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ZDNET Highlights
- It is possible to run Linux from a USB drive.
- You can boot almost any distribution from USB.
- There are a few things you should consider before going this route.
I have used Linux in almost every possible way and for almost every use case. I love how flexible the open-source operating system is because it removes most of the limitations found on other OSes.
One way to access Linux is directly from a USB drive. Not only is this the easiest way to install Linux, but it is also a viable way to use Linux.
With a tool like UNetbootin, you can burn an ISO to a USB drive in such a way that it becomes possible to boot to Linux, bypassing the OS installed on the computer.
This is very useful.
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But what are the advantages and disadvantages of using Linux in this way?
Pros
First, let’s talk about the positive aspects of Linux on a USB drive.
you will always have linux
I always like to keep a Linux OS with me because I never know when I will face a situation where I need Linux and the only OS in sight is Windows. When situations like this arise, I can take out my trusty USB drive, insert it into the computer, reboot, and boot into Linux.
Then I can do what I need to do and, when I’m done, I can shut down the PC, remove the USB drive, boot the system, and we’re back where we started.
try before you buy
Unless you’re using Linux on a virtual machine, installing an open-source OS is usually done via a USB drive. Because of this, you can burn the ISO to a USB drive, reboot the system, boot into the USB drive, choose the Live option (if necessary), and test the distribution you chose.
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If you don’t like that distro, start over with a different distro.
rescue and recovery
I’ve used Linux as a rescue and/or recovery tool for years. When something goes wrong with the PC (be it running Linux or Windows), I can boot to the Linux USB drive and (most always) either resolve the problem or save the files/folders I need. You can do this with a standard Linux distribution, or one specifically designed for rescue and recovery (e.g. system rescue,
Solitude
Let’s say you have Windows installed on your PC and you need to do something that requires a little more privacy and security than a Microsoft OS. You can boot Linux from the USB drive at any time, do what you need to do, and reboot the machine back to Windows.
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Even better, you can boot into Linux, disconnect from the network, and you have a pseudo air-gapped PC.
When using Linux from a USB drive, the OS is separated from the installed OS (unless you mount the internal drive to Linux).
Shortcoming
Let’s now look at the negative aspects of using Linux via a USB drive.
You must configure it for persistent storage
If you want to save files from Linux to your USB drive, you’ll need to set up persistent storage, and that’s not always so easy. The easiest way to do this is with likes Rufus Bootable USB Creator. With this tool you can not only burn your ISO to USB drive but also create persistent storage.
With persistent storage, you can save documents or other data while using Linux from a USB drive. With that data saved to persistent storage, the next time you boot Linux from the USB drive, the data will still be there and accessible. Without persistent storage, whatever you save from Linux on the USB drive will be lost on the next boot.
You will need a fairly large USB drive
Sure, you can run Linux on a smaller USB drive, but if you want it to work well (especially if you’re constantly adding storage), you’ll need a USB drive of at least 64GB. With anything smaller, you risk Linux not working as well as possible and constantly running out of storage space.
Full-disk encryption is very challenging to achieve
If full-disk encryption is a necessity for you, running Linux from a USB drive is probably not the best option. The process of getting full-disk encryption for Linux on a USB drive is quite challenging.
Creating encrypted persistent storage on USB for Linux requires a lot of work. Another option would be to try installing Linux directly onto the USB drive and enabling full-disk encryption through the OS installer.
USB drives don’t last as long as SSDs
Sadly, USB drives can’t match the longevity of a standard SSD drive. Granted, flash storage can last up to 10 years, but it depends on how it is used. The reason is that this type of storage is limited by write cycles.
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If you’re only using a USB drive to store data, you can expect to get about 10 years from that drive. However, if you are using it to run a live Linux instance, it can complete those write cycles much faster.
It also includes other issues like temperature. An internal SSD will generally exist in a more consistent temperature, whereas a USB drive will be carried with you, left in hot cars, perhaps dropped in the snow, etc.
Suffice it to say, I would expect a USB drive that will last between 2-5 years on Linux. Granted, that’s a long time, but if you use storage frequently, you’ll want to make sure that data is backed up.
