[ale] Linux alternative recommendation ?

[Rich Faulkner]

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
> >>>>>
> >>>>>            
> 
> 


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