[ale] Linux alternative recommendation ?
Rich Faulkner
rfaulkner at 34thprs.org
Mon Oct 24 14:18:59 EDT 2011
Mucho $$ yes, but an option. The carrier that I have can swing both
ways: eSATA or USB. Bottlenecks aside it gives flexibility when you
can get it (and I like flexibility). Build a multi-boot system there
and viola. My first choice is USB stick though. Low tech, easy to
carry and replace. Just watch them going through airport security
scanners. I've had a few fried by their equipment in repeated scans.
I'm starting to carry LPS (DoD-SPI) with me as a back-up.........R
On Mon, 2011-10-24 at 13:36 -0400, Ron Frazier wrote:
> Rich,
>
> You have a point there. Actually, you don't even need a drive
> carrier, per se. A 2.5" SATA SSD would fit in the same enclosure as a
> 2.5" SATA HDD would. Pros and cons for external SSD would be the same
> as for memory stick, except for the size and weight factors. Mucho
> dollars!
>
> Ron
>
> On 10/24/2011 11:07 AM, Rich Faulkner wrote:
>
> > One more possibility for portable media (not necessarily for this
> > application but it could be...)
> >
> > SSD in portable drive carrier. I just bought a drive carrier that
> > accepts a SSD like an old 8-track tape (aging myself here) and
> > allows insertion into a 3-1/2 drive bay, external eSATA connection
> > or USB attachment. This was a Fry's find and was under $15. I can
> > supply part number and manufacturer once I get home if desired....
> >
> > Yeah, it's spendy but should hold-up well for a portable solution,
> > light weight and not so prone to mechanical damage as a HDD.
> >
> > Just offering this as Ron had kinda missed SSD....RinL
> >
> >
> >
> > On Mon, 2011-10-24 at 10:53 -0400, Ron Frazier wrote:
> >
> > > Courtney,
> > >
> > > Here's my opinion of the pros and cons of HDD versus Flash (memory
> > > stick). I don't know anything about (old style) ZIP drives, but I think
> > > they're pretty much obsolete. I'm not sure if that's what you meant.
> > >
> > > HDD Pros:
> > >
> > > lots of storage
> > > cheap price
> > > could possibly convert to using the drive internally in the
> > > laptop
> > > could use the drive later to backup your PC
> > > more likely to be able to dual boot / multi boot
> > >
> > > HDD Cons:
> > >
> > > subject to mechanical damage (don't smack or drop it)
> > > usually requires 2 USB ports
> > > heavier
> > > more bulky
> > > requires more power (reduces battery run time)
> > > slower (caveat - as mentioned in my other post, the USB speed
> > > may be the limiting factor)
> > >
> > > Flash (memory stick) Pros:
> > >
> > > small
> > > light
> > > requires only one USB port
> > > draws less power (increases battery run time)
> > > does not require an enclosure
> > > faster (subject to limits of USB speed)
> > >
> > > Flash (memory stick) Cons:
> > >
> > > less storage space
> > > more money per GB
> > > harder to dual boot / multi boot (because of smaller storage
> > > capacity)
> > > easier to lose or misplace
> > > long term longevity is questionable (in my opinion)
> > > subject to electronic damage (static)
> > > (Have you ever walked across a carpet in the winter,
> > > touched a doorknob, and gotten a spark on your finger?)
> > > (If you ever do something that sparks to the memory
> > > stick, even if you don't know it, it will probably destroy it.)
> > > (I would say the memory stick is less likely to incur
> > > damage while traveling than the HDD.)
> > >
> > >
> > > Regarding CD's, if you install your OS to the external HDD, you can boot
> > > directly from it if your PC has the capability to boot from USB. You
> > > don't need a CD. Also, another option is to put multiple operating
> > > systems on your internal HDD. This is what I do. All my PC's can dual
> > > boot between Linux and Windows. You could potentially boot between
> > > multiple versions of Linux as well.
> > >
> > > Sincerely,
> > >
> > > Ron
> > >
> > >
> > > On 10/24/2011 3:40 AM, Courtney Thomas wrote:
> > > > Ron,
> > > >
> > > > Thank you for all the important concerns unconsidered by me at this
> > > > point, but it sounds like... I might be better advised to use live CD
> > > > distros with a portable HD (rather than zip drives) for reliability and
> > > > space.
> > > >
> > > > If true, what am I giving up if going that route ? Speed ?
> > > >
> > > > Gratefully,
> > > >
> > > > Courtney
> > > >
> > > > On 10/23/2011 12:37 PM, Ron Frazier wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> Courtney,
> > > >>
> > > >> What I'm discussing relates to using a memory stick for your purpose.
