USB Thumb Drive vs USB Hard Drive
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A minor discussion broke out in the thread What are you doing right now about the use of a USB Thumb drive to run Linux Mint from.
Short Background:
I've used USB drives for LIVE sessions of Linux, but there are times that I want my bookmarks, my tools, and my documents when I take a walk and do not include my laptop. I also have a older ASUS laptop that I intend to use from time to time.Most of the time I may use another persons laptop, so to have a large USB device (hard drive) just isn't practical since it could receive shock from movement. Or become snagged on cords and such.
So I have a SanDisk 16GB 'Micro USB thumb drive.
![A12K_129933313893734150eHu7wS4ddP[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/jBZR4U8.jpg)
I get enough space on it to install Linux Mint 17.1 xfce and have the tools I want to carry with me.
However, Scott stated in the thread WAYDRN:
You don't want a full install onto USB stick. You want to image the Live image to there instead.
LIVE versions have their place. However there are additional tools I wish to be able to carry around with me and have access to, even when I don't carry my full computer. Why is this such a bad idea, and how can I get around it? USB drive are 'cheap' but I don't want to have to replace it every year...
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The main problem is the amount of writes that occur. Can't you still have the additional tools with a persistent image?
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@g.jacobse said:
LIVE versions have their place. However there are additional tools I wish to be able to carry around ......
This statement sounds wrong. Live versions have their place and it is anytime you are going to run from CD, DVD or write sensitive media like USB flash. Why does "however" appear here? This sounds like you think that live installs don't let you install software.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@g.jacobse said:
LIVE versions have their place. However there are additional tools I wish to be able to carry around ......
This statement sounds wrong. Live versions have their place and it is anytime you are going to run from CD, DVD or write sensitive media like USB flash. Why does "however" appear here? This sounds like you think that live installs don't let you install software.
On the LIVE version I can install software, I'll install Unetbootin, Sysstat, and a few others. However, shut down restart (moving to different computer, or being a week later) they [ETA:the programs not native to the LIVE version, those that I installed] are not there.
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USB Thumb Drives are fine for Live images, but keep in mind a lot of them have slow speeds even though they are flash based they are designed for low performance low usage storage. You could just pick up a USB SSD and not have to worry about the speeds or the writes.
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@thecreativeone91 said:
USB Thumb Drives are fine for Live images, but keep in mind a lot of them have slow speeds even though they are flash based they are designed for low performance low usage storage. You could just pick up a USB SSD and not have to worry about the speeds or the writes.
I could - yet it defeats the "ease of carry' as a SSD doesn't fit on my key chain.
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Aren't there some "Live installers" that let you configure persistent storage on the USB device? I know I've seen this, I just can't remember where, lol.
Maybe it was the Fedora USB creator the other day. -
@g.jacobse said:
On the LIVE version I can install software, I'll install Unetbootin, Sysstat, and a few others. However, shut down restart (moving to different computer, or being a week later) they are not there.
Not sure what you mean. Shutdown and restart are missing? You shouldn't need them but if you want them, just install them like anything else.
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@dafyre said:
Aren't there some "Live installers" that let you configure persistent storage on the USB device? I know I've seen this, I just can't remember where, lol.
Maybe it was the Fedora USB creator the other day.Yes, there are.
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@dafyre Most of them do that. That's like what I was saying above, if you have a persistent image it will allow you to install additional applications. The image is also smaller and more compatible with hardware.
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@johnhooks said:
@dafyre Most of them do that. That's like what I was saying above, if you have a persistent image it will allow you to install additional applications. The image is also smaller and more compatible with hardware.
Well - Let's try this:
http://tuxtweaks.com/2014/03/create-linux-mint-persistent-live-usb/
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@g.jacobse said:
@thecreativeone91 said:
USB Thumb Drives are fine for Live images, but keep in mind a lot of them have slow speeds even though they are flash based they are designed for low performance low usage storage. You could just pick up a USB SSD and not have to worry about the speeds or the writes.
I could - yet it defeats the "ease of carry' as a SSD doesn't fit on my key chain.
