Boot Intel Mac Mini From External USB DVD Drive

Okay, so my Mac Mini's internal DVD drive is dead (you know the slot loading drive's quality ;-) ). I had such a great pain discovering that, when my Mac Mini's file system needs repair.

I have long heard that the recent Macs would boot from external USB DVD drive. Since I have an external Plextor PX-708UF, I have the luxury to try it out now.

I spent a great deal of time on Thursday and Friday night, but I couldn't manage the Mac Mini to boot from the USB external drive. I resorted to rEFIt, but it wasn't successful either.

Turns out that I have to connect the USB to my Mac Mini's onboard port, rather than any external USB hub.