> > > >> Most of it won't apply if using a HDD for storage. I will freely admit
> > > >> to not being an expert in booting from a flash memory stick. However,
> > > >> here are some things to think about. You probably want a high speed
> > > >> memory stick. They have different class numbers. Higher is better, and
> > > >> they don't always say on the label. I don't have the numbers
> > > >> memorized. Get something of high quality. Pony up a few extra dollars
> > > >> for something with a 5 year warranty, rather than a 1 year. (That would
> > > >> apply to a HDD too.) The device should have built in wear leveling, and
> > > >> should have SLC memory circuits which have greater longevity. This is
> > > >> also not usually on the label. Flash memory cells can only be written a
> > > >> certain number of times before they degrade. When I was teaching at a
> > > >> technical college, I always told the students not to rely on a memory
> > > >> stick for permanent storage. They can flake out sometimes. The other
> > > >> thread I had posted about my relative wanting to recover photos is an
> > > >> example. Obviously, storing an OS on the thing is a more permanent
> > > >> application, and you don't want any bits suddenly going missing. I
> > > >> would back up the entire memory stick from one to another periodically,
> > > >> which would get the OS as well as all your data. (This also would apply
> > > >> to a HDD.)
> > > >>
> > > >> Here are a few items the Linux gurus here (I'm not one) may wish to
> > > >> address. You may not want a swap partition or file, since a swap area
> > > >> will pound the memory stick very hard if the system get's low on
> > > >> resources. There are pros and cons either way. Without swap, if you
> > > >> boot a PC with low RAM, and run too many things, the OS may crash.
> > > >> Also, you may wish to disable write caching to reduce the likelihood of
> > > >> damaging the OS if the memory stick is removed without safely ejecting
> > > >> it. The USB port may automatically disable write caching, I don't know
> > > >> about that.
> > > >>
> > > >> In the past, I've heard of people running Linux on a memory stick and
> > > >> burning out the stick within a few months. That was a while back, so
> > > >> I'm not sure how the modern technology affects these issues. Makers of
> > > >> memory sticks, and SSD's, now say cell wear is not a problem. That may
> > > >> or may not be true, but I'm not totally convinced. While I would like
> > > >> to have an SSD, I'm not yet convinced that they can last 5 - 15 years,
> > > >> the way a properly maintained and not mechanically damaged HDD can.
> > > >>
> > > >> Sincerely,
> > > >>
> > > >> Ron
> > > >>
> > > >> On 10/23/2011 11:42 AM, D. Marshall Lemcoe Jr. wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >>> There are some very fine 32GB and 64GB in the sub-$100 price range and
> > > >>> anything will suit a live-key. if you're going to be traveling, the
> > > >>> USB flash drive will be your better bet because there is no chance of
> > > >>> it breaking like a regular HDD might.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> As for the distribution, I would recommend something that doesn't take
> > > >>> a lot of setup and configuration to use, like Ubuntu or Fedora.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> On Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 10:17 AM, Jim Kinney<jim.kinney at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>> With the cost of removable media what it is, it's feasable to have several
> > > >>>> distros on a 250GB drive all sharing a /home and selectable at boot from
> > > >>>> grub.
> > > >>>> Or carry a selection of live CD/DVD media and a thumb drive for storage.
> > > >>>> This is easier unless the laptop has no cd drive. Older laptops may not be
> > > >>>> able to boot from usb.
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> On Oct 23, 2011 9:41 AM, "Richard Faulkner"<rfaulkner at 34thprs.org> wrote:
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>>> What is the most important feature of the OS? Security? Media support?
> > > >>>>> Something basic or something w/everything not nailed down?
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> -----Original Message-----
> > > >>>>> From: Richard Bronosky<Richard at Bronosky.com>
> > > >>>>> Reply-to: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts<ale at ale.org>
> > > >>>>> To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts<ale at ale.org>
> > > >>>>> Subject: Re: [ale] Linux alternative recommendation ?
> > > >>>>> Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 09:02:53 -0400
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> How much storage do you need? Could a flash drive work? 32G or 64G?
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> On Oct 23, 2011 8:27 AM, "Courtney Thomas"<courtneycthomas at bellsouth.net>
> > > >>>>> wrote:
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> I'd like to carry a portable Linux USB HD installation for traveling
> > > >>>>> with my laptop and would appreciate suggestions, not only for which
> > > >>>>> Linux flavor but also which drive.
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> Thanks,
> > > >>>>> C.Thomas
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>>
> > >
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> (PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
> call on the phone. I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy
> mailing lists and such. I don't always see new messages very quickly.)
>
> Ron Frazier
>
> 770-205-9422 (O) Leave a message.
> linuxdude AT c3energy.com
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