How to Run Linux from an USB Flash Drive

From: http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-to-Run-Linux-from-an-USB-Flash-Drive-93316.shtml

 

Ever wanted to have a portable operating system?One that can reside inside a small USB flash drive? In the past, it waspossible to run a Linux distribution from an USB stick just like youwould have run it from a Compact Disc, but this task was quite hard toachieve. Why? Simply because you had to type a lot of geeky commands ina terminal and if, somehow, you forgot one or typed something wrong,the whole process had to be started all over again. Not to mention thatit could take about 1-2 hours to make a bootable USB stick. Therefore,this guide is here to teach you some new Linux magic tricks on how toachieve a portable Linux operating system, in no more than 5 minutes!How? With the help of a great and marvelous tool called UNetbootin.

Forthis tutorial, we've used Ubuntu 8.04.1 LTS and BackTrack 3 Linuxdistributions, both tested with an 1GB Kingstone DataTraveler 2.0 USBflash drive.

Things you need:

- One of the supported Linux distributions of your choice:

· Arch Linux
· BackTrack
· CentOS
· CloneZilla
· Damn Small Linux
· Debian
· Dreamlinux
· Elive
· FaunOS
· Fedora
· FreeBSD
· FreeDOS
· Frugalware
· Gentoo
· Gujin
· Kubuntu
· Linux Mint
· Mandriva
· NetBSD
· NTPasswd
· openSUSE
· Ophcrack
· Parted Magic
· PCLinuxOS
· Puppy Linux
· Slax
· SliTaZ
· Smart Boot Manager
· Super Grub Disk
· Ubuntu
· Xubunu
· Zenwalk

- Minimum 1GB USB flash drive

Step 1 - Download UNetbootin

Ok, so all you have to do is grab the UNetbootin executable from here, and save it on your desktop.

Right click on it and go to Properties...

 

 

 

 

Now, click the third tab (Permissions) and check the box in front of the "Allow executing file as program" option...

Close the Preferences window!

Step 2 - Execute UNetbootin and create your portable Linux distribution

Firstof all, insert the USB stick in an empty port (this is very important,because you will not be able to use the USB stick if you insert itafter you've opened the UNetbootin application).

Double clickthe UNetbootin executable, type your password, and it will open. Allyou have to do now is to select your favorite Linux distribution andthe preferred version/edition, and begin the process. Alternatively,you can download the ISO image of the Linux distribution that you wantto make portable, and use it in UNetbootin for an ultra fast process!

Inthe following example we've used a BackTrack 3 ISO image and installedit on an USB stick with UNetbootin. The whole process took about 5minutes to complete:

 

 

That's it! Reboot your machine and boot from the USB stick. Have fun with your brand new portable Linux operating system!