Linux run from a USB Stick - Alternative to Puppy Linux

Paul Luciano

The multi-year quest continues.

My challenge (to myself) is to find a linux distro that I can set up to run on a USB stick. I have an old Lenovo laptop this runs ok, but I wanted to have it boot/run off a USB stick, not a HDD. The DVD player has been removed, so has the HDD.

I have worked with Puppy Linux and some variants of it. I love the "do you want to have PL save changes to the USB Stick (aka Persistant?)" feature. This allows me to have the USB stick work/act like a HDD.

What is awful is the WiFi connection tools. In some cases it wants me to manually enter data like the security protocol and related data.

None of my other devices (iPod, iPhone, iPad) or brand new laptop using w7 or w10 have this issue.

At the suggestion of Jason while at MangoCon: The Search for Justice, I tried Tails. Not bad, but I ran into roadblocks trying to get any RDP app to download/install.

Lubuntu failed to install on my usb sticks (note the "S" - because I tried it on several sticks... yes name brand, as I know sometimes the knock offs don't initialize properly).

Anyone know of a Linux Distro that is light (not Damn Small Linux or Puppy Linux) that has persistence set up within the OS for running on a USB stick?

Need to run Firefox or Chromium web browser, RDP (rdesktop is fine) and have a solid/stable WiFi connecting tool.

Thoughts from the hive mind?

Thank you.

Regards,

Paul "buzz I say.. buzz" Luciano, MCSE

Texkonc

Cat Linux?

Paul Luciano

Do I look like a cat to you, boy? Am I jumpin' around all nimbly bimbly from tree to tree?

I'll give it a shot right meow.

Thanks.

Regards,

Paul "You stop laughing right meow!" Luciano MCSE

travisdh1

Mint with space provisioned to save sessions. I normally use YUMI to create that when using a Windows desktop to do it.

travisdh1

Puppy will just struggle with wifi, which is to heavy for the tiny installation thing they do.

scottalanmiller

I'm thinking Mint as well. Mint by default is meant to run live but without persistence, I believe. Should not be a major modification to add that, I would think.

momurda

Dang was really hoping Cat Linux existed.

stacksofplates

If you're aim is as light as possible, Slitaz is only about 48MB. However, a live disk of a normal distribution with persistent storage would be just as, or more effective.

stacksofplates

Kali is also designed to run from a USB.

Paul Luciano

@scottalanmiller Are the steps for adding/modding Mint so it can have persistance documented anywhere?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Paul Luciano, MCSE

DustinB3403

@Paul-Luciano https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD/Persistence

gjacobse

I run LM on a USB and save data to it all the time,.. It runs pretty decently on a few boxes I have, including an on ASUS Netbook.

gjacobse

@DustinB3403 said in Linux run from a USB Stick - Alternative to Puppy Linux:

@Paul-Luciano https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCD/Persistence

beat me to it. ( eyes Mod shusher)

scottalanmiller

Beat me to it as well.

travisdh1

@stacksofplates said in Linux run from a USB Stick - Alternative to Puppy Linux:

Kali is also designed to run from a USB.

I recommend tails if you actually want to use the OS rather than just hacking things.