As discussed in Can Ubuntu adapt itself automatically when there is a hardware change?, Ubuntu can detect changes in hardware and apply appropriate configurations.
I have Ubuntu installed on a portable SSD, and my goal is to make it truly portable, allowing me to plug it into any x64 hardware and have it work seamlessly. In this scenario, every component except the storage could potentially change between systems. plan to use this drive primarily on my personal PC, and when I travel, carry the SSD to use with any PC or laptop. The expected workload includes running software and tools such as code editors, Android emulators, compilers, Docker, and similar development tools.
This is different from question Fully functional, architecture-agnostic portable USB Ubuntu installation? about making a live USB with persistent storage, as I am working with a full Ubuntu installation on a portable SSD.
Here are my questions:
- Is it technically practical to achieve this level of portability, assuming all hardware is Linux-compatible?
- What steps should I take when migrating the SSD to a new device to ensure smooth operation?
- Can Ubuntu keep multiple drivers (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and microcodes installed and dynamically switch between them based on the detected hardware? This would eliminate the need to download and install drivers every time I change devices.
- What considerations should I keep in mind to achieve optimal performance, especially for resource-intensive tasks like Docker or emulators?
PS: This question is not same as Installing Ubuntu 20.04 to a USB pen drive (256 GB) with NVIDIA Drivers. The goal there is to create three separate boot options for loading specific driver versions. My query is different because I'm looking to make a single installation of Ubuntu that can adapt to any hardware platform without being tied to specific drivers. Creating separate drives or boot options for each hardware combination wouldn't solve this
