Source: https://mayphus.org/notes/local-media-ubuntu-usb-boot-probe/
Title: A smaller USB boot probe
Metadata: {"date":"2026-10-08","id":"local-media-ubuntu-usb-boot-probe","kind":"note","links":[{"label":"Full reconstruction article","url":"https://mayphus.org/local-media-ubuntu-install/"}],"tags":["linux","systems"],"topic":"making","type":"note"}

After the installed guest from the [local-media Ubuntu reconstruction](https://mayphus.org/local-media-ubuntu-install/) exited, a separate diskless probe presented the same hybrid image through an emulated USB mass-storage device. It had no installation target or network adapter. The installer kernel reached its initial userspace handoff in approximately three seconds, and the probe was stopped there.

That establishes a virtual USB-storage boot path only. A full installation through this USB attachment was not tested. It says nothing conclusive about a physical SD slot, SD reader, firmware, USB Ethernet adapter, or a specific mini-PC model. No matching physical machine was tested.