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LINUX LEECH
by stone3408 on September 8, 2006 Table of Contents LINUX LEECH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intro: LINUX LEECH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 1: WHY AND WHAT YOU NEED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 2: SOFTWARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 3: HARDWARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 4: ARRANGE THE PARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 5: YOUR DONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 5

http://www.instructables.com/id/LINUX-LEECH/

Intro: LINUX LEECH


This is portable Linux distribution that boots from a USB stick, that has wireless support, and is battery powered. The ultimate in portable Linux.

Step 1: WHY AND WHAT YOU NEED


The goal of this project was to run linux and wireless support for linux from one common compact device. I ride my bike to the library regularly to use their wireless connection. My initial thought was to carry my laptop there in a back pack. By the time I loaded it up it was way too heavy for a long ride. I also got tired of lugging it back and forth to the office. The solution was discovering linux on a usb stick. There some advantages to this system. -You only need one USB port to run it (great for older laptops) -It leaves no trace on the computer when you are done (the whole file system is built in RAM) -You have all of your applications, desktop, and data no matter where you go. -Will read NTFS file system but, will not write making it safe to use on any machine (you can make it write NTFS with some additional software). -Easy to update software. -Ability to boot USB stick with a motherboard that doesnt support that. Cool. What youll need: 1 USB hub with external power supply (think old and cheap, better chance it will work with linux) 1 thumb drive (at least 512 mb I would suggest a gig) 1 USB wifi adaptor ( linux compatible check the forums here http://www.slax.org/forum/ ) 1 4 AA battery pack with on off switch (Radio Shack) 1 ISO of Slax linux http://www.slax.org/download.php (I prefer the Kill Bill version) 1 copy of Myslax creator http://myslax.bonsonno.org/download.php Case parts I used two pieces of plexiglass with standoffs from home depot

http://www.instructables.com/id/LINUX-LEECH/

Step 2: SOFTWARE
Burn the ISO Burn the Slax ISO to a CD (I suggest you use Deepburner to burn the ISO, its freeware). -Make sure you burn the disc as an ISO image dont try to unpack it then burn it. -Test your burn by putting your new disc in the computer and reboot but, make sure your BIOS is looking to boot from the CD drive first. It should boot up to Slax read on the on screen documentation to boot to a GUI desktop. -Notice that when the boot first starts it advises press F1 for more options, remember that we will need that later. -Hang on to this disk well need it later. Installing Myslax creator on your windows computer -Follow the onscreen prompts all the way to create a bootable USB stick. -Youll be asked to add modules but, well handle that later. -For now the only setting that I would change is that you will have the opportunity to select a new desktop. Everything else leave default. Booting the USB stick - If your computer supports booting from a USB stick youre done with the software portion. Just make sure your BIOS is set in the correct order to look for the stick first. -If it doesnt then plug a your USB stick in and put your CD in. Reboot. When it advises to press F1 for more options do it. (told you to remember that) -This will bring up a cheat code screen. Just Type: slax nocd then press enter. This advises Slax to go out and look for the boot files elsewhere on the system it will find your USB stick and boot. Adding software -On the Slax home page located here www.slax.org . You will find a modules download link. -Pick a couple to download. -While in linux or in windows browse your USB stick you will find a folder called modules. -Just drop your newly down loaded modules in there. Slax will find them when it boots. EASY. -I suggest that you read and direct software questions to the forum on this site as they have excellent support. Wireless support - If you know anything about linux you know that it is less than friendly when it comes to drivers. -There is no one way to get wireless cards to work. There are so many it is beyond the scope of the this project to explain them all. -Search the forums on the Slax page for your card, someone will advise you if it isnt already a topic.

Step 3: HARDWARE
-Open the case on the USB and wire the leads from the battery holder to the power input on the USB hub. -Glue your items into place on the plexiglass.

Step 4: ARRANGE THE PARTS


You could lay this out to support card readers or any other USB device but, I kept this simple.

http://www.instructables.com/id/LINUX-LEECH/

Step 5: YOUR DONE


The voltage supplied by the battery pack is enough to run the USB wireless card and an external USB hard drive. This is my first instructable so let me know what you think.

Related Instructables

Reuses for legacy computers. (Photos) by Computothought

How to install Ubuntu Linux from a USB drive by drresearch

How to Make Flash Media Bootable: A Guide by csteinmetz1

Give Your Computer A Cool Linux Feel by poparoo4

Use SSH and XMing to Display X programs from a Linux Computer on a Windows Computer by psymansays

Installing Linux, The Easy And Safe Way by Xap

http://www.instructables.com/id/LINUX-LEECH/

Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 317 comments
Feb 12, 2011. 6:53 AM REPLY

rodonn says:
"Ability to boot USB stick with a motherboard that doesnt support that. Cool" How does that work? What does the PC think the device is?

