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Very flexible Bodhi linux 4.1.0 system (32 bit) with mkusb version 12.1.5
Download the compressed image file from the following link
dd_bodhi-4.1.0-32_i386_persist-live_mkusb-12.1.5_7.8GB_msdos-pt.img.xz
and check the md5sum
ed9e72c9cd18205173e92b5ac6f11e6c dd_bodhi-4.1.0-32_i386_persist-live_mkusb-12.1.5_7.8GB_msdos-pt.img.xz
This persistent Bodhi linux system contains bodhi-4.1.0-32.iso and mkusb version 12.1.5.
The system is very flexible. It works in 32 & 64 bit computers in BIOS & UEFI mode, also in secure boot. There is an msdos partition table, suitable when not installing with mkusb, for example in Windows.
There is a backup file of the original system. The system as stored in the casper-rw partition can be restored to the original state from the tarball 1-casper-rw.tar.gz, but the content of the usb-data partition is still there, and other (more current states can be backed up and restored from other tarballs. It is a good idea to store copies of the backup files (tarballs) in a separate drive.
- Advantages: very flexible, modern and rather small system (~800 MB, smaller than the corresponding Lubuntu and LXLE images), one image works for 'almost all' PC computers.
- Disadvantage: The system is not as stable as Lubuntu and LXLE.
How it was made
mkusb was installed into Ubuntu 12.04.5 LTS and used to create a persistent live drive from the iso file bodhi-4.1.0-32.iso. The reason for this old version of Ubuntu is that its version of grub can be booted by some old computers, for example Dell Dimension 4600 from 2004. And it can be booted by new computers too, for example Intel NUC6i3SYH from 2016.
- A computer was booted persistent live from the USB pendrive that was created
- mkusb was installed and a link to its desktop file was created
- clean-myself.bash and truncate-log were copied to the home directory and used to make the system as clean as possible to reduce the size of the compressed image file
- grub.cfg in the usbboot partition was tweaked for this particular system
The computer was booted live-only and the backup file 1-casper-rw.tar.gz was created in the usbdata partition.
Size
- The compressed image file is rather small, ~ 800 MB (while the corresponding Lubuntu image file is ~ 900 MB).
the system expands to 7.8 GB on the pendrive, so the size of the USB pendrive or memory card or SSD drive must be at least 8 GB.
It is an advantage to use a fast USB 3 pendrive, and the sizes of such drives are almost always 16 GB or more. See this link and links from it, https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick#Notes_about_speed.
You can grow the system (change the size and move the partitions casper-rw and usbdata) according to this link, GrowIt.pdf, so that you use the whole pendrive. After changing the size of usbdata, Windows may complain, but you can repair it with the repair tool in Windows.
Tested in the following computers
Oldest computer tested - Dell-Dimension-4600i (2004)
Newest computer tested - Intel NUC6i3SYH-2016 (2016)
List
- Dell-Dimension-4600i
- NUC6i3SYH (by Intel)
- Toshiba-Satellite-Pro-C850-19W (with Intel i5 processor)
Screenshots
Dell-Dimension-4600i:
NUC6i3SYH:
Toshiba-Satellite-Pro-C850-19W:
Backup and Restore
There is a backup file of the original system. The system as stored in the casper-rw partition can be restored to the original state from the tarball 1-casper-rw.tar.gz, but the content of the usb-data partition is still there, and other (more current states can be backed up and restored from other tarballs. It is a good idea to store copies of the backup files (tarballs) in a separate drive.
See this link for more details, ../#Backup_and_restore_of_persistent_overlay_data
