[ale] Linux alternative recommendation ?
Courtney Thomas
courtneycthomas at bellsouth.net
Mon Oct 24 15:20:10 EDT 2011
Rich,
If airport scanners can fry USB drives, then I'm out on that choice.
What the heck is an LPS (DoD-SPI) ?
Thanks,
C.Thomas
On 10/24/2011 2:18 PM, Rich Faulkner wrote:
> 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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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 <mailto:Richard at Bronosky.com>>
>>>> >>>>> Reply-to: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts<ale at ale.org <mailto:ale at ale.org>>
>>>> >>>>> To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts<ale at ale.org <mailto: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 <mailto: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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