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Similar to my previous question, I now came to the point where I want to try having Tails OS, Lubuntu 32bit and Ubuntu Mate 64bit on a single usb.

I have a 64gb flash drive, which I would like to hold a number of partitions: one for a 64bit ubuntu mate, one for 32bit lubuntu, one for Tails OS, and preferably another partition to store extra data on (as such a low-end game or two, old pictures etc.

Now I know that MSDOS (which I like to use) can have 4 primary partitions, though I'm not completely sure if Tails can run on MSDOS partition table. Can you tell me if it will work, if not, please recommend me something else?

What I'm about to try is installing Tails on the usb, then Lubuntu on another partition and Mate on yet another secondly (so I will have Mate's bootloader which I think looks good), and then finish off with the rest of the usb being an all-round FAT32 partition so both Tails and Ubuntus can read it. Not sure if this is going to work!

Thanks for reading, please do help and if Im saying something incorrect don't hesitate to tell me where I'm wrong!

Thanks y'all

Edit1: this is (for-now) the partition scheme:

screenshot

Will it work?

Dɑvïd
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3 Answers3

2

Inspired by your concept I tried the following install:

Partition with GParted Partition USB with GParted

Extract ISO to Tails partition using Archive Manager Extract ISO to Tails partition using Archive Manager

Choose "Something else" When installing the first OS choose "Something else.

Select "Change" to specify the / partition Select "Change" to specify the / partition.

Adding more OS is a repeat of the above.

GParted after OS installs GParted after OS installs.

Edit grub.cfg of last OS installed Edit grub.cfg of last OS installed.

menuentry "Tails" {
    set root=(hd0,2)
        linux /live/vmlinuz boot=live config noswap nopersistent iso-scan/filename=/iso/tails-amd64-3.2.iso splash  --
        initrd /live/initrd.img
}

Disk info Disk info

C.S.Cameron
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2

The previous solution does not take advantage of Tails features like Encrypted Persistence and Upgrading versions of Tails, for this we need to install Tails using the installer. Note that the installer uses a GTP partition table and uses syslinux as a boot loader, (to use the Grub2 loader,install Mate last and install boot loader to drive not partition.

1) Install Tails using Tails installer

1) Install Tails using Tails installer.

2) Add other partitions

2) Add other partitions. Windows pre-10 can only see the first partition on a flash drive and Tails uses that for itself. Leave 8GiB on the right side for Tails encrypted partition if required.

3) Select "Something else" when installing

3) Select "Something else" when installing the OS's.

4) When installing OS select same "Device for boot loader installation" as for "/"

4) When installing OS select same "Device for boot loader installation" as for "/"

5) Encrypt home folders if you wish

5) Encrypt home folders if you wish.

6) Download syslinux 6.03 and extract chain32 to Tails syslinux folder

Download syslinux 6.03 and extract chain.c32 to Tails syslinux folder.

7) Tails syslinux folder

7) Tails syslinux folder.

8) Add chainloading for installed OS to live64

8) Add chain loading for installed OS to live64.cfg

label Ubuntu Mate
menu label Ubuntu Mate
com32 chain.c32
append hd0 2

label Lubuntu 32
menu label Lubuntu 32
com32 chain.c32
append hd0 3

Code

9) GParted after installing Tails persistent volume

9) GParted after installing Tails persistent volume.

10) Syslinux boot screen can be customized

10) Syslinux boot screen can be customized.

Info Info

C.S.Cameron
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1

You want a multiboot USB drive.

  • Tails should be installed and run live (for security reasons it is designed like that).

  • Ubuntu MATE and Lubuntu can be installed and run

    • live-only
    • persistent live
    • installed system (like installed into an internal drive).

This is possible using one single USB drive but much more complicated than to have a separate drive for Tails and have Ubuntu MATE and Lubuntu together on another drive. This is particularly important if you want to keep your Tails up to date and secure without damaging the other two operating systems.

Edit:

You can install Ubuntu MATE and Lubuntu into your USB pendrive almost like you would install them into an internal drive (a dual boot system). It will be much easier, if you do it after removing the internal drive. I think you will get some useful tips from this link and links from it,

Boot Ubuntu from external drive.

It would be a good idea to pre-partition the drive with gparted and use 'Something else' at the partitioning window of the installer (which is different from the instructions in the link).

sudodus
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