Arch Linux

EAD

Member

Registered: 2006-03-11

Posts: 255

Can I install ARCH on a USB drive ??

Hi
I want to install and use ARCH on my PC on a 500GB drive I have that is connected to a USB 2.0 port
Can it be done?
Can it be used as an OS ?

Also, can I make partitions on that drive and make ARCH use like 40GB only of it ?

Thank you!

kludge

Member

Registered: 2008-08-03

Posts: 294

Re: Can I install ARCH on a USB drive ??

wiki.archlinux.org has a search function.

this forum has a search function.

a question this lazy doesn't really deserve this, but i'll give you three keywords to hep you on your way:

"usb root archlinux"

now, please, and as politley as possible, rtfm/w/f/g.

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[23:00:16]    dr_kludge | i want to invent an olfactory human-computer interface, integrate it into the web standards, then produce my own forked browser.
[23:00:32]    dr_kludge | can you guess what i'd call it?
[23:01:16]    dr_kludge | nosilla.
[23:01:32]    dr_kludge | i really should be going to bed.  i'm giggling madly about that.

R00KIE

Forum Fellow

From: Between a computer and a chair

Registered: 2008-09-14

Posts: 4,734

Re: Can I install ARCH on a USB drive ??

Of course it can, there is nothing arch can't do

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R00KIE
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pyther

Member

Registered: 2008-01-21

Posts: 1,395

Website

Re: Can I install ARCH on a USB drive ??

Wouldn't there be some serious speed issues though?

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Ruckus

Member

Registered: 2007-02-17

Posts: 204

Re: Can I install ARCH on a USB drive ??

Wouldn't there be some serious speed issues though?

So long as it's USB 2.0 it's not too bad. FaunOS had a really nice boot to ram option where you could then save any changes you made if you wanted at shutdown.

Last edited by Ruckus (2008-11-22 22:40:56)

lilsirecho

Veteran

Registered: 2003-10-24

Posts: 5,000

Re: Can I install ARCH on a USB drive ??

Faunos still has a USB flash install of 600 packages of archlinux .

The system boots in ~60 secs and runs in ram: therefore it isn't slow by any means...just the boot is at USB 2.0 speed....where applicable.

Give it a good go!!!

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pyther

Member

Registered: 2008-01-21

Posts: 1,395

Website

Re: Can I install ARCH on a USB drive ??

Yeah faunos copy's everything to the ram, were opposed to running archlinux of a usb stick, won't, without some heavy modifications.

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lilsirecho

Veteran

Registered: 2003-10-24

Posts: 5,000

Re: Can I install ARCH on a USB drive ??

Faunos does not copy everything to ram...unless c2r is selected.

What it does do is operate archlinux packages within ram which makes it run faster than any other method of operation with archlinux.

Just what are you opposed to?

EDIT:  Your post says "on a USB drive".  Do you mean to install archlinux "from" a USB drive?
Faunos can do that as well.

Last edited by lilsirecho (2008-11-23 02:37:02)

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Prediction...This year will be a very odd year!
Hard work does not kill people but why risk it: Charlie Mccarthy
A man is not complete until he is married..then..he is finished.
When ALL is lost, what can be found? Even bytes get lonely for a little bit!     X-ray confirms Iam spineless!

R00KIE

Forum Fellow

From: Between a computer and a chair

Registered: 2008-09-14

Posts: 4,734

Re: Can I install ARCH on a USB drive ??

If using USB2 and a fast drive (ex. a hd in a box) then no speed issues, if running from a flash drive then booting is ok but when using if you need to write something to disk then the system will slowdown. Tried it myself.

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R00KIE
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kludge

Member

Registered: 2008-08-03

Posts: 294

Re: Can I install ARCH on a USB drive ??

If using USB2 and a fast drive (ex. a hd in a box) then no speed issues, if running from a flash drive then booting is ok but when using if you need to write something to disk then the system will slowdown. Tried it myself.

i've booted repeatedly off a usb1.1 external with a 3200 rpm drive with only occasional noticeable lags.

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[23:00:16]    dr_kludge | i want to invent an olfactory human-computer interface, integrate it into the web standards, then produce my own forked browser.
[23:00:32]    dr_kludge | can you guess what i'd call it?
[23:01:16]    dr_kludge | nosilla.
[23:01:32]    dr_kludge | i really should be going to bed.  i'm giggling madly about that.

stabele

Member

Registered: 2008-12-22

Posts: 101

Re: Can I install ARCH on a USB drive ??

HOWTO install arch to USB : http://usalug.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=12377

quarkup

Member

From: Portugal

Registered: 2008-09-07

Posts: 497

Website

Re: Can I install ARCH on a USB drive ??

Arch can own everything.

     including USB pen drives !!!

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R00KIE

Forum Fellow

From: Between a computer and a chair

Registered: 2008-09-14

Posts: 4,734

Re: Can I install ARCH on a USB drive ??

If using USB2 and a fast drive (ex. a hd in a box) then no speed issues, if running from a flash drive then booting is ok but when using if you need to write something to disk then the system will slowdown. Tried it myself.

i've booted repeatedly off a usb1.1 external with a 3200 rpm drive with only occasional noticeable lags.

My experience with a takeMS 8G flash drive is like I said, boots fast enough but then try to open firefox and it crawls to halt even with more than enough ram to spare, no swap partition or file.
I've also tried with a notebook disk on an external box and there isn't much difference from running with the disk plugged inside the pc.

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quarkup

Member

From: Portugal

Registered: 2008-09-07

Posts: 497

Website

Re: Can I install ARCH on a USB drive ??

The wiki talks about it (search for "live usb" and you'll find 1 topic)

there are another which similarly talks about building live-cd's

http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Building_a_Live_CD

Last edited by quarkup (2009-02-19 21:17:21)

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If people do not believe that mathematics is simple, it is only because they do not realize how complicated life is.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

rine

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2008-03-04

Posts: 217

Re: Can I install ARCH on a USB drive ??

What would be a good way to sync to a second stick? In case I lose one or it wears out. I mean just having two completely identical sticks, partitions, filesystems etc. A simple dd is enough?

otacon

Member

From: USA

Registered: 2008-06-29

Posts: 170

Website

Re: Can I install ARCH on a USB drive ??

It runs in the Ram? I knew I bought 8gb of ram for some reason. USB I love you Arch

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