This guide is part of Billsblip.com

How to install OpenBSD 4.1 plus a basic web browser to a USB flash drive. This enables the user to have a extremely safe connection to the internet even on a highly infected computer. Unlike a LiveCD the user is able to make changes to the OS and save files to the disk. If the user is used to a windows environment they will notice that the connection using OpenBSD will have a much faster connection to the internet. Booting a computer from a USB does not damage your hard drive unless you do something really stupid. In this tutorial I will only go as far as to installing minimo which is a fully functional web browser similar to firefox, but using the same technique you are able to get a wide variety of programs. Chances are there are a lot better ways of installing OpenBSD to a USB flash drive but this method is fairly easy. Just because it works for me does not mean that it will work for everyone. This will erase everything from the USB Flash Drive.(obviously)

If you run across any problems during the install look at the full installation guide located at http://www.openbsd.org/faq/faq4.html.

The first thing that you will need is either a installation cd or a cd installer. While it is possible to create a cd installer with the files on the ftp and install completely from a cd I go with the cd installer route.

You can find all the files that you need for this at this location: http://www.openbsd.org/ftp.html

click one of the mirrors and goto 4.1 -> i386 -> cd41.iso

Download the tiny iso image and burn it to cd.

Make sure that you are connected to the internet (plug in the USD Flash drive that you are installing OpenBSD, unplug other USB devices, and reboot your computer from the CD.

After a lot of text you will be presented with a screen that asks you if you want to

(I)nstall, (U)pgrade, or (S)hell

Insert I and hit Enter

hit enter for Terminal type [vt220] and Enter for kbd(8) mapping[none]

When it asks to Proceed with the install type: yes

The installer will now ask you which is the root disk and you will be presented with available disks.

wd0 and sd0.

The wd0 is your hard drive and the sd0 is your flash drive. ((if you have an sd0 and an sd1 check and make sure that you have all other devices other than the internet unplugged. For example my printer will cause the installer to show more than one SCSI drive.))

When asked if you want to use all of sd0 for the installation answer yes.

Hit enter until you get to a prompt with only a >

Type p and hit enter

This will bring up any partitions that you have on the Flash drive. in all likelihood you will get an a & c partitions.

type d and hit enter.

type the letter of any partitions other than c that are on the drive to delete them.

Type a to add partition a

accept the offset.

in the size put in a little less than the number shown as you will still need some left for the swap partition. (I left a little less than 1/10th of the flash for the swap)

accept the rest till it goes back to

>

type a to add partition b

add the rest to the swap partition.

again accept the defaults.

It will now ask you to set up system configurations.

If you don't know and you are connected via a LAN line type in dhcp for IPv4 .

If wireless you will use the IP of your router for Default Ipv4 route.

for example.

Linksys uses 192.168.1.1

D-Link 192.168.0.1

The IP is often printed on the router itself.

After this it will ask you to give it a root password. give it whatever you like.

When it asks you for the location of the sets type in ftp.

When asked for a list of ftp servers, pick one and type it in.

If you have an installer CD type in cd.

the device would be likely cd0

when it asks you which sets you would like type all and hit enter.

or you can just hit enter till they are all selected.

afterwards it will ask you to start sshd by default. yes

Then to start npd by default and type yes.

It will ask you if you expect to run the X Windows System. type yes

Then put in your timezone.

Give it a little while to finish the installation. once the Congrads text shows up type in halt and then reboot from your USB drive.

OpenBSD has started when it displays the time and a login.

your username is root and the password is whatever you gave it earlier. You are able to add another user if you would like by typing in adduser. ((For Linux and Unix based OS it is not common to use root to simply browse the internet)).

once you have logged in type:

pkg_add ftp://ftp.openbsd.org/pub/OpenBSD/4.1/packages/i386/minimo-20061120p6.tgz

((other commands that can be used are pkg_delete for deleting installed packages, and pkg_info to see what is currently installed))

once the package has been installed then type in startx

The X Windows system will appear and there will be a box on the upper left hand side of the screen.

Type in minimo to start the web browser.

To exit the X windows system hit Ctrl+alt+backspace

A list of packages that can be installed on OpenBSD 4.1 for the i386 can be found here:

http://www.openbsd.org/4.1_packages/i386.html

P.S. don't keep anything important on the drive. This will eventually cause your usb drive to die.