Re: Debian LiveUSB persistent/upgradeable (howto)
On Mon, 26 May 2025 05:32:21 -0300
riveravaldez <riveravaldezmail@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi, I would like to make a minimal Debian Stable -with only the
> packages I need- available as a LiveUSB bootable system (nomadic,
> USB-stick, which I can use in any desktop/laptop) with persistence
> and some way to upgrade it when next Stable gets published. Is there
> a standard procedure to achieve this?
>
> In the Wiki I've found:
>
> https://wiki.debian.org/DebianLive/LiveUsbPersistence
>
> But it starts stating: «*Caution*: This needs an overhaul to reflect
> USB stick layout changes (ESP partition). Could not reproduce it
> working with a debian-live-11.2-amd64 image.»
>
> Anyway, the steps seem pretty similar to these ones, from Kali (Debian
> based):
>
> https://www.kali.org/docs/usb/usb-persistence/
>
> It could be something similar to what MX (antiX based, which is Debian
> based) does: a non-writable LiveUSB bootable system (loading on RAM),
> and a couple of rootfs/homefs files that got the changes (from RAM)
> written upon when time is convenient (e.g., when shutting down).
> And maybe the LiveUSB bootable part could just be overwritten when a
> new Debian Stable gets published?
>
> Couldn't find more info online, so, maybe someone could point me in
> the right direction to keep reading...
>
> Kind regards, everybody, and thanks a lot in advance!
There should be no problem about making a standard Debian installation
from the netinstall image on USB or optical media, specifying your USB
drive as the device to install to using the Expert installation option,
and also to install grub to.
I did this many years ago using a (really) pocket-sized USB hard drive
with a 160GB 1.8" drive and USB on the drive PCB itself. I did it mainly
because my netbook had an early SSD, which was only 8GB in size and
unbelievably slow. The external mechanical 1.8" drive was far faster.
As it was a 32-bit computer, I ended up with a portable Debian which
would boot on anything vaguely x86.
--
Joe
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