<p>You can run MultiBit on a pen drive in a portable manner if you include Java runtime environments (JREs) for the operating systems you are interested in.  By including a JRE on the pen drive you can be sure it will run on the target computer.  MultiBit runs on Windows, Mac and Linux.</p>

<p>There is some help on how to set up MultiBit on a pen drive here : <a href="http://multibit.org/help_runFromUSBDrive.html" rel="nofollow">http://multibit.org/help_runFromUSBDrive.html</a></p>

<p>You can create a shell script / bat file with the single line: 'local-path-to-jre/java -jar multibit-exe.jar' to start it up using your included JRE.  (Note that Macs are guaranteed to have Java installed so you do not need to supply a JRE for that platform.)</p>

<p>There is a detailed tutorial on how to install a JRE here: <a href="http://www.dreamincode.net/forums/topic/42544-putting-java-on-your-flash-drive/" rel="nofollow">http://www.dreamincode.net/forums/topic/42544-putting-java-on-your-flash-drive/</a></p>

<p>You can store your MultiBit wallets on your pen drive.   By default the path to the wallets is stored in the MultiBit config file multibit.properties as an absolute path (i.e. with a drive letter/ name).   I think you can tweak this to put in a <em>relative</em> path which would then open automatically on any computer.   Alternatively you can just go to the 'Your Wallets' screen and press the 'Open Wallet' button to open it manually.</p>

<p>Strictly speaking MultiBit does keep a local copy of the blockchain but it is the bitcoinj block chain so is less than 20 megabytes. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-07T22:00:48.780Z
2012-01-08T11:20:38.057Z
2012-01-08T11:20:38.057Z
jim618
<p>For now, there two lightweight client that can possibly solve your problem - <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Electrum" rel="nofollow">Electrum</a> and <a href="http://multibit.org/" rel="nofollow">MultiBit</a>.</p>

<p>You can always try an eWallet for holding small amount of coins, and run a normal Bitcoin client at home.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-07T20:52:16.510Z
2012-01-08T13:41:05.633Z
2012-01-08T13:41:05.633Z
ThePiachu
<p>I have just purchased an Ironkey. Which version of bitcoin client can run without needing installation or download of the blockchain? One which may connect to a server to access blockchain info?</p>

<p>So essentially I can plug it in anywhere and send money direct from the secure drive.</p>

<security>
Which bitcoin client distribution to use on a secure pen drive?
MaxSan
# Which bitcoin client distribution to use on a secure pen drive?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-01-07)

I have just purchased an Ironkey. Which version of bitcoin client can run without needing installation or download of the blockchain? One which may connect to a server to access blockchain info?

So essentially I can plug it in anywhere and send money direct from the secure drive.

**Tags:** security


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-01-07. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

You can run MultiBit on a pen drive in a portable manner if you include Java runtime environments (JREs) for the operating systems you are interested in. By including a JRE on the pen drive you can be sure it will run on the target computer. MultiBit runs on Windows, Mac and Linux.

There is some help on how to set up MultiBit on a pen drive here : <http://multibit.org/help_runFromUSBDrive.html>

You can create a shell script / bat file with the single line: 'local-path-to-jre/java -jar multibit-exe.jar' to start it up using your included JRE. (Note that Macs are guaranteed to have Java installed so you do not need to supply a JRE for that platform.)

There is a detailed tutorial on how to install a JRE here: <http://www.dreamincode.net/forums/topic/42544-putting-java-on-your-flash-drive/>

You can store your MultiBit wallets on your pen drive. By default the path to the wallets is stored in the MultiBit config file multibit.properties as an absolute path (i.e. with a drive letter/ name). I think you can tweak this to put in a *relative* path which would then open automatically on any computer. Alternatively you can just go to the 'Your Wallets' screen and press the 'Open Wallet' button to open it manually.

Strictly speaking MultiBit does keep a local copy of the blockchain but it is the bitcoinj block chain so is less than 20 megabytes.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2012-01-07. Score: 1

For now, there two lightweight client that can possibly solve your problem - [Electrum](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Electrum) and [MultiBit](http://multibit.org/).

You can always try an eWallet for holding small amount of coins, and run a normal Bitcoin client at home.


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