Booting linux from a usb key

SantaHoe

After playing around with booting different things off my USB stick, I'd like to try booting linux off it.
I'm looking for any advise you guys might have on doing this... specifically, what distros are freely available to achieve this? and what apps are usualy included in such a small install (the usb stick is a mere 128mb)
I'm also toying with the idea of having LILO give the option to launch other self-boot programs like memtest86... or would you even have such a thing as lilo on a keystick? :eek:
Ideas, comments, or anything else you'd like to bring to the party?

pickarooney

MandrakeMove does this, but I'm not sure if you can use any USB key or if you need to buy a special one from Mandrake.

eggshapedfred

does MandrakeMove not boot from CD and store user settings on a USB key?

would suggest maybe trying DamnSmallLinux. It will at least fit on the USB key. Check you BIOS to see if it will allow booting from USB device.

Zaltais

Never used it myself but...

http://featherlinux.berlios.de/

Or take a look at this list...

http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php?showonly=&sort=ImageSizeMax

SantaHoe

Well on my googling travels last night, I ran across a distro that was specifically for USB keysticks, but they didn't seem to have a download location o_O

eggshapedfred wrote:

Check you BIOS to see if it will allow booting from USB device.

It does, I've been booting all kinds of crap off it.