Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[chris]

Does that include the "named" variety at 45 p extra?
Cheers Chris t
On Tue, 2009-05-05 at 16:21 +1200, John Carter wrote:
> On Wed, 29 Apr 2009, David Lowe wrote:
> 
> > Xubuntu on a stick is highly recommended.
> 
> Sounds like something out of a PTerry Pratchett novel
> 
> Wot's yer name then? "Cut'me'own'throat'" Dibbler?
> 
> Wanna Xubuntu onna stick? Or Kubuntu inna bun?
> 
> Just don't ask whats in'em!
> 
> http://everything2.com/title/Dibbler
> 
> John Carter Phone : (64)(3) 358 6639
> Tait ElectronicsFax   : (64)(3) 359 4632
> PO Box 1645 ChristchurchEmail : john.car...@tait.co.nz
> New Zealand
> 

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Steve Holdoway]

On Tue, 2009-05-05 at 21:18 +1200, Volker Kuhlmann wrote:

> Btw here's my take on the boot from USB caper:
> 
> There's a bunch of HP/Compaq boxes, none too old really but also none
> hot off the press, at some place. All of the BIOSes in the boxes support
> booting from USB. Does it work? ROTFL... Maybe with the very latest
> models, but by far most of the time, it was a nice thought and a
> complete waste of time. So in my own experience the number of boxes out
> there which can actually boot from a USB storage device is too small to
> bother.
> 
> Volker
> 

Unlucky  I think. My 8 year old windows locked in bios tosh will boot
ubuntu off usb, with a bit of a tweak - saw it as another disk. Nobody
was more surprised than me!

Steve
-- 
http://www.greengecko.co.nz

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Volker Kuhlmann]

On Tue 05 May 2009 16:44:10 NZST +1200, Derek Smithies wrote:

> On those three quite reasonable requirements, what is best option?

kiwi, and remaster your very own package selection. I believe it's out
of the box on openSUSE.

Btw here's my take on the boot from USB caper:

There's a bunch of HP/Compaq boxes, none too old really but also none
hot off the press, at some place. All of the BIOSes in the boxes support
booting from USB. Does it work? ROTFL... Maybe with the very latest
models, but by far most of the time, it was a nice thought and a
complete waste of time. So in my own experience the number of boxes out
there which can actually boot from a USB storage device is too small to
bother.

Volker

-- 
Volker Kuhlmann is list0570 with the domain in header
http://volker.dnsalias.net/ Please do not CC list postings to me.

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Philip Charles]

On Tuesday 05 May 2009, Derek Smithies wrote:
> Hi,
>   I have been down the usb linux stick thing for a while, and some
> thoughts might help the search for a recommendation.
>
> If you can avoid a distro that uses a compressed file system, loading
> files (or running binaries) of the disk will be much faster..
> yes, it means a bigger flash disk. No problem.. 4G disks are getting
> cheap.
>
> Getting a machine with a nvidia/ATI graphics card is quite common - it
> would be nice if the ATI & nvidia drivers were already on the disk.
> Yes, I know, there will be those who want only open source software on
> their linux distro disk. However, it fails the simple test from the
> children. They expect to plug it in, and it works immediately.
> Everything. (which includes the codecs). True, the standard answer is
> to download the drivers and install them. But each time I run the usb
> image, I don't want to have to install the graphics driver.. That is
> too tedious.
>
> So lets avoid the discussion on embedding nvidia&ati into the image.
> From a convenience point of view, all the video drivers, and all the
> codecs, should be in the image.
>
> Remastering should be easy. There are always going to be packages that
> have to be added/removed.
>
> On those three quite reasonable requirements, what is best option?
>
> Derek.
>

... and don't forget to use UUIDs

Phil.

-- 
  Philip Charles; 39a Paterson Street, Abbotsford, Dunedin, New Zealand
   +64 3 488 2818Fax +64 3 488 2875Mobile 027 663 4453
   phil...@copyleft.co.nz - personal.i...@copyleft.co.nz - business

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Derek Smithies]

Hi,
 I have been down the usb linux stick thing for a while, and some thoughts
might help the search for a recommendation.

If you can avoid a distro that uses a compressed file system, loading 
files (or running binaries) of the disk will be much faster..
yes, it means a bigger flash disk. No problem.. 4G disks are getting 
cheap.


Getting a machine with a nvidia/ATI graphics card is quite common - it 
would be nice if the ATI & nvidia drivers were already on the disk. Yes, I 
know, there will be those who want only open source software on their 
linux distro disk. However, it fails the simple test from the children. 
They expect to plug it in, and it works immediately. Everything. (which 
includes the codecs). True, the standard answer is to download the drivers 
and install them. But each time I run the usb image, I don't want to have 
to install the graphics driver.. That is too tedious.


