Ubuntu – How to create a multiboot USB that allows persistence, non-persistence and data partition

dual-bootlive-usbmkusbportable

I want a complete guide to make a generic multiboot USB.

Requests:

  • Multiple iso boots;
  • Multiple persistent boots (unlimited size);
  • One partition to data storage;

What I've tried:

MultiSystem only lets 1 persistent ISO.

MultiBootUsb limits your persistent storage to 4GB, no partition for data (still good)

mkusb More than 4GB persistent storage, data partition, but single boot.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

What can be done so far is accepted.

Best Answer

Ubuntu 19.04 and earlier

MultiBootUSB is a cross platform software written in Python which allows you to install multiple live Linux distros on a USB disk non-destructively and has an option to uninstall distros. From the MultiBootUSB Guide:

MultiBootUSB allows you to do the following

  • Install multiple live Linux distros and other operating systems to a USB disk and make it bootable without erasing existing data.
  • Uninstall installed OSs later.
  • Write ISO images directly to a USB disk (GUI for Linux dd command).
  • Boot ISO images and USB disks directly without rebooting your system using QEMU.
  • Boot USB on UEFI/EFI systems through GRUB2 bootloader support (limited support).

Adding a persistence file

  • Only distros based on Debian, Ubuntu and Fedora are supported.

  • Once you complete Step 2 (Choose an ISO), MultiBootUSB will detect the type of distro and a persistence size chooser slider will appear below the MultiBootUSB tab.

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    The maximum size of the persistence storage space is also automatically calculated according to the USB disk filesystem.

  • Choose the desired persistence size by dragging the slider to the right and follow Step 3 (Click the ↓ Install distro button) as usual.

  • Once the Linux distro is installed successfully, you will find the additional persistence file under the distro install directory.

  • Reboot your system to choose your distro and a persistence menu will be added automatically to the menu entries.

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