Thinkpads Forum

I'm looking to pick up one of these:
(EDIT: dead link)
http://www.usmodular.com/products/monstor_drive.html

and was wondering what was involved in getting a working linux install on usb media. Can I just install to it as I would any other hard drive and then tell my thinkpad to boot from it?

My T30 is the first machine I've had that can boot from USB, so I don't have much experiance with it.

I'll probably be using ubuntu, if that makes any difference.

I've done it with the feather linux distro on a 256MB USB key. Was pretty easy. I installed Firefox too and had plenty of room to spare. Google feather linux or goto distrowatch, you'll find it.

Thanks, I'll check it out.

[censored] Small Linux is easily installed to a USB key and boots nicely on my T42. You download the live CD version, burn the CD, boot from it, choose the "Install to USB key" item from the menu, choose USB-ZIP for a 256MB key. It even works with the IBM wireless in my T42. Getting the USB key to save its settings is a bit complicated, but explore the forums in the [censored] Small Linux site and you'll figure it out.

I've installed colinux as an alternative. Works pretty well.