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Re: Boot from USB?

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On 12/14/24 12:02, Hans wrote:
> Hi folks,
> 
> I was unaware, that a native installed linux is capable from booting at the
> USB-port!
> 
> I put a harddrive with linux with a native installed linux (native means, the
> harddrive was built-in) in an usb-case and could boot from it. This was nice!
> Thus some questions appeared:
> 
> 1. Is this is normal standard behaviour and can this be confirmed?
> 
> 2. Does such a booted linux behave as lin ux from built-in harddrive or is
> there something I should watch?
> 
> I am asking, because I have several harddrives with "built-in"-installations
> on it, but I have not enough computers. As I do not want to open my computers
> and exchange the harddrive for an upgrade, the idea is, to put these
> harddrives into an usb-case, boot these and upgrade it.
> 
> This would so much ease my work!
> 
> Question is, will this work or will the upgrade possibly destroy some
> configurations, because it is now an USB-drive?
> 
> If all this is normal standard, what is the technical reason for this? Is this
> because the kernel is using initramfs and when this is loaded, it is no
> matter, from where it is started?
> 
> I would be happy, if you could enlighten me.
> 
> Best regards
> 
> Hans


Running Debian on a USB drive is a feature of several Linux and BSD 
distributions.


Related -- AIUI you can run Debian on a SD card in supported computers; 
notably single-board computers (Raspberry Pi, etc.).


While it is possible to run Debian on a USB flash drive, write 
performance is lacking.  Interactive use can be choppy.  Write-intensive 
workloads can overheat and/or destroy USB flash drives.


I have standardized on 2.5" SATA SSD's for my OS drives.  I keep my OS 
images small and put my data on a file server.  I have a stack of 2.5" 
SATA SSD's with various OS instances.  I have laptops with externally 
accessible 2.5" SATA drive bays.  I install 2.5" SATA mobile racks in my 
desktops, workstations, and servers [1, 2].  I can mix and match SSD's 
and computers as desired.


I also have a USB-SATA adapter cable [3] that I can use to boot an SSD 
in supported computers.  This is very handy for maintenance and 
trouble-shooting; especially for machines whose internal drives are not 
readily accessible.


David


[1] https://www.startech.com/en-us/hdd/hsb220sat25b

[2] https://www.startech.com/en-us/hdd/s25slotr

[3] https://www.startech.com/en-us/hdd/usb3s2sat3cb

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Thread

Boot from USB? Hans <hans.ullrich@loop.de> - 2024-12-14 21:10 +0100
  Re: Boot from USB? Michael Stone <mstone@debian.org> - 2024-12-14 21:30 +0100
  Re: Boot from USB? eben@gmx.us - 2024-12-14 21:30 +0100
  Re: Boot from USB? "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2024-12-14 21:50 +0100
  Re: Boot from USB? David Christensen <dpchrist@holgerdanske.com> - 2024-12-14 23:30 +0100
    Re: Boot from USB? Hans <hans.ullrich@loop.de> - 2024-12-15 16:40 +0100
      Re: Boot from USB? David Christensen <dpchrist@holgerdanske.com> - 2024-12-15 21:20 +0100
        Re: Boot from USB? Hans <hans.ullrich@loop.de> - 2024-12-16 15:20 +0100
          Re: Boot from USB? Hans <hans.ullrich@loop.de> - 2024-12-16 16:20 +0100
            Re: Boot from USB? Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca> - 2024-12-16 17:50 +0100
          Re: Boot from USB? Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca> - 2024-12-16 16:20 +0100

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