So lets avoid the discussion on embedding nvidia&ati into the image. From 
a convenience point of view, all the video drivers, and all the codecs, 
should be in the image.


Remastering should be easy. There are always going to be packages that 
have to be added/removed.


On those three quite reasonable requirements, what is best option?

Derek.

On Tue, 5 May 2009, John Carter wrote:


On Wed, 29 Apr 2009, David Lowe wrote:


Xubuntu on a stick is highly recommended.


Sounds like something out of a PTerry Pratchett novel

Wot's yer name then? "Cut'me'own'throat'" Dibbler?

Wanna Xubuntu onna stick? Or Kubuntu inna bun?

Just don't ask whats in'em!

http://everything2.com/title/Dibbler

John Carter Phone : (64)(3) 358 6639
Tait ElectronicsFax   : (64)(3) 359 4632
PO Box 1645 ChristchurchEmail : john.car...@tait.co.nz
New Zealand





--
Derek Smithies Ph.D.
IndraNet Technologies Ltd.
ph +64 3 365 6485
Web: http://www.indranet-technologies.com/

"The only thing IE should be used for is to download Fire Fox"

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[John Carter]

On Wed, 29 Apr 2009, David Lowe wrote:


Xubuntu on a stick is highly recommended.


Sounds like something out of a PTerry Pratchett novel

Wot's yer name then? "Cut'me'own'throat'" Dibbler?

Wanna Xubuntu onna stick? Or Kubuntu inna bun?

Just don't ask whats in'em!

http://everything2.com/title/Dibbler

John Carter Phone : (64)(3) 358 6639
Tait ElectronicsFax   : (64)(3) 359 4632
PO Box 1645 ChristchurchEmail : john.car...@tait.co.nz
New Zealand

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Kent Fredric]

On Wed, Apr 29, 2009 at 8:16 PM, David Lowe  wrote:

> For some reason all the web filtering that our IT department runs (to
> prevent anyone having fun at work) is ignored by Linux (but don't tell them
> please) ...  anyway, it all felt so cool. Xubuntu on a stick is highly
> recommended.
>
> - David
>
>
Sounds like they're relying on manual proxy configuration to do the dirty
work.

*laughs*


-- 
Kent

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[David Lowe]

Just to add to the *pot pourri* of suggestions... Xubuntu. Light & quick. I
took a copy off a magazine cover a month or two ago to install a netbook. It
has been just lying there in my bag since then, but yesterday I had occasion
to use it. I ended up needing to do a job while travelling without a laptop.
I just booted up a colleague's PC with my stick and it all ran beautifully.
Net access, printer detection etc all just happend. For some reason all the
web filtering that our IT department runs (to prevent anyone having fun at
work) is ignored by Linux (but don't tell them please) ...  anyway, it all
felt so cool. Xubuntu on a stick is highly recommended.

- David

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[chris]

The Adata 16 gig stick has for me, but slow on writes
regards Chris Thomas
On Wed, 2009-04-29 at 14:38 +1200, Christopher Sawtell wrote:
> Do all USB memory sticks available now-a-days work properly as bootable 
> devices?
> 
> What about SD cards?
> 

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Craig Falconer]

Christopher Sawtell wrote, On 29/04/09 14:38:

Do all USB memory sticks available now-a-days work properly as bootable devices?
What about SD cards?


Almost the same thing - cardreaders tend to be USB attached.

Basically all new machines can boot off USB.  I've got a P3 1GHz compaq 
that can boot USB too, and that's ~8 years old.






--
Craig Falconer

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[John Carter]

On Wed, 29 Apr 2009, Christopher Sawtell wrote:


Do all USB memory sticks available now-a-days work properly as
 bootable devices?


I think the answer is "Yes, wrong question."

All USB sticks work as bootable devices on those newish systems whose bios's
understand the notion of booting from USB.


What about SD cards?


If you bios understands the notion of booting from the sd card reader.


John Carter Phone : (64)(3) 358 6639
Tait ElectronicsFax   : (64)(3) 359 4632
PO Box 1645 ChristchurchEmail : john.car...@tait.co.nz
New Zealand

RE: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Payne, Owen]

I think the question should be "Do all bios have the ability to boot usb
sticks properly?" 

-Original Message-
From: Christopher Sawtell [mailto:csawt...@gmail.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, 29 April 2009 2:38 pm
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

Do all USB memory sticks available now-a-days work properly as bootable
devices?

What about SD cards?

--
Sincerely etc.
Christopher Sawtell

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Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Christopher Sawtell]

Do all USB memory sticks available now-a-days work properly as bootable devices?