Huh? an SSD doesn't imply a 2.5" drive. http://www.amazon.com/VisionTek-120GB-Pocket-Drive-900718/dp/B00O0NV5HU
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@thecreativeone91 said:
@g.jacobse said:
@thecreativeone91 said:
USB Thumb Drives are fine for Live images, but keep in mind a lot of them have slow speeds even though they are flash based they are designed for low performance low usage storage. You could just pick up a USB SSD and not have to worry about the speeds or the writes.
I could - yet it defeats the "ease of carry' as a SSD doesn't fit on my key chain.
Huh? an SSD doesn't imply a 2.5" drive. http://www.amazon.com/VisionTek-120GB-Pocket-Drive-900718/dp/B00O0NV5HU
Nice find - however it's still in the 'Large' column I would worry it would get snagged and subsequently damage done to it or to the USB port.
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@scottalanmiller said:
@g.jacobse said:
On the LIVE version I can install software, I'll install Unetbootin, Sysstat, and a few others. However, shut down restart (moving to different computer, or being a week later) they are not there.
Not sure what you mean. Shutdown and restart are missing? You shouldn't need them but if you want them, just install them like anything else.
What he is stalking about is if he uses apt-get to install say... iotop, gparted, and other tools that aren't installed by default... and he shuts down the live system and takes it to another computer, when he boots it up, he has to re-install all the software again -- even though he is running on a USB drive.
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@dafyre said:
@scottalanmiller said:
@g.jacobse said:
On the LIVE version I can install software, I'll install Unetbootin, Sysstat, and a few others. However, shut down restart (moving to different computer, or being a week later) they are not there.
Not sure what you mean. Shutdown and restart are missing? You shouldn't need them but if you want them, just install them like anything else.
What he is stalking about is if he uses apt-get to install say... iotop, gparted, and other tools that aren't installed by default... and he shuts down the live system and takes it to another computer, when he boots it up, he has to re-install all the software again -- even though he is running on a USB drive.
Yes - apologies, I've gone back and edited it in an attempt to clarify things.
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I don't understand the problem - are you really worried about wearing out a cheap disposable item? or is it data loss?
$0.02 - go buy yourself a 5 pack of horrid knock offs (or 2 really nice USB3.0 ones, treat yo self!)
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@thecreativeone91 said:
Huh? an SSD doesn't imply a 2.5" drive. http://www.amazon.com/VisionTek-120GB-Pocket-Drive-900718/dp/B00O0NV5HU
Holy Shit. That is one expensive drive.....
http://www.amazon.com/PNY-Turbo-128GB-Flash-Drive/dp/B00FE2N1WS/
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@anonymous said:
@thecreativeone91 said:
Huh? an SSD doesn't imply a 2.5" drive. http://www.amazon.com/VisionTek-120GB-Pocket-Drive-900718/dp/B00O0NV5HU
Holy Shit. That is one expensive drive.....
http://www.amazon.com/PNY-Turbo-128GB-Flash-Drive/dp/B00FE2N1WS/
It's not expensive it's an SSD. The one you linked to is not an SSD, just a normal flash Drive.
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@thecreativeone91 said:
It's not expensive it's an SSD. The one you linked to is not an SSD, just a normal flash Drive.
Yup, gotta pay for that controller & all the various and sundry bits (like wear levelling)
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It sounds like you are dealing with the same thing I am now - wanting to have a little USB toolbox that you can use on a variety of computers with your favorite diagnostic/cleaning/whatever applications. With that in mind, I discovered that Live USB is much better for this setup as the full install makes your USB Linux dependent on the hardware you initially installed it on.
Creating a persistent drive on the USB seems to work well for storing files, but as you say it's trickier to keep installed applications between sessions.
I'm wondering if there are workarounds, like portable versions of apps that don't depend upon an installation. It might also be possible/worthwhile to store the installation files on the drive and have a shell script to install all your programs from the local repo?
This isn't so much of an answer as it is me saying "I have the same question" but I hope it helps
