SOLVED I need help finding a durable USB flash drive with SLC technology.

[Mazufa]

Hey

I am starting my FreeNAS installation, the HP xw8400 workstation server computer.

This FreeNAS server also comes I am config with an SSH tunnel.


I have tried to look for inexpensive but really sustainable in the SLC technology in a USB flash drive FreeNAS operating system but I have not found anything like that.

Could you kindly provide me with links to durable USB flash drives with SLC technology? My absolute requirement for this USB flash drive is that it has SLC technology and must be at least 16GB.

This is a very urgent matter. I need to find an affordable and truly durable SLC USB flash drive as soon as possible.

I specifically have to use a USB flash drive with SLC technology.

I only have 6 hard drive slots on this HP xw8400 Workstation computer and I need all these slots. Therefore, I cannot use an SSD hard drive with.


Thank you! :)

 

[Jessep]

Just connect an SSD with a SATA->USB cable?

 

[Mazufa]

I would probably succeed and then just have my own power cable for it.

So I choose SSD because it is better than USB stick.




But I need a really reliable and durable SSD with SLC technology. This comes with heavy 24/7 deployment to host FreeNAS and the SSH tunnel.

Could you look for me a reliable SLC SSD hard drive that would be 32gb at 125gb.

I look forward to suggestions from you because I have a little bad to look for a reliable SLC SSD disks.

SLC technology is my absolute requirement for this SSD.

However, this must be as affordable as possible.

 

[HoneyBadger]

"Affordable" and "SLC USB DOM" don't tend to go together, but you could investigate the Innodisk USB DOM devices.

You'll probably be ahead financially by doing a USB-to-SATA convertor and a small Intel SSD though.

Why the push for SLC? The maturity of MLC NAND these days from reputable vendors is fine.

 

[Mazufa]

SLC is the most durable option and it is my decision that there must be SLC here I will not give up.

Could you give me internet links to durable SLC SSDs or USB SLC flash drives?


What transformer did you mean?

Could you pass me links? I'm really bad English and I use a lot of google translator.


It would be good if you can help me find the SLC SSD disk fast or else USB SLC.


I can pay more if necessary.

 

[HoneyBadger]

SLC was the most durable option, many years ago, before manufacturers improved their yields and technology on MLC.

Currently available SLC devices target the industrial sector and usually are intended to support a wider temperature range than a traditional datacenter. Prices are significantly higher, this seller for example is asking 118.00 € for an 8GB disk which is considered the "minimum size" to run FreeNAS these days:

http://www.memorydepot.com/ssd/listcat.html?catid=USBFLASH

You would be far better off with a reliable well-branded SSD (such as an Intel) and using an adapter like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-Adapter-Optimized-EC-SSHD/dp/B011M8YACM

Of course, if you are after maximum reliability and uptime, you will need two of everything, and install FreeNAS with a mirrored boot configuration.

 

[Mazufa]

My friend suggested me this 16GB SLC USB Flash Drive. I think it is sized enough for FreeNAS.


Here would be my friend's recommended 16GB USB flash drive with SLC technology: https://geizhals.eu/winkom-pendrive...tgFDJkUox8orZ5zwoli5Ll1u0_agPwkJgdUgaZdnVY3jg


From what I've read about this USB flash drive so this should be extremely durable and reliable.

I would like to hear your opinion about this Winkom Pendrive 16GB, USB-A 3.0 USB flash drive before I buy it.

 

[HoneyBadger]

I've never heard of the brand.

Again, if you are looking for maximum reliability, regardless of the brand or solution decided on, you should run two of them in a mirrored boot configuration.

 

[Mazufa]

I buy 2 identical USB flash drives and then make a complete backup to another stick.

Then I take it to my bank safe for storage. So I think this would become really reliable.

 

[Jailer]

and then make a complete backup to another stick.

That's not needed. Saving a copy of your current config is all you need to do.

I believe you are really overthinking this.

 

[Mazufa]

I make my FreeNAS server on my HP xw8400 Workstation computer.

However, I have had because of efficient power SSH tunnel and FreeNAS required to buy the 32GB ECC DDR2 server memory and the Intel Xeon 5150 processor LGA-771 processors 2p position.


When my first FreeNAS server is ready I backup to another similar flash drive :)

I look forward to receiving parts from Ebay. I'm also placing this SLC USC for Amazon for the FreeNAS OS :)

Here's a link to the USB flash drive I'm buying this 16GB is sure to be perfect and enough ?: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B005BSKCNQ...geizhals10-21&ascsubtag=9OEqSoOiCVLU7wfGUYR9Q


I make a FreeNAS server with SSH tunnel from this computer with minor component changes but otherwise this is the computer I use as a blank: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00712281




I bought this for these processors: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Matching-P...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649




I bought this for these ECC RAM Memory: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Micron-Mem...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649





This is going to be a really interesting project! :) I look forward to parts falling down for me within a month.

 

[NASbox]

I'd go the SSD route, given a decent size SSD (120GB-they are really cheap these days!) and the amount of writing that is done to the boot drive, the drive will likely outlive the motherboard.

Keep a backup of your configuration and the install and you should be able to recover from anything very quickly.

The most likely problem is going to be corruption of your media (and a mirror may not prevent that). Back in the day, I had an el-cheapo USB drive go bad, but since switching to an SSD the only problem I had was with a bad upgrade. I just reinstalled over it and reloaded the configuration and everything was more or less back to normal. (I have some custom non-supported stuff on the boot drive that needed to be fixed). If you are running a standard install you should be fine.