What about SD cards?

-- 
Sincerely etc.
Christopher Sawtell

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Aidan Gauland]

He said "likely to run on any random computer", not "help me crack any random 
computer". :)


Payne, Owen wrote:
And then there's backtrack of course. 


-Original Message-
From: Ross Drummond [mailto:r...@ashburton.co.nz] 
What I am after is likely to run on any $RANDOM computer, offers a

browser and capability of connecting to the internet, has a small
writable space, and as a bonus is able to use a $RANDOM printer it
encounters.

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Aidan Gauland]

Ross Drummond wrote:
Does the group have any suggestions for what to run on a USB stick as a live 
Linux system?


Debian Live sounds promising...

...I haven't tried it yet, but I want to.

 -Aidan

RE: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Payne, Owen]

On a daily use basis I find it a very usable system. Open office, a
browser, a mail client and some troubleshooting tools. It's quick to
boot and runs well on even minimal systems, and it's not for the other
features it includes. I tried a few others before settling on this one.
The ubuntu usb utility was easy to use and created a nice system but I
found it a little slow. Puppy on a stick is one of the better ones I
found along with Knoppix. 

-Original Message-
From: Aidan Gauland [mailto:wgsil...@no8wireless.co.nz] 
Sent: Wednesday, 29 April 2009 11:15 am
To: linux-users@it.canterbury.ac.nz
Subject: Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

He said "likely to run on any random computer", not "help me crack any
random computer". :)

Payne, Owen wrote:
> And then there's backtrack of course. 
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: Ross Drummond [mailto:r...@ashburton.co.nz] What I am after is 
> likely to run on any $RANDOM computer, offers a browser and capability

> of connecting to the internet, has a small writable space, and as a 
> bonus is able to use a $RANDOM printer it encounters.

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Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Edwin Flores]

I have been using Puppy Linux for several years - it just works.
 
Very easy to install on USB stick, SD card, or live CD.
I use it on my home desktop, laptops, eeePC, and work desktop when I get pd 
off with our LAN security.
...and its fast!
 
Try this link:
http://www.puppylinux.org/
 
cheers,
Edwin
 
PS. of course if you lose the USB key - everything's gone :-(
 
 

This email uses 100% recycled letters.

RE: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Payne, Owen]

And then there's backtrack of course. 

-Original Message-
From: Ross Drummond [mailto:r...@ashburton.co.nz] 
Sent: Tuesday, 28 April 2009 5:02 pm
To: CLUG mailing list
Subject: Linux on USB stick recommendations

Does the group have any suggestions for what to run on a USB stick as a
live Linux system?

What I am after is likely to run on any $RANDOM computer, offers a
browser and capability of connecting to the internet, has a small
writable space, and as a bonus is able to use a $RANDOM printer it
encounters.

I have a USB stick with System Rescue on it which works well, but it is
not designed for desk-top type tasks.

Cheers Ross Drummond

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Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Craig Falconer]

Craig Falconer wrote, On 29/04/09 09:01:
Knoppix is getting old and tired - it hasn't been updated for several 
years (5.1.1 is the last I have)


After looking - v6.0.1 is the latest knoppix.  Sorry about that.


Nick Elder showed me Puppy, and its got a lot of good stuff, and fits on 
a 128 MB pen drive.  Its desktop oriented not a super rescue disk.



--
Craig Falconer

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Craig Falconer]

Steve Holdoway wrote, On 28/04/09 17:39:

On Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:02:05 +1200
Ross Drummond  wrote:
Does the group have any suggestions for what to run on a USB stick as a live 
Linux system?




Knoppix gets my vote... stuff the DVD version on one.


Knoppix is getting old and tired - it hasn't been updated for several 
years (5.1.1 is the last I have)



Nick Elder showed me Puppy, and its got a lot of good stuff, and fits on 
a 128 MB pen drive.  Its desktop oriented not a super rescue disk.




--
Craig Falconer

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Aidan Gauland]

Philip Charles wrote:

What I am after is likely to run on any $RANDOM computer, offers a
browser and capability of connecting to the internet, has a small
writable space, and as a bonus is able to use a $RANDOM printer it
encounters.


Install Debian.  No compressed file system.  This means that it can be 
updated and modified as required.  Debian is what I have used, should 
work with other distros as well.


Will Debian installed on a USB stick work on any random computer?  (Provided 
that it's the right architecture, of course.)  I've wanted what Ross is after 
for a long time.


 -Aidan

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Jim Cheetham]

On Tue, Apr 28, 2009 at 5:02 PM, Ross Drummond  wrote:
> Does the group have any suggestions for what to run on a USB stick as a live
> Linux system?

