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Idea #7367: Pendrive/USB key/stick image of Ubuntu should be provided.



bug This idea is a duplicate of idea #16: LiveUSB.
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Written by deragon the 21 Apr 08 at 18:30. Category: Installation.
Related to: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Description
Ubuntu is currently made available using ISO images. Pendrive/USB key images should also be provided, as many new laptops, particularly the ultra-mobile types are not equipped with CD-ROM. Another reason is environmental. Burning CD-ROMs is not the most environmental friendly practice.

With a usb image, a user would simply have to `dd if=Ubuntu-08.04.usb of=/dev/sdb` and reboot with the usb key. Graphical tools such as Nautilus, Konqueror or Brasero could be adapted to make this easier for users.

There are plenty of instructions on the web on how to get Ubuntu on a usb stick, but the steps are numerous and tedious. I believe that Canonical could build a script to generate the images automatically and make them available side by side with the ISO images.

Here are two other ideas that are related to this one:

http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/5444
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/5217

However, both of these ideas require Linux to "burn" a usb key. With my solution, images could be "burned" on any operating system.

Then again, these two ideas allow users to create their own USB images from any ISO images. I would like this too. For instance, one could "burn" an USB image of a popular rescue live CD.

I believe that Canonical should first provide USB images of its releases and later arrange applications to provide means to create USB images. Both options should be made available to the users.

References:

http://www.debuntu.org/how-to-install-ubuntu-linux-on-usb-bar
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LiveUsbPendrivePersistent
Tags: (none)

Attachments
bug Bug #214877 : Pendrive/USB key/stick image of Ubuntu should be provided.


Duplicates


Comments
oencke wrote on the 21 Apr 08 at 19:44
I just thought about this idea, too, since I didn't want to waste a cdr just to try out 8.04rc, when the final is just some days away.

+1

BlackLukes wrote on the 21 Apr 08 at 19:49
In this way we also could limit the waste made by obsolete burnt cds

+1

wormser wrote on the 22 Apr 08 at 00:02
Great idea that needs to be implemented. I wonder how many CDs are wasted on bad burns?

+1

steve196 wrote on the 22 Apr 08 at 09:26
Better: an automated install on usb stick.
Maybe also a wubi-like app, that does this, so windows users can skip burning a cd.
For the raw image, the provider needs to know the size of the usb stick in order to not waste space.
I would encourage another command than dd, because careless mistakes (wrong device name) or typos can lead to disaster with dd and cat.

rafalcieslak wrote on the 22 Apr 08 at 14:32
Nice idea, i like it very much. I do not like to waste CD's just like wormser.

+1

frunns wrote on the 22 Apr 08 at 14:55
Really like the idea. My experience is that it's faster to boot from USB than CD, but it might not be? Still love the idea though.

tommie74 wrote on the 23 Apr 08 at 11:03
It is possible to install Ubuntu without burning a cd, and it is not too difficult:
http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

avmian wrote on the 23 Apr 08 at 14:05
this idea is also linked to:
http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/470

atomant wrote on the 25 Apr 08 at 07:49
This is really a good idea. Brasero is a nice choice too, as not all the users use Nautilus or Konqueror for WM.

probono wrote on the 28 Jul 08 at 10:36
Please see https://launchpad.net/liveusb - technically, this is different to "burning", since a USB drive can't be "burnt" to.


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