I have some USB sticks, and I want to use them as portable Linux USBs. However, I am stuck on which distro will function the best. Here are my possible options:

  • Fedora KDE Spin (installed directly to the USB)
  • Fedora KDE Spin (in live mode, but with persistence)
  • Fedora Kinoite (installed directly to the USB)
  • EndeavourOS

I do have a USB3 flash drive, but I would like something suitable for USB2 speeds, if that will give okay speeds. I would also prefer to use a Fedora distro, however if troubleshooting Fedora is as easy as Endeavour, then I don’t mind.

I will also be installing other programs (Steam, LibreOffice, etc.) onto the USB after I install the OS.

    • darcy@sh.itjust.works
      4·
      1 year ago

      i think op means installing onto the usb, not just live booting? but if not: i can confirm that ventoy is awesome

  • Guenther_Amanita@feddit.de
    15·
    1 year ago

    From what I’ve heart it isn’t recommended to use an OS persistently on an USB-stick. Not is it slower, the constant read and writes may damage it, since it isn’t made for that.

    Please correct me if I remembered it wrong.

    • kylian0087@lemmy.world
      13·
      1 year ago

      In the basis you are right. But nowadays a good large USB stick shut be able to handle it fine over a long period. I would recommend to put the cache and temp directory’s on a memory drive. that way you do not constantly stress out the USB.

      On the other hand nowadays their are USB cases for M.2 SSDs. this would eliminate the entire problem.

      • treadful@lemmy.zipEnglish
        3·
        1 year ago

        On the other hand nowadays their are USB cases for M.2 SSDs. this would eliminate the entire problem.

        I had no idea this was a thing. Looks like you can get little 2230 (W: 22mm, L: 30mm) drives too so it’s not like it has to be some super long thumbdrive or dongle setup.

        I love the idea of moving my OS from PC to PC with me. Always configured how I like it. I don’t know how well it’ll work in practice, with real world performance or hardware changes between PCs, but I might have to give it a shot.

        Thanks for the tip.

  • u/lukmly013 💾 (lemmy.sdf.org)@lemmy.sdf.org
    5·
    1 year ago

    I have Linux Mint Cinnamon installed on a flash drive, and even on USB 2.0 it’s pretty fast. The problem rather has been random access speed, not the transfer speed. I tried 3 unbranded flash drives from AliExpress and a Panasonic USB 3.0 flashdrive, and all of those were crap. The only one good for this has been SanDisk CruzerBlade, both USB2 and USB3 versions.

    • phanto@lemmy.ca
      4·
      1 year ago

      I’ve been running Mint XFCE this way for years! Mostly as a stupid computer trick, but it’s occasionally super helpful, especially where someone just needs that one doc off a non-booting windows.

  • Gazumi@lemmy.world
    1·
    1 year ago

    There are a range of ways to have multiple distro’s on a single USB if they fit, but really, this is something you should just try for yourself. I did the same and ended up trying all sorts. Icurrently have a USB drive with Mint and Puppy. Mint for when I want to have a full distro and Puppy for everything else. Me personally, I find Puppy the simplest , fastest and easiest on any machine without buckefsfull of RAM. It even works on my really old laptop with 1GB.