[Arch] Install on USB?

Inori · 11-10-2016, 04:58 PM

I want to install Arch on a USB that I can use as bootable media, then use the host machine's resources (memory, processor, network card, etc...) after boot.

Do I just need to do a standard install after mounting the USB in another Linux instance, or are there some extra hoops to jump through?

Panther_ · 11-11-2016, 10:36 AM

You mean you want to install the actual arch OS to another USB, so you can go from machine to machine with the same arch system, and when I say arch system I assume you mean fully useable with a GUI, stuff installed, and that sort of shit not the live USB medium arch has. Just install it to another USB if that is the case. I've only done this once, and that was with, not arch directly, but manjaro at college for a few tests. There wasn't anything special I had to do, it just tret the USB as any other storage device.

If you just mean, I want to install arch how do I put their ISO on a USB run this as root. Replacing "sdx" with the device you want to install it to and filling in the arch ISO path.

Code:
(sudo) dd bs=4M if=/path/to/archlinux.iso of=/dev/sdx status=progress && sync

sorry if I completely missed the point.

Inori · 11-11-2016, 01:57 PM

(11-11-2016, 10:36 AM)Panther_ Wrote: You mean you want to install the actual arch OS to another USB, so you can go from machine to machine with the same arch system, and when I say arch system I assume you mean fully useable with a GUI, stuff installed, and that sort of shit not the live USB medium arch has. Just install it to another USB if that is the case. I've only done this once, and that was with, not arch directly, but manjaro at college for a few tests. There wasn't anything special I had to do, it just tret the USB as any other storage device.

If you just mean, I want to install arch how do I put their ISO on a USB run this as root. Replacing "sdx" with the device you want to install it to and filling in the arch ISO path.

Code:
(sudo) dd bs=4M if=/path/to/archlinux.iso of=/dev/sdx status=progress && sync

sorry if I completely missed the point.

My goal is a portable system like you mentioned, potentially with a GUI and all the rest, so thanks for the reply Biggrin

DarkMuse · 11-11-2016, 04:36 PM

(11-11-2016, 01:57 PM)Ao- Wrote:
(11-11-2016, 10:36 AM)Panther_ Wrote: You mean you want to install the actual arch OS to another USB, so you can go from machine to machine with the same arch system, and when I say arch system I assume you mean fully useable with a GUI, stuff installed, and that sort of shit not the live USB medium arch has. Just install it to another USB if that is the case. I've only done this once, and that was with, not arch directly, but manjaro at college for a few tests. There wasn't anything special I had to do, it just tret the USB as any other storage device.

If you just mean, I want to install arch how do I put their ISO on a USB run this as root. Replacing "sdx" with the device you want to install it to and filling in the arch ISO path.

Code:
(sudo) dd bs=4M if=/path/to/archlinux.iso of=/dev/sdx status=progress && sync

sorry if I completely missed the point.

My goal is a portable system like you mentioned, potentially with a GUI and all the rest, so thanks for the reply

I'm not sure this is doable. You'd have to partition and flash drives are not meant to be partitioned. You're better off carrying a portable ssd or hdd.

Skullmeat · 11-11-2016, 05:23 PM

I know it can be done with kali linux, but i've never tried it.

Inori · 11-11-2016, 06:52 PM

(11-11-2016, 04:36 PM)DarkMuse Wrote:
(11-11-2016, 01:57 PM)Ao- Wrote:
(11-11-2016, 10:36 AM)Panther_ Wrote: You mean you want to install the actual arch OS to another USB, so you can go from machine to machine with the same arch system, and when I say arch system I assume you mean fully useable with a GUI, stuff installed, and that sort of shit not the live USB medium arch has. Just install it to another USB if that is the case. I've only done this once, and that was with, not arch directly, but manjaro at college for a few tests. There wasn't anything special I had to do, it just tret the USB as any other storage device.

If you just mean, I want to install arch how do I put their ISO on a USB run this as root. Replacing "sdx" with the device you want to install it to and filling in the arch ISO path.

