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I want a complete guide to make a generic multiboot USB.

Requests:

  • Multiple iso boots;
  • Multiple persistent boots (unlimited size);
  • One partition to data storage;

What I've tried:

MultiSystem only lets 1 persistent ISO.

MultiBootUsb limits your persistent storage to 4GB, no partition for data (still good)

mkusb More than 4GB persistent storage, data partition, but single boot.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

What can be done so far is accepted.

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3 Answers 3

Reset to default
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Ubuntu 19.04 and earlier

MultiBootUSB is a cross platform software written in Python which allows you to install multiple live Linux distros on a USB disk non-destructively and has an option to uninstall distros. From the MultiBootUSB Guide:

MultiBootUSB allows you to do the following

  • Install multiple live Linux distros and other operating systems to a USB disk and make it bootable without erasing existing data.
  • Uninstall installed OSs later.
  • Write ISO images directly to a USB disk (GUI for Linux dd command).
  • Boot ISO images and USB disks directly without rebooting your system using QEMU.
  • Boot USB on UEFI/EFI systems through GRUB2 bootloader support (limited support).

Adding a persistence file

  • Only distros based on Debian, Ubuntu and Fedora are supported.

  • Once you complete Step 2 (Choose an ISO), MultiBootUSB will detect the type of distro and a persistence size chooser slider will appear below the MultiBootUSB tab.

    enter image description here

    The maximum size of the persistence storage space is also automatically calculated according to the USB disk filesystem.

  • Choose the desired persistence size by dragging the slider to the right and follow Step 3 (Click the ↓ Install distro button) as usual.

  • Once the Linux distro is installed successfully, you will find the additional persistence file under the distro install directory.

  • Reboot your system to choose your distro and a persistence menu will be added automatically to the menu entries.

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  • Can you still use it to create the usbdata partition like mkusb does? [I already tried the french MultiSystem application (didnt work) and I was working on MultiBoot right now]
    – Vitor Abella
    Aug 6, 2017 at 5:01
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    @VitorAbella, please ask specifically about the usbdata partition, and I will try to answer with enough details to help you create a system with such a partition. In general, the first partition created will be partition #1 and it will be seen by Windows, if the file system is FAT or NTFS.
    – sudodus
    Aug 7, 2017 at 5:54
  • @sudosus using multibootusb?
    – Vitor Abella
    Aug 7, 2017 at 6:12
  • @sudodus question asked, you can sugest an edit to my question if you want. askubuntu.com/questions/943761/…
    – Vitor Abella
    Aug 7, 2017 at 6:30
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    There is a compressed image file with a persistent live system, that boots in 32-bit and 64-bit computers, in BIOS mode and UEFI mode, even with secure boot. See these links: help.ubuntu.com/community/mkusb/… and help.ubuntu.com/community/mkusb/persistent/LXLE
    – sudodus
    Aug 8, 2017 at 8:49
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Ventoy

Ventoy is installed to a USB disk in seconds.

After installation, OS ISO's can be copy/pasted, dragged/dropped to the USB.

No further setup is required, (unless adding persistence).

MS Windows installer disks can be be added.

Linux OS can be added.

FreeBSD, etc, etc can be added.

"90%+ distros in distrowatch.com are supported. 550+ ISO files are tested".

There is Windows and Linux versions.

It is simpler to use than Etcher.

https://www.ventoy.net/en/index.html

For Ventoy persistence plugin see:

https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_persistence.html

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  • +1; Ventoy is a new tool and it is easy to use, so it is relevant to add this answer to an old question.
    – sudodus
    Nov 19, 2020 at 8:40
  • @sudodus I think MultiBootUSB has been abandoned and is not working with 20.04 and higher. I think Sundar may have had problems with GRUB 2.04. Too bad I really liked it. Sundar is an inspiration to me.
    – C.S.Cameron
    Nov 19, 2020 at 8:48
  • Maybe you can write directly to Sundar and ask or encourage him?
    – sudodus
    Nov 19, 2020 at 8:50
  • @sudodu:s I will make a note to do that as soon as I send you results for 12.6.6 and 2.8.4 ;-)
    – C.S.Cameron
    Nov 19, 2020 at 8:54
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There are numerous ways to accomplish this. Here's a short list:

  1. Multiboot USB as described here.
  2. MultiSystem
  3. YUMI
  4. WinSetupFromUSB (Windows only)
  5. grml-rescueboot (my preference)

I've tried all of these and found them to be relatively simple and easy to use.

Sources:

Experience

https://www.linuxbabe.com/apps/create-multiboot-usb-linux-windows-iso

https://wiki.grml.org/doku.php?id=rescueboot

http://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/Blogs/Productivity-Sauce/Create-a-Multi-boot-USB-Stick-with-MultiSystem

https://www.pendrivelinux.com/yumi-multiboot-usb-creator/

http://www.winsetupfromusb.com/faq/

http://wiki.grml.org/doku.php?id=persistency

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