Freshbott2 says:

Jan 29, 2011. 12:33 AM REPLY It's good that you've found drivers for that netgear USB stick. Way back when I used to use one just like that, I couldn't get Linux to run it at all.

Sev the Sniper says:

Jan 24, 2011. 10:53 PM REPLY Not sure if this would work or not, but do you think you could add a webcam and make it into a wireless webcam using a Linux equivalent of webcamXP or something? It would be cool but not sure how well it would work, if at all. It would be awesome though if you had a few it might work out a bit cheaper than an ip camera :P Dec 5, 2010. 9:37 PM REPLY

Bayfielder says:
I like this project very much! I personally see it as part of a larger project...

If you ad this to a micro computer it's great. They usually only have one or two USB ports, and have a case about the same size as this project. Some have VESA mounting holes that you can (if you measure for it) mount this project to. If you increase the available mAh of the power supply, and add a second USB WLAN... you can use it as a relay. Put this box where you can get the signal well, and have it rebroadcast --use it as a repeater. It may help to use a 35ft USB male to female to keep the two WLAN nics apart. There are Linux distros that can do this... somebody will share a link I'm sure. Add a LCD screen (projects right here on this very site) that can show you a few lines of txt, and a few buttons (borrow a project from a M.A.M.E. cabinet) and you could make it select a network (and allow you to enter WEP/WPA/WPA2 key). Now you got a self sufficient WLAN relay, to use in any legal, or illegal way the end user wishes. On it's own it's still a good way to keep your desk looking neat.

rikstroink says:
I really like your project, good idea! This would be really cool to use at school :-) I'm going to make something like this too, and I have 2 questions: -Does linux support most ethernet adapters, or is it better to add a USB adapter to my usb hub? -Why did'nt you use a hub that doesn't require an external power source? (or did you already have this one?)

Nov 27, 2010. 8:12 AM REPLY

DemonSpawn says:

Apr 10, 2010. 9:00 AM REPLY Why have batterys on board, why not just have the hub with usb with linux on it and the wireless. further more why have the wireless if your going to the libry witch have internet surly you dont need it.. please explain im confused...

Schober says:

Nov 10, 2010. 2:37 PM REPLY By adding his own wireless hub he can insure that he always has working internet. Linux may not support the network hardware in the computer your are using, or it may not include the driver. As far as the batteries, most usb hubs require an external power source. The reason for this is because most USB Devices require power and if you split the voltage running through a USB port (5 volts) across multiple devices none of the devices will have enough power to run effectively. P.S. Ever heard of spell check?

sergiovl says:
Nice job!

Nov 8, 2010. 3:59 AM REPLY

WhiteTigerTails says:
Ok, what exactly is this used for?

Oct 16, 2010. 12:18 AM REPLY

mushroom glue says:


could you use this as a wireless storage device, or connect a webcam instead of a memory stick?

Jul 4, 2010. 7:59 AM REPLY

toogers says:
you need the memory stick if you want to run linux

Jul 27, 2010. 7:10 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/LINUX-LEECH/

mushroom glue says:

Aug 27, 2010. 11:42 PM REPLY I was thinking to use it as a wireless network-enabled webcam, or using the memory stick just as a wifi mass storage device.

toogers says:
that'd take A LOT more work, you would need to somehow route the USB through the wifi adapter.

Sep 9, 2010. 5:21 PM REPLY

Aiden Mendez says:


PLEASE HELP. CAN U USE THIS WITH SOMETHING OTHER THAN LINUX??

Jul 30, 2010. 2:54 PM REPLY

podginater says:
WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING??

Aug 27, 2010. 7:24 PM REPLY

L337Sh4d0w says:
Um, can anyone tell me what is the difference between this and just plugging your usb to the host computer itself?

Apr 10, 2010. 6:23 PM REPLY

toogers says:
this organizes everthing and eliminates the number of ports needed for it all.

Jul 27, 2010. 1:27 PM REPLY

Arbitror says:
Is it possible to use Ubuntu? Or openSUSE? Is there a USB version out there?