You would be far better off with a reliable well-branded SSD (such as an Intel) and using an adapter like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-Adapter-Optimized-EC-SSHD/dp/B011M8YACM

Of course, if you are after maximum reliability and uptime, you will need two of everything, and install FreeNAS with a mirrored boot configuration.

Take it from @HoneyBadger ... he knows of what he speaks!

 

[Mazufa]

If only you could find me a 120GB SSD with the SLC technology I require. If you can't find a cheap SLC SSD, then I'll buy the SLC USB flash drive I introduced.

So can you look at a very reliable 20-80 € 120GB SLC SSD? You send link for this ticket.

 

[joeschmuck]

@Mazufa
I think you have been given very friendly and sound advice on suitable devices to use and the comments are coming from our reliable and very experienced and trusted forum users. I wouldn't trust just anyone but everyone who responded in this thread is trusted.

As for the USB drive you selected, I tried to locate reviews of that product but only found a speed test. If you have a requirement for SLC then you should buy SLC. I don't think any of us understand where the requirement for SLC came from so they were trying to steer you to other options. As an engineer when I create requirements, I have to list exactly what the device must be able to do, then I let someone try to find such a device that meets or exceeds those requirements. Requirements are: transfer speed at Q depths, duration (erase/write count limits per device/cell/TB total), and of course usable capacity.

Anyway, good luck with your project.

 

[NASbox]

If only you could find me a 120GB SSD with the SLC technology I require. If you can't find a cheap SLC SSD, then I'll buy the SLC USB flash drive I introduced.

So can you look at a very reliable 20-80 € 120GB SLC SSD? You send link for this ticket.

Why the big focus on SLC?

Are you worried about Endurance? (erase/write count limits)

If you have a 120GB drive and don't fill it more than 1/2 full, you will have more endurance than a normally configured FreeNAS box boot drive will ever use during it's lifetime.

As @joeschmuck said, worry about ' transfer speed at Q depths, duration (erase/write count limits per device/cell/TB total), and of course usable capacity'.

That said grab any decent name brand SSD, slap on a USB/SATA adapter and power, plug in and you should be good to go. If you want something better, then put two SSD on real SATA ports for redundancy.

 

[NASbox]

@Mazufa I'm really curious why you think SLC is so important.

 

[Mazufa]

SLC technology is known to be extremely durable.

I'm not fully aware of these things but I've read forums and that is why I have chosen to SLC


Then could this Intel 320series SSD be good: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...1313&_nkw=Intel+320+Series+40GB,Internal,2.5" 28SSDSA2BT040G3% + 29% + SSD = 0 & _sacat


This article was recommended this and I'm really impressed. My choice is this Intel320 Series SSD! :)


A forum user said he has had a lot of use of FreeNAS and never had a problem. I would trust this Intel 320SSD if he spoke true.





ixsystems forum ticket: https://www.ixsystems.com/community/threads/sata-ssd-for-boot.71550/


Ebay buy link: https://www.ebay.com/p/219385620?iid=323548302120

Ebay Intel 320SSD buy all link: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...GB,Internal,2.5"+(SSDSA2BT040G3)+SSD&_sacat=0

 

[NASbox]

SLC technology is known to be extremely durable.
I'm not fully aware of these things but I've read forums and that is why I have chosen to SLC

Yes, but in this appliation is really doesn't matter.... the write traffic to the boot drive is minimal.
This is my boot drive after almost 2 years.... Almost nothing for an SSD.

Code:

ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME          FLAG     VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE      UPDATED  WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
241 Total_LBAs_Written      0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       981186

Trust me any halfway decent SSD will be just fine.

Then could this Intel 320series SSD be good: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=Intel+320+Series+40GB,Internal,2.5" 28SSDSA2BT040G3% + 29% + SSD = 0 & _sacat

This article was recommended this and I'm really impressed. My choice is this Intel320 Series SSD! :)

A forum user said he has had a lot of use of FreeNAS and never had a problem. I would trust this Intel 320SSD if he spoke true.

ixsystems forum ticket: https://www.ixsystems.com/community/threads/sata-ssd-for-boot.71550/

Ebay buy link: https://www.ebay.com/p/219385620?iid=323548302120

Ebay Intel 320SSD buy all link: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=Intel+320+Series+40GB,Internal,2.5"+(SSDSA2BT040G3)+SSD&_sacat=0

The Intel drive should be fine, only concern is what condition is a used/refurb drive in? If the drive is in good condition, then it will be more than fine, if it is defective/worn out, then you will have problems.

Hope you get a good one... best of luck!

 

[Mazufa]

I make sure I get 100% good Intel 320 Series 40GB SSD :)

Could you give me a link to a quick adanter yet? The HP xw8400 Workstation doesn't come with a USB 3 interface as standard, but I thought if I bought a USB 3.1 card on PCI-E, would it be a good and good solution?

 

[HoneyBadger]

SLC technology is known to be extremely durable.

The manufacturing technology, maturity, and reliability of the NAND itself is far more important. Here is an example of the durability you can expect from the top tier of modern MLC NAND.

Code:

           Errors Corrected by           Total   Correction     Gigabytes    Total
               ECC          rereads/    errors   algorithm      processed    uncorrected
           fast | delayed   rewrites  corrected  invocations   [10^9 bytes]  errors
read:          0        0         0         0          0     258989.764           0
write:         0        0         0         0          0    5103904.736           0 

This device survived almost 5 petabytes of writes without generating an error. Your boot device will not receive nearly this level of abuse.

The HP xw8400 Workstation doesn't come with a USB 3 interface as standard, but I thought if I bought a USB 3.1 card on PCI-E, would it be a good and good solution?

I believe there is a single USB 2.0 port inside your xw8400 chassis that can be used for this purpose. USB 3.0 is not necessary for a boot device.