Ubuntu -- 9.04 (and possibly earlier) has a menu option
"System|Administration|USB Startup Disk Creator" that puts a bootable
distro onto a USB key, including an optional section for permanent
document storage.

-jim

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Wesley Parish]

On Tuesday 28 April 2009 17:39, Steve Holdoway wrote:
> On Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:02:05 +1200
>
> Ross Drummond  wrote:
> > Does the group have any suggestions for what to run on a USB stick as a
> > live Linux system?
> >
> > What I am after is likely to run on any $RANDOM computer, offers a
> > browser and capability of connecting to the internet, has a small
> > writable space, and as a bonus is able to use a $RANDOM printer it
> > encounters.
> >
> > I have a USB stick with System Rescue on it which works well, but it is
> > not designed for desk-top type tasks.
> >
> > Cheers Ross Drummond
>
> Knoppix gets my vote... stuff the DVD version on one.

FWIW, I've just put the Knoppix 6.1 DVD on the St Albans Linux PC; so if you 
want to try it, just drop on in and ask to copy it.  The Linux PC is the one 
called Caledonian, and it runs PC LinuxOS 2007.

Wesley Parish
>
> Steve

-- 
Clinersterton beademung, with all of love - RIP James Blish
-
-
Mau e ki, he aha te mea nui?
You ask, what is the most important thing?
Maku e ki, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
I reply, it is people, it is people, it is people.

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Philip Charles]

On Tuesday 28 April 2009, Aidan Gauland wrote:
> Philip Charles wrote:
> >> What I am after is likely to run on any $RANDOM computer, offers a
> >> browser and capability of connecting to the internet, has a small
> >> writable space, and as a bonus is able to use a $RANDOM printer it
> >> encounters.
> >
> > Install Debian.  No compressed file system.  This means that it can
> > be updated and modified as required.  Debian is what I have used,
> > should work with other distros as well.
>
> Will Debian installed on a USB stick work on any random computer? 
> (Provided that it's the right architecture, of course.)  I've wanted
> what Ross is after for a long time.
>
>   -Aidan

Short answer, yes.  I supply such usb sticks.  UUIDs need to be used to 
identify the partitions on the stick.  A boot CD is needed for older 
systems that will not boot from the stick.  The Copyleft version has been 
tested on a wide range of hardware, eeepc up.  The way to go.

Phil.

-- 
  Philip Charles; 39a Paterson Street, Abbotsford, Dunedin, New Zealand
   +64 3 488 2818Fax +64 3 488 2875Mobile 027 663 4453
   phil...@copyleft.co.nz - personal.i...@copyleft.co.nz - business

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Hadley Rich]

On Tue, 2009-04-28 at 20:18 +1200, Jim Cheetham wrote:
> Ubuntu -- 9.04 (and possibly earlier) has a menu option
> "System|Administration|USB Startup Disk Creator" that puts a bootable
> distro onto a USB key, including an optional section for permanent
> document storage.

It's in 8.10 and possibly 8.04

hads
-- 
http://nicegear.co.nz
New Zealands Open Source Hardware Supplier

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Philip Charles]

On Tuesday 28 April 2009, Ross Drummond wrote:
> Does the group have any suggestions for what to run on a USB stick as a
> live Linux system?
>
> What I am after is likely to run on any $RANDOM computer, offers a
> browser and capability of connecting to the internet, has a small
> writable space, and as a bonus is able to use a $RANDOM printer it
> encounters.
>
> I have a USB stick with System Rescue on it which works well, but it is
> not designed for desk-top type tasks.
>
> Cheers Ross Drummond

Install Debian.  No compressed file system.  This means that it can be 
updated and modified as required.  Debian is what I have used, should 
work with other distros as well.

Phil.

-- 
  Philip Charles; 39a Paterson Street, Abbotsford, Dunedin, New Zealand
   +64 3 488 2818Fax +64 3 488 2875Mobile 027 663 4453
   phil...@copyleft.co.nz - personal.i...@copyleft.co.nz - business

Re: Linux on USB stick recommendations

[Steve Holdoway]

On Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:02:05 +1200
Ross Drummond  wrote:

> Does the group have any suggestions for what to run on a USB stick as a live 
> Linux system?
> 
> What I am after is likely to run on any $RANDOM computer, offers a browser 
> and 
> capability of connecting to the internet, has a small writable space, and as 
> a bonus is able to use a $RANDOM printer it encounters.
> 
> I have a USB stick with System Rescue on it which works well, but it is not 
> designed for desk-top type tasks.
> 
> Cheers Ross Drummond
Knoppix gets my vote... stuff the DVD version on one.

Steve
-- 
Steve Holdoway 
http://www.greengecko.co.nz