Trying to run a portable USB install with persistence [SOLVED]

[JimMX7]

Hello guys,

I've created a USB install of MX-23.5 "Libretto" using Rufus (4.6p "portable" version). I can boot that USB on a couple of laptops i've tested it on so far (one Asus and one Acer) and running that "Live" version of MX-23.5 i've liked very much the look and feel of MX Linux so have decided to move past the hardware test stage and wish to do the following if it is possible:

1. Have a version of MX linux on a USB stick (or two) that I can use on any other PC without installing over the default OS on those systems (mostly these will be windows machines).

2. Be able to keep the GUI changes to MX I make, keep the software I download (for example Brave browser etc) and any settings/bookmarks added during the use of the USB installed MX linux above. Then when I use that USB later on the same machine or on another machine, have it keep all the changes made?

Now "persistence" seems to be the key word here to make this work, so i can have my version of MX Linux on a USB key that I can use across different machines and keep any changes I make during use. I've searched for persistence on the forum and looked at a couple of threads, but as a non expert Linux user (i've had a couple of years experience with Linux Mint previously, can use the terminal ok etc), i've not seen a clear answer to the kind of scenario i'm hoping to make work.

So my question is can i use MX Linux as a portable (on USB) OS choice and keep downloads and changes I make during my sessions as "persistent" so they will carry over/be saved for next time i run MX from my USB key? In effect have a regular install of MX Linux, do all those things you would on a full desktop install, just have that on a portable USB keydrive?

thanks in advance for any pointers.

[fehlix]

suggest this:

* First post QSI "Quick System Info" found with the menu or within MX Tools., click the button "Copy for forum" in order to keep the [Code] tags within the report.
Post the QSI report un-modified.

Next
* Create a LiveUSB with help of "MX Live USB Maker"
This can be done from a running MX Live USB, which was made with Rufus, by selecting the MX ISO and plugin another USB stick,
as target for creating the new Live USB with "MX Live USB Maker"

Next;
* Boot with the newly made MX LiveUSB, and within the Live Boot Menu select a persistence mode, and additionally
also select with the option to "save" the made selections, in order the persistence mode selection will be pre-selected next boot.

[JimMX7]

Ok thanks fehlix, i'm across 3 different laptops currently and have hit a small issue so will get back with the QSI details later as i get further in this project (and which laptop should i run that from or for all three, when i can?!).

Had an issue on one laptop with the version of MX Live I made as you suggested by using "MX Live USB maker", in that after selecting MX Linux to boot into (instead of windows) it decided to only want to boot into windows. On the USB version of MX that i had made with Rufus that laptop would boot into MX Linux ok. So i'm currently using the rufus made USB key to access that "problem" laptop, with the aim of doing a full install over windows on that system (Windows is fully broken beyond repair on that one).

For the other two laptops that we use at home, I hope to setup a persistent MX USB version for each, for accessing the internet and all the more secure stuff Linux offers over windows etc. I'll focus on getting this "portable USB with persistence" version working before tackling the full install on the borked windows laptop.

So at this point in time i'm looking at the "Persistence option" screen within the "advanced options" section of MX-23.5 (Libretto) I have running from the rufus made USB install of MX linux. I have 11 options to choose from. The USB keydrive is 32Gb (28 or so usable). I should have enough space to have everything on that size of USB, so i'm looking at "persist_static" or "p_static_root" as maybe being what i should choose? What do you suggest?

[thomasl]

1. Have a version of MX linux on a USB stick (or two) that I can use on any other PC without installing over the default OS on those systems (mostly these will be windows machines).

Yes, this can be done. I have a so-called frugal install (ie with persistence) that runs on a variety of PCs from their internal SSDs but I also have a fast USB stick (128GB) with that same install that runs on almost every PC I've ever tried, with full root and home persistence. (This install also supports VirtualBox and my VMs, so to the complete consternation of friends I can boot my Linux on their PC and then run Windows in a VM.)

2. Be able to keep the GUI changes to MX I make, keep the software I download (for example Brave browser etc) and any settings/bookmarks added during the use of the USB installed MX linux above. Then when I use that USB later on the same machine or on another machine, have it keep all the changes made?