May 11, 2009. 7:02 PM REPLY

james.mcglashan says:
I used to use Ubuntu but now i upgraded to Linux-Mint, Its a Distribution of Ubuntu. Debian > Ubuntu > Linux-Mint

Jun 17, 2010. 3:39 AM REPLY

m3harri says:
Yes and it is awesome. I am born again linux

May 19, 2010. 9:10 AM REPLY

stone3408 says:

May 20, 2010. 5:24 AM REPLY You can use any linux distro. Personally I like to use Slax or Puppy due to the fact that you can copy the entire OS into the RAM and it will run very, very fast.

fwjs28 says:
yes, ubuntu is easy to put on a stick....Suse is abit harder tho it nots that bad....

Jun 4, 2009. 4:20 PM REPLY

dombeef says:
Can you install it on mac?

Apr 8, 2010. 10:38 AM REPLY

arduinoe says:
unetbootin makes it really east to boot any distribuion of usb :) you can even do it with windows

Jul 23, 2009. 8:58 AM REPLY

Arbitror says:
I'll check that out, but I just discovered pendrivelinux.com

Jul 23, 2009. 9:26 AM REPLY

fwjs28 says:
truthfully i think slax is rather well suited for this...small install too..

Jul 23, 2009. 10:39 AM REPLY

arduinoe says:
even DSL linux ?

Dec 16, 2009. 11:49 AM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/LINUX-LEECH/

Arbitror says:
Damn Small L inux Linux?

Apr 8, 2010. 3:40 PM REPLY

andross52 says:
RAS Syndrome.

Apr 9, 2010. 1:23 PM REPLY

fwjs28 says:
PIN Number

Apr 9, 2010. 4:35 PM REPLY

Lance Mt. says:


ATM Machine

Apr 9, 2010. 6:41 PM REPLY

Arbitror says:
CSS style sheets

Apr 9, 2010. 7:25 PM REPLY

M4industries says:
LAN network

Apr 11, 2010. 4:04 PM REPLY

xtMartin says:
HIV virus :/

Apr 26, 2010. 1:37 PM REPLY

M4industries says:
ADD disorder

Jun 9, 2010. 1:55 PM REPLY

jeffconnelly says:
LCD Display

Jun 26, 2010. 3:42 PM REPLY

fwjs28 says:
Liquid Crsytal Diode Display?

Jul 25, 2010. 6:03 PM REPLY

aschuler says:
LCD =Liquid Crystal Display NOT Liquid Crystal Diode

Nov 22, 2010. 9:21 AM REPLY

toogers says:
LED matrix

Jul 22, 2010. 12:55 PM REPLY

Arbitror says:

Jul 22, 2010. 5:34 PM REPLY Lol, Light Emitting Diode matrix? That's not RAS syndrome... Nice try though!

toogers says:

Jul 25, 2010. 6:02 PM REPLY the guy above me said LCD display. is THAT RAS syndrome??

fwjs28 says:
nope

Jul 25, 2010. 6:03 PM REPLY

toogers says:
exactly, thank you.

Jul 25, 2010. 6:04 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/LINUX-LEECH/

fwjs28 says:
I see what you did there!

Jul 25, 2010. 6:05 PM REPLY

toogers says:
thanks, glad you understand!

Jul 27, 2010. 1:14 PM REPLY

twitsl says:
A neat idea yet completely pointless. Is there any way to make it download torrents????

Apr 10, 2010. 9:00 AM REPLY

stone3408 says:
(removed by author or community request)

May 12, 2010. 5:55 PM

stone3408 says:
Here is the point: 1. I had a wired netwok that was password protected. I had an open wifi connection.

May 12, 2010. 6:10 PM REPLY

2. So the USB hub allows me to run one unsuspecting cable from my back pack to the machine. A load of tech stuff tends to concern the library folk. 3. The hub allows a bootable OS with drivers for the wifi (so I can get to the open network.) 4. The battery is important because if you are going after large files you will need a portable hard drive. The single USB hook up will not supply enough amps run a flash drive, wifi, and a hard drive over a four foot USB cable. So that is about it. A specific device, to get on a specific network, to accomplish a specific goal. If that is too complicated check this out: http://www.worthgodwin.com/

M4industries says:
ThinkGeek sells a linux bitTorrent client.

Apr 11, 2010. 3:59 PM REPLY

ExtremeYoshiFan says:

Jun 12, 2010. 10:02 PM REPLY There are many linux bittorrent clients, don't buy one, there are deluge, kTorrent, Transmission, the original ported source of BT that is terminal only, those are the few that I know of off the bat. It is easy to find one(I recommend KTorrent, but I think you need KDE for it). And can't you drop the batteries for a DC Power Cable(or completely skip on them)?

view all 317 comments

http://www.instructables.com/id/LINUX-LEECH/

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