Code:
(sudo) dd bs=4M if=/path/to/archlinux.iso of=/dev/sdx status=progress && sync

sorry if I completely missed the point.

My goal is a portable system like you mentioned, potentially with a GUI and all the rest, so thanks for the reply

I'm not sure this is doable. You'd have to partition and flash drives are not meant to be partitioned. You're better off carrying a portable ssd or hdd.

Looks like it's viable to partition flash storage
http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail...-usb-drive

Panther_ · 11-11-2016, 07:10 PM

(11-11-2016, 01:57 PM)Ao- Wrote:
(11-11-2016, 10:36 AM)Panther_ Wrote: You mean you want to install the actual arch OS to another USB, so you can go from machine to machine with the same arch system, and when I say arch system I assume you mean fully useable with a GUI, stuff installed, and that sort of shit not the live USB medium arch has. Just install it to another USB if that is the case. I've only done this once, and that was with, not arch directly, but manjaro at college for a few tests. There wasn't anything special I had to do, it just tret the USB as any other storage device.

If you just mean, I want to install arch how do I put their ISO on a USB run this as root. Replacing "sdx" with the device you want to install it to and filling in the arch ISO path.

Code:
(sudo) dd bs=4M if=/path/to/archlinux.iso of=/dev/sdx status=progress && sync

sorry if I completely missed the point.

My goal is a portable system like you mentioned, potentially with a GUI and all the rest, so thanks for the reply

Yes, it can be done. Ill give it a go now to be 100% sure but I have done it before.
[edit] yea it is doable. Just the same as any drive as I thought.

DarkMuse · 11-13-2016, 01:30 AM

(11-11-2016, 06:52 PM)Ao- Wrote:
(11-11-2016, 04:36 PM)DarkMuse Wrote:
(11-11-2016, 01:57 PM)Ao- Wrote: My goal is a portable system like you mentioned, potentially with a GUI and all the rest, so thanks for the reply

I'm not sure this is doable. You'd have to partition and flash drives are not meant to be partitioned. You're better off carrying a portable ssd or hdd.

Looks like it's viable to partition flash storage
http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail...-usb-drive

Looks like you're right! I fried a 128gb flash drive trying to do it. Sad

EDIT:
YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE THIS. I JUST PLUGGED IT IN AFTER TWO YEARS AND IT GAVE ME THE OPTION TO FORMAT! IT LIVESSSSSSSSSSS

pvnk · 11-13-2016, 01:42 AM

(11-13-2016, 01:30 AM)DarkMuse Wrote:
(11-11-2016, 06:52 PM)Ao- Wrote:
(11-11-2016, 04:36 PM)DarkMuse Wrote: I'm not sure this is doable. You'd have to partition and flash drives are not meant to be partitioned. You're better off carrying a portable ssd or hdd.

Looks like it's viable to partition flash storage
http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail...-usb-drive

Looks like you're right! I fried a 128gb flash drive trying to do it.

EDIT:
YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE THIS. I JUST PLUGGED IT IN AFTER TWO YEARS AND IT GAVE ME THE OPTION TO FORMAT! IT LIVESSSSSSSSSSS

feelsgoodman

DarkMuse · 11-14-2016, 05:09 PM

(11-13-2016, 01:42 AM)pvnk Wrote:
(11-13-2016, 01:30 AM)DarkMuse Wrote:
(11-11-2016, 06:52 PM)Ao- Wrote: Looks like it's viable to partition flash storage
http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail...-usb-drive

Looks like you're right! I fried a 128gb flash drive trying to do it.

EDIT:
YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE THIS. I JUST PLUGGED IT IN AFTER TWO YEARS AND IT GAVE ME THE OPTION TO FORMAT! IT LIVESSSSSSSSSSS
feelsgoodman

Nope still didnt work. Formatting failed :-(

[Arch] Install on USB?
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