You can build a customizable bootable key in multiple ways. I tend to have it boot from an ext3/4 file system on the Key itself so that I can still install new packages while using it and update any files. Alternative methods are to create a "SquashFS" file system that is read-only then create a "UnionFS" to combine that read-only media with a persistent partition on the USB key. This can enable the updating of various configuration files on the go and provides for a space to save documents and such. For the the first one, all you need is a PC with either Debian or Ubuntu installed, then install the following packages via APT:
debootstrap syslinux dosfstools mtools Then format the USB key with a small 50MB fat32 partition, and a larger ext3/4 file system. Mount the ext3/4 file system and run the following command to bootstrap the OS onto the key: debootstrap wheezy /target http://ftp.ca.debian.org/debian/ Once Debian is fully installed on the key's partition, you should perform the following to ensure you can login as "root" and install additional packages: mount -t proc proc /target/proc cp /etc/apt/sources.list /target/etc/apt/sources.list cp /etc/hosts /target/etc/hosts cp /etc/resolv.conf /target/etc/resolv.conf cp /etc/network/interfaces /target/etc/network/interfaces cp /etc/fstab /target/etc/fstab Then edit the files for the laptops specific requirements, then perform the following: LANG=C chroot /target apt-get update apt-get install locales dpkg-reconfigure locales apt-get install linux-image-2.6.32-5-amd64 passwd root Then there you go! Next you need to make the USB key bootable via MBR, as the laptop is most likely no EFI: LABEL linux KERNEL /boot/vmlinuz INITRD /boot/initrd.img APPEND root=UUID=ecf48df7-29ec-4b03-a40b-faac7bcd6f6c ro quiet Place this into a file on the key at: /boot/syslinux/syslinux.cfg Then run: syslinux -i /dev/sdb1 dd conv=notrunc bs=440 count=1 if=/usr/lib/syslinux/mbr.bin of=/dev/sdb Replace "sdb" with the USB key's block device(I cannot stress that enough). All Done! The USB key is now a full Debian system that can be updated and acts as if it were installed on a local hard disc. For a more indepth guide, you can see the first part of my blog post here: http://www.debiandiary.com/blog/Mar.20,2013/full-hard-disc-encryption.html DebianLive Method(uses SquashFS/UnionFS): Install the "live-build" package and read the following documentation: http://live.debian.net/manual/stable/html/live-manual/toc.en.html The resulting image should be a Hybrid image, which you can either burn to a DVD/Bluray, or "dd" onto any USB key. On Tue, 11 Feb 2014 12:57:46 -0600 Roswyne <[email protected]> wrote: > That sounds pretty cool, Kevin - but I guess it would depend on what the > machine is being used for. You couldn't take it to a friend's to do > homework, if it boots off the home network... > > Then again, someone suggested I try a bootable usb stick for my laptop. > Unfortunately, I know nothing about that sort of thing, and have forgotten > who suggested it. (sigh) > On Feb 11, 2014 12:39 PM, "Kevin" <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Another option is to go driveless and boot the laptop over the network for > > them young ones. It would also be nice technological experiment to show > > them as well. It's definitely more satisfying than plopping in a new drive > > and installing a run-of-the-mill x86 OS. If you need any good pointers, > > guides, or anything in this regard, let me know. I've set-up a couple PXE > > Boot environments, including one which can boot into a remote X Windows > > desktop via XDMCP. :D > > > > Here's a few YouTube videos I made to demonstrate this using a Virtual > > Machine(I also did PXE from an ARM SheevaPlug back when I has full HDD > > encryption enabled). > > > > XDMCP Thin X Server: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu-bXla5ReI > > X Thin Client over NFS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs6lgvQNkIk > > > > There's no audio in this videos btw. > > > > On Tue, 11 Feb 2014 00:06:31 -0600 > > Roswyne <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > I was talking to a guy from kijiji who said he had a few small ones > > > suitable for setting up a Linux system. > > > > > > If that's of interest, let me know and I'll look up his info. It didn't > > > suit my needs, so I didn't follow up. > > > > > > A friend also pointed out some new 80gig drives he saw online for $70, > > if a > > > larger driver would be better (or you want better reliability). > > > On Feb 10, 2014 11:14 PM, "R Rodd" <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > Hi all, > > > > > > > > I have a laptop that hasn't been used in 5-6 years since it failed to > > boot > > > > one day. Tonight I took the drive out, hooked it up to an IDE->USB > > > > adapter, and have determined that the drive is faulty as suspected > > (yes, my > > > > to-do list of chores around the house is that long .. and longer). > > > > > > > > As the kids are getting to the age where having a homework and > > edutainment > > > > system would be useful I would like to find a drive for it. I'm > > certainly > > > > not picky about speed or storage size for this system. If someone has > > such > > > > a drive (2.5" IDE) resting in a drawer in their home-office or > > workshop the > > > > kids and I would be grateful for an organ transplant. > > > > > > > > With thanks, > > > > - Richard > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List > > > > Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss > > > > Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Kevin <[email protected]> > > _______________________________________________ > > SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List > > Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss > > Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ > > -- Kevin <[email protected]> _______________________________________________ SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/
