Boot linux from usb harddisk external ?

[ady2k]

I have 1 laptop with 1 IDE Harddsik.
And I plan to add 1 usb harddisk external.
Is it possible to install linux on USB harddisk external?
Can I boot linux from external USB harddisk ?
Any suggestion about my idea ?
Thanks a lot..

 

[sleipnir214]

Does your motherboard BIOS support booting from a USB drive?

Want the best answers? Ask the best questions:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

TANSTAAFL!!

 

[ady2k]

Can I boot linux from my usb floppy drive?
The bios didn't support usb floppy drive.
Your comment didn't answer my question.
Thanks....

 

[usige]

ady2k,
Your laptop must support booting from usb devices (i.e. floppy, cd, hard disk). If the BIOS doesn't support booting from usb devices then you must either create a boot floppy or install a loader on the ide drive. Also if the root device is on usb I seem to remeber there was a required kernel patch that delays calling init so that plug-and-pray has time to find the usb device.

 

[ady2k]

I would like to boot from USB harddisk.
So I can connect that USB harddisk to any PC/laptop with USB port.Which kernel patch do I need it ? if I use RH 9.
I mean bypass the existing IDE harddisk and boot from USB harddisk.
Thank a lot.

 

[usige]

ady2k,
As I said if you only want to involve the USB drive then your BIOS MUST support booting off USB devices. For more info on booting off USB devices follow this link.

http://www.linux-usb.org/FAQ.html#i4

Since RH9 mounts the rootfs via init, the patch mentioned would need to be applied to <kern_src_base>/init/do_mounts.c and might need to be modified a bit. If you are not familiar with mucking with the kernel I don't suggest trying it. You are better off waiting for support for it in a later kernel.

 

[ady2k]

If I boot linux from my usb floppy drive to access my USB harddisk. Is it possible to do it ?
Do I need to load USB harddisk driver on my floppy boot disk? Or linux can detect the USB harddisk automatically?
Thanks a lot for your response

 

[ady2k]

I Got it. I got a solution from this website

http://home.tele2.ch/spblinux/spbsetup/Linux/readme.txt

Everything is possible in OpenSource/Linux not only HP....

 

[hegdemk]

ady2k
Could you please elaborate on how exactly to do it using the syslinux at the link you mentioned?

I have Sony Vaio PCG-GRX570 laptop and I bought a Maxtor One touch external Hard drive. I would like to install RH 9.0 on this external USB/Firewire drive

Thanks in advance
hegdemk

 

[ady2k]

hegdemk,

I haven't done it.
And another website below here :

http://www.8ung.at/spblinux/

Good Luck...