit onto my 512MB Cruzer Titanium. Kind of a pain in the rear, maybe I did something wrong but I've had to re-emerge all the programs as the livecd doesn't seem to have a portage tree or any of the records portage makes of installed programs. Ugh.

Jollix is a gentoo-based remaster of knoppix using knoppix hardware detection and cloop (but I think it uses gcloop.) It's multi-media oriented so I'll be cutting a lot out (KDE). I'm thinking more of a portable rescue toolkit with dev tools, and perhaps a smidgen of the intrusion detection/prevention of Whoppix.

[kaziya]

I have an ASUS A7V133-C motherboard and it has a "boot from removable device" menu in which you can choose either:

• LS-120
• USB FDD
• USB ZIP

Supposedly USB FDD and USB ZIP both work, but have to be configured on the Flash device differently.

well im still a bit of a newbie with linux and gentoo but with boot options
it depends on your system one of my systems the boot option for booting from a usbkey doesnt showup unless u boot with the key pluged in
and from what ive seen usb fdd(or floppy disk drive) doesnt work on booting to a usb key, usb zip is for old 100 meg zipdrives(probly why it works, a lot more storage then the 1.44meg floppy)

i my self cause of the space issue and im planing the idea of pocket desktop i got a usb 2.0 enclosure and 20gig laptop hdd (75 canadian on ebay) compaired to nearly a 100 or more for 256-512mb usb keys,
and way more space and planning on installing gentoo on that as ben_h
did.
i also found out from a friend of mine who know a lot more about linux then ill ever know he was saying that 2.4 kernals lack support for usb so building and useing a 2.6 kernal would be ideal for a project like this for usb support.

tho i only recived my laptop drive and enclosure the other day i will be working on this project soon and ill post my findings.

kaziya

[panphage]

i also found out from a friend of mine who know a lot more about linux then ill ever know he was saying that 2.4 kernals lack support for usb so building and useing a 2.6 kernal would be ideal for a project like this for usb support.

Well it sounds like you won't have that much work to do to surpass your friend then since linux has had usb support since kernel 2.2. USB 2.0 support is new, but guess what? USB 2.0 itself is pretty new.

[kaziya]

i didnt meen it didnt have support just not as much, the 2.6 kernel gives greater support and more functionality to usb and more usb devices work with a 2.6 kernel

[panphage]

Ah, I thought your friend was taking you for a ride. I guess I don't do anything hardcore over usb, just a zip drive and printer, keyboard, mouse, usbstick, but I didn't have any trouble using those with 2.4.

[nerdsunitedfilms]

hey, this sounds real good. i have a creative micro, that has a 5 gig hardrive, and it has a removeable drive mode, so if i could get dsl or something on it, it would boot real well. im a windows guy though, just starting to learn about linux. would puting the iso on the drive work? cause if i could get dsl or anything small linux running like knoppix would , that would be so cool. thanks for any advice.

[nerdsunitedfilms]

please anyone

[nerdsunitedfilms]

[Swoosh]

No, you can't just copy the iso over.

Burn the latest dsl iso onto a CD.
After booting from it you can install it onto the usb drive.

Also make sure that your BIOS supports booting from USB devices.

[nerdsunitedfilms]

thanks man, ill try that and report back.

[oddjobz]

Hi,

Have you tried Flash Linux ?
(Gentoo distro designed to run on 256Mb memory keys?)

http://encryptec.net/

GPL/Free etc etc ..
Comes as a Live CD with a CD -> Key transfer script ...

[silverpig]

Hi,

Have you tried Flash Linux ?
(Gentoo distro designed to run on 256Mb memory keys?)

http://encryptec.net/

GPL/Free etc etc ..
Comes as a Live CD with a CD -> Key transfer script ...

Wow. This looks amazing. I'm going to try it