Live GIS Disc Quick Start for USB

OSGeo-Live can be installed on a USB drive. This will boot faster than the DVD.


 * Requirements
 * 8GB USB drive, for osgeo-live (with Windows and Mac installers)
 * 4GB USB drive, for osgeo-live-mini (without Windows and Mac installers)
 * A modern computer which allows booting from USB. (if not, there are alternatives, see http://pendrivelinux.com)
 * An osgeo-live iso from http://live.osgeo.org/en/download.html

= Build from OSGeo Live DVD or USB =

Applications &rarr; System &rarr; Startup Disk Creator usb-creator-gtk -i osgeo-live-mini-5.0.iso
 * Run an OSGeo-Live DVD
 * Download the mini iso to your computer's hard drive.
 * Insert USB
 * Start the Startup Disk Creator tool:
 * XFCE (e.g. OSGeo Live)
 * Browse to select the mini iso from your hard drive.
 * Alternate method to launch from command line and already select the target iso
 * Then choose your USB drive from the list, select "Documents stored in extra space" and set the size slider to its maximum, and click "Make startup disk". This tool wants your USB drive to start with an empty FAT32 partition.


 * Restart your PC and set your BIOS or Boot Menu to boot from the USB device, save your changes and reboot

= Build OSGeo-Live USB from Windows =

Either


 * 1) Boot from a OSGeo-Live or Ubuntu/Xubuntu DVD, and then build a USB using the ubuntu method.

or


 * Note: this method does not create a persistence space, so the live usb will 'forget' changes or settings you made.

Hint: Make sure the computer you want to boot the USB stick on has booting from the USB device enables. If not go into the BIOS change the boot settings, save your changes and reboot.
 * 1) Download an OSGeo-Live ISO
 * 2) Run the Rufus formatter and bootable USB drive creator
 * 3) Select device and enable 'Create a bootable disk using:' and select the iso image downloaded above with the button on the right, click Start

Note: We have previously had success building with the PenDriveLinux USB Installer, however as of OSGeo-Live 5.5, we have been unable to get it working.

= Build OSGeo-Live USB from other Linux =

Ubuntu

 * Use the same instructions as building from Live DVD or Live USB, adjustements noted below. Ubuntu version must be the same or newer than the one OSGeo-Live is built with.
 * For OSGeo Live 5.0/5.5 you need Ubuntu 11.04 or newer
 * For OSGeo Live 4.0/4.5 you need Ubuntu 10.04 or newer

System &rarr; Administration &rarr; Startup Disk Creator usb-creator-gtk -i osgeo-live-mini-5.0.iso usb-creator-kde -i osgeo-live-mini-5.0.iso
 * Gnome: From the main Ubuntu menu select:
 * Unity: Use Dash to search for and launch Startup Disk Creator
 * Browse to select the mini iso from your hard drive.
 * Alternate method to launch from command line and already select the target iso
 * KDE : ?
 * Alternate method to launch from command line and already select the target iso

Fedora
= Alternate method for Mac,Linux or Windows =
 * Download an OSGeo-Live ISO
 * Install and run one of the following tools (this method does not create a persistence space, so you can't save changes to the Live usb)
 * Unetbootin http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/
 * Multisystem http://www.pendrivelinux.com/multiboot-create-a-multiboot-usb-from-linux/

= Set BIOS boot order:=
 * Most computers are not set to boot from USB by default.
 * To achieve this, boot your computer, and hit the appropriate key when prompted to go into the BIOS (usually by pressing the  key or a  or similar).
 * Select to boot from the USB device.
 * Note, that for some computers you will need to have the USB inserted into the computer in order to select it.
 * Note also, the USB is often listed under hard drives rather than removable devices.

=Run=
 * Reboot computer with new BIOS boot order set.
 * You should boot up into an Xubuntu system, with Geospatial applications installed.
 * If you find yourself at a pretty login page simply press return or wait for the countdown to timeout.
 * Try the many applications from the "GeoSpatial" menu.

Known issues:
 * Mac computers will not boot from this USB, please use the LiveDVD

= Mac Bootable USB =
 * Untested method for creating a usb bootable linux that can boot on a Mac http://studyblast.wordpress.com/2011/08/14/guide-mac-os-x-lion-how-to-boot-a-linux-live-system-from-a-usb-drive-how-to-update-any-ocz-ssds-firmware/
 * Known method for older than Lion Mac http://refit.sourceforge.net/

=See Also= For further options, see PenDriveLinux.com