I am just about to set up my new Linux machine, which will be used to convert analog video and audio to digital video and audio. Is there any reason why I shouldn’t run the system off of a live USB stick (say, a good quality one from Sandisk), that is, without installing Linux on the hard drive and not setting up a boot partition, a system partition, and all that?
You could buy an M.2 to USB enclosure and use a proper SSD NVMe as “USB drive” but I don’t really see any gain in it.
That’s what I do. I upgraded the SSD in my Steam Deck to a 1tb (before the prices went nuts, thankfully) and then ended up with a spare 256gb drive. I put it in an enclosure and installed NixOS on it as a sort of second system. It doesn’t really do anything super important, it’s more a learning project to get comfortable with NixOS without interfering with my daily driver. I could have just as easily done it in a VM but what can I say, I’m a tinkerer lol
The gain is portability. I do this between repairing family machines. You can take your OS and near m.2 mobo speeds and get to work. Live USBs are needed sometimes but having what’s yours when you need it exactly where you need it is what matters in times of getting shit done.
Hear hear. It’s just my laziness 🤣