Linux on a floppy or USB

[assembly]

There was a time you could run a small version of Linux on a floppy. As I recall you did not need as much RAM. Well, I want to use a USB to run Linux in this way I can run the system without partitioning someone’s hard drive.

My thought is to convert a USB to an USB smart drive. I have a one gigabyte USB. I want to use it as the drive and use the installed RAM in the computer.
In this way I can move from machine to machine booting Linux instead of the installed software.
Anyone know where the software can be downloaded? Is it possible? My thought is originally Linux could be ran from a floppy, why can’t it be run from a USB?

[reed9]

It can be run from a USB. There are whole distros devoted to it, like Slax.

UNetbootin - Homepage and Downloads
Boot and run Linux from a USB flash memory stick | USB Pen Drive Linux

[assembly]

Thanks for the info.

[carlosponti]

I have run Ubuntu installs on a USB thumb drive. i played with different distros on mine because i have a 2gb drive. as long as you have a bootable usb port you can do it fine.

[assembly]

I have run Ubuntu installs on a USB thumb drive. i played with different distros on mine because i have a 2gb drive. as long as you have a bootable usb port you can do it fine.

Thanks I was just beginning to study the Ubuntu web page trying to determine if a standard USB would do or if a USB smart drive was needed. From what I have read and what you say a 2GB USB will do.

Now I will get another thumbdrive to work with.

[assembly]

Sucess I now have a bootable Linux distrobution on on my SanDisk USB.

I am elated. Thanks to all that gave me guidance. I am now one micron closer to running the box instead of it running me.

THANK AGAIN