DSL Embedded :: using boot options with dsl-embedded

USB booting can be a hit-or-miss process with DSL or other pendrive-based operating systems.

Older computer BIOS usually do not support direct booting from a USB device. Around 2001, PC motherboard manufacturers started to add USB boot support.

There are two common BIOS methods for direct USB booting. One method is called the "USBHDD" method and it is used to support the booting of standard USB mass storage devices that are configured like a normal PC hard drive. The other method is called the "USBZIP" method and it supports booting from a USB storage device that behaves like the original IOMEGA ZIP drive with USB support.

Most computers (just about all Dells, for example) made today have a BIOS that supports the USBHDD method so I expect that this will eventually become the standard way to boot a USB device. However, many motherboards will support BOTH methods, and many older motherboards have USBZIP support.

In any event, just about any computer that has an available USB port will support booting from the DSL USB boot floppy. See the boot floppy section of the WIKI for more info.

From within the DSL main menu, it is possible to create either a USBZIP or a USBHDD formatted pendrive with DSL installed. Just choose the appropriate install method and follow the prompts.

Most USB pendrives are located at device name "sda" after they are plugged into the USB port.

However, you can verify this location by typing this command inside a terminal window:

    dmesg | grep scsi -A 3

and it should tell you the device name for your USB (SCSI emulated) devices and vendor name.

I would like to point you at the Wiki http://damnsmalllinux.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
I think all the info is there, just take time to read.