Good Linux live distro for USB? [closed]

Question

I mostly use my laptop by connecting to a wifi hotspot, and then connecting to my desktop at home using Windows' Remote Desktop Client (RDP protocol). That way, I don't have to install all my software on my laptop, and keeping both hosts in sync.

To save battery time on my laptop, I'm thinking of booting from a USB key running some Linux liveCD, connecting to my desktop using rDesktop, and then shutting down the hard drive.

I have a couple of questions:

1. What distro would you recommend for this use? Since I'm not running much locally, except a browser and rDesktop, I don't need a heavy distro like Ubuntu

2. Will I really save battery by shutting down the HD, or is the screen the biggest power user?

3. Are there alternatives to rDesktop I should know about?

Answer 1

Your questions,

1. Which Linux?
   I use a Ubuntu 9.04 installation (not LiveCD) on a Cruzer USB.
   This works great (though mildly loaded, no where near Windows).
   There is also a NetBook Ubuntu, How to Install Eeebuntu on Your Netbook.
   I would suggest you use a USB Install (rather than a LiveCD from USB).
   However, your requirements may identify another distribution (see references below)
2. What about the Harddisk?
   I have the points in a more generic question Booting Linux off USB pendrives
3. rDesktop is RDP, but if you use VNC, there is UltraVNC.

Resources.

• Search through DistroWatch for suitable small distributions (DSL, PuppyLinux, Runt).
• Check UNetbootin to create bootable Live USB drives for a variety of Linux distributions from Windows or Linux, without requiring you to burn a CD.

Answer 2

What distro would you recommend for this use?

Pendrivelinux . But i would suggest you to read this article http://linux.com/distrocentral/distronews/8221-comparing-linux-usb-flash-disk-distros

Will I really save battery by shutting down the HD, or is the screen the biggest power user?

Still u can save the battery if your shutting down the HD also . But most power is used by screen only

Are there alternatives to rDesktop I should know about?

try VPNC

Answer 3

Slax

• http://www.slax.org/
• 200MB
• customizable

Answer 4

Linux Live

Linux Live is a set of shell scripts which allows you to create your own Live Linux from an already installed Linux distribution. The Live system you create will be bootable from CD-ROM or a disk device, for example USB Flash Drive, USB Pen Drive, Camera connected to USB port, and so on. People use Linux Live scripts to boot Linux from iPod as well.