[lug] External USB floppy drives and driver diskettes

[Hugh Brown]

karl horlen wrote:
>> I've used the HP tool, but it has a couple of modes
>> and since I only 
>> ever need it once or twice a year, I have to relearn
>> which mode I want/need.
>>
>> I'll see if I can dig up a link.
>>
>>
> http://h18000.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/23839.html
> 
> Thanks!  That's the one!
> 
>> If you are already booted via cd/dvd, then the
>> ability to see a usb 
>> device (floppy or otherwise) is a function of the
>> booted kernel/os.
> 
> That's what I figured.  
> 
> I've been doing some looking on line and at least for
> use with windows, some of the comments posted by
> customers imply that some of these external USB floppy
> drives need driver installs to function.  Which means
> some of these probably aren't bootable since the
> driver lives in the OS space
> 
> Anybody use one of these with linux at all?
> 

Bootable and installation source are slightly different.  The BIOS may 
be able to boot from the device and load up things, but then the 
kernel/installer it loads may not be able to continue reading.  As an 
example, you can use PXE to start a network boot.  It can download the 
kernel and start the installer, but then the installer may not have a 
driver for the network card and won't be able to complete the installation.

I believe the same is possible/true for locally attached boot devices. 
Though I'm not positive.

Hugh