From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG  Mon Sep 26 05:15:28 2005
Return-Path: <owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG>
X-Original-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125])
	by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 521DE16A41F
	for <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>;
	Mon, 26 Sep 2005 05:15:28 +0000 (GMT)
	(envelope-from keramida@ceid.upatras.gr)
Received: from kane.otenet.gr (kane.otenet.gr [195.170.0.95])
	by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 532C443D48
	for <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>;
	Mon, 26 Sep 2005 05:15:27 +0000 (GMT)
	(envelope-from keramida@ceid.upatras.gr)
Received: from flame.pc (aris.bedc.ondsl.gr [62.103.39.226])
	by kane.otenet.gr (8.13.4/8.13.4/Debian-1) with SMTP id j8Q5FP3d002579; 
	Mon, 26 Sep 2005 08:15:26 +0300
Received: from flame.pc (flame [127.0.0.1])
	by flame.pc (8.13.4/8.13.4) with ESMTP id j8Q5EsZX001732;
	Mon, 26 Sep 2005 08:14:54 +0300 (EEST)
	(envelope-from keramida@ceid.upatras.gr)
Received: (from keramida@localhost)
	by flame.pc (8.13.4/8.13.4/Submit) id j8Q5EsH3001731;
	Mon, 26 Sep 2005 08:14:54 +0300 (EEST)
	(envelope-from keramida@ceid.upatras.gr)
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 08:14:54 +0300
From: Giorgos Keramidas <keramida@ceid.upatras.gr>
To: Rob <spamrefuse@yahoo.com>
Message-ID: <20050926051454.GB1680@flame.pc>
References: <20050926050636.18707.qmail@web36205.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Disposition: inline
In-Reply-To: <20050926050636.18707.qmail@web36205.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Subject: Re: How to use USB memory-stick for booting FreeBSD?
X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5
Precedence: list
List-Id: User questions <freebsd-questions.freebsd.org>
List-Unsubscribe: <http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions>, 
	<mailto:freebsd-questions-request@freebsd.org?subject=unsubscribe>
List-Archive: <http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-questions>
List-Post: <mailto:freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>
List-Help: <mailto:freebsd-questions-request@freebsd.org?subject=help>
List-Subscribe: <http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions>, 
	<mailto:freebsd-questions-request@freebsd.org?subject=subscribe>
X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 05:15:28 -0000

On 2005-09-25 22:06, Rob <spamrefuse@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I have a USB memory stick of one GigaByte.  I learned that on some
> PCs, the BIOS allows booting from USB memory-stick.
>
> Is this possible with FreeBSD?

Yes.

> If yes, then how do I install FreeBSD on such a USB memory stick, so
> that it becomes a 'bootable USB'?

By installing a FreeBSD base system on it (approx. 170 MB) and a boot
loader, and setting your BIOS to boot from "USB legacy device".

The details evade me right now, but if you meet any problem along the
way I can go back and look at my notes.

If you want to trim the base system down to an absolute minimum, it may
also be worth to try "nanobsd" (which is part of the sources too).  See
the /usr/src/tools/tools/nanobsd hierarchy for more information about
the "nanobsd" build process.