Drawbacks of installing linux on usb stick?

Posted by Znarkus on Server Fault See other posts from Server Fault or by Znarkus
Published on 2009-12-22T19:12:47Z Indexed on 2010/03/31 4:23 UTC
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Filed under:

linux

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usb-flash-drive

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usb-boot

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Performance

I am setting up a router/nas/http/whatever server based on an ION mini-ITX board. I've installed Ubuntu Server on an old 160 GB drive, but it generates a lot more heat and vibrates more than my other new drive (storage). It just doesn't fit the concept, and worse: it takes up a SATA port.

As SSD's are crazy expensive I'm thinking of buying an extra 4 GB USB stick, and raid0 it. From my point of view, these are the pros/cons:

Pros

Low power consumption
No vibrations
No heat
Smaller
Get to buy new, larger USB stick (:D)

Cons

Shorter life time
Slower
Raid 0
More work maintaing/installing?

I think the pros overweighs the cons. Shorter life time and raid 0 is countered by regular backups of the configs/settings. Slower is partially countered by raid 0, and I don't know about the last one.

What do You think? Experience? Another solution?

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