Can I install a new operating system using a USB optical drive?

My Mac is out of date, I'm still running 10.5.8 but have the Snow Leopard disk to update my operating system to 10.6.3. However, my built-in optical drive is broken so I use a USB powered optical drive. So, when I start the process of installing the new operating software, will the MAC direct itself to my USB drive to boot when necessary?

Thanks for the replies. Just to clarify, because I'm on 10.5.8 I have to upgrade to Snow Leopard using a dvd disk, which I have. I cannot upgrade to any other more recent operating system until I'm on Snow Leopard, so that's the first thing to do.
So, just to clarify further, I have a DVD drive that plugs into 2 USB ports that I use to burn and read DVDs, ever since the inbuilt DVD drive on my iMac started sticking disks inside.
So...I'm really looking for the best way to do this upgrade with what I have...I don't know whether the Mac will find the disk if it is on the plugged in portable DVD drive rather than the inbuilt DVD drive....
Any advice greatly appreciated...

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