Look into the various persistence options. MX persistence is very flexible and there are a few permutations of root and/or home persistence. I've written down a few notes re persistence because this area can be a bit overwhelming for people new to these concepts: viewtopic.php?p=687788
A frugal install/persistence install is almost identical to a full install but there are some small differences (ie re systemd). But in now almost 7 years of using MX Linux as a daily driver I've never had any problems with my frugal installs. Quite the opposite, I'm convinced that this is the best way to run MX. But that's IMO and YMMV.

[fehlix]

The USB keydrive is 32Gb (28 or so usable). I should have enough space to have everything on that size of USB, so i'm looking at "persist_static" or "p_static_root" as maybe being what i should choose? What do you suggest?

I'd suggest use persist_root, with no separate homefs persistence file:

Code: Select all

persist_root    Save root and home in RAM then saved at shutdown
p_static_root   Save root and home on disk together

Note: With Rufus-made LiveUSB you probably have a FAT filesystem, which limits max filesize to 4GiB. This can be a critical show stopper,
b/c overtime the rootfs persistence file will grow due to all accumulated changes. So you would need to remaster the LiveUSB with help "MX RemasterCC"
in order to squeeze the changes back into a new readonly linuxfs file and get new empty rootfs file.
Also FAT itself tend to create files system error, when used on LiveUSB with LiveSession. So not really recommend for a reliable LiveUSB.

[MikeR]

I would like to suggest an alternative - and to my mind simpler - method. (Works for me...)
Have a look at Ventoy (https://www.ventoy.net/en/index.html)
pros:
Lots of help and How-tos, Documentation at not too technical a level
Setup once, and then load (copy) the iso files as-is to the USB stick.
There are bash scripts to help you create and load persistence space (see https://www.instructables.com/USB-Pesistence-in-Ventoy/
and/or /https://ventoy.net/en/plugin_persistence.html)

cons
Each persistence file is (at least, the way I have it setup) specific to one distro.
You might find it complicated to create a Windows bootable iso file.

My personal experience:
I have a 32GB USB stick which allows me to boot any one of four distros, with persistence of between 2GB and 6GB
It acts as my primary backup, and I have had occasion to use is to restore a complete system.
I am also able to take it with me, and boot it on another's PC.

HTH
Mike

[fehlix]

I would like to suggest an alternative - and to my mind simpler - method. (Works for me...)
Have a look at Ventoy (https://www.ventoy.net/en/index.html)

While Ventoy offers a method for persistence with its Live USB
functionality, there are some limitations to consider. This approach
does work, but it requires that the partition from which the Linux
filesystem (linuxfs) is loaded is writable.

Using Ventoy's persistence feature can lead to challenges over time, as
the persistence file accumulates numerous system changes, including new
packages. Eventually, this can result in the persistence file becoming
full, which may hinder your ability to update the system effectively.

In summary, while Ventoy provides a form of persistence, it is not as
fully integrated as the options offered by MX Live USB persistence.
Users should be aware of these limitations when choosing between
functionality offered by "MX Live USB" and Ventoy persistence.

[DukeComposed]

In summary, while Ventoy provides a form of persistence, it is not as
fully integrated as the options offered by MX Live USB persistence.
Users should be aware of these limitations when choosing

I'd like to underline this point, since it can be hard to grasp for someone just getting started with trying out a persistent USB setup. Both options will work, but Ventoy with a persistent partition is not designed to provide the same level of integrated functionality that antiX and MX Linux's persistence options provide.

If you just want to boot a live session from a static ISO and be able to save files to your USB thumb drive, Ventoy is a great choice. If you want a portable Linux install where you can, for example, bookmark websites, change wallpapers, patch it, add software when you choose, and have that install be something you can live in and customize, Ventoy is not as good of an option as the persistence features of MX and antiX.

[MikeR]

Using Ventoy:
The first time I boot an MX distro 'with persistence' in Ventoy I am offered the full gamut of persistence choices.
The caveat in this case is planning in advance to have sufficient persistence space.
Other distros e.g. Ubuntu allow persistence only as an all-or-nothing choice.
(I have no experience with Windows iso files)
As far as I have seen personal preferences, bookmarks, mail files have all been saved.

[anticapitalista]

Does Ventoy offer Remastering?