[NTLUG:Discuss] USB Pen Drives

[Steve Baker]

Chris Cox wrote:

> There are a few USB pen drives that DO NOT WORK well at all with
> Linux... so I do recommend doing some research.  I just had someone
> in class who bought one recently and after doing some googling we
> determined it was a lemon with regards to Linux.... that class is
> over, and I don't remember the brand... it started with an "A"..
> that's about all I remember.

I agree - we use them quite a bit at work and we've found that one
class of drives "just work" - where others need to be manually mounted
and unmounted in order to work and seem to 'consume' a new device name
in /media each time they are used.  After a few dozen uses, you have
to reboot Linux to 'recycle' the drive names...there's probably a better
way - but we never figured out what it is.

I have a Cig at r drive and it works very well.  Motherboards that
support booting from USB will boot from it - and all you have to
do to make it work is to plug it in - it automagically mounts somewhere
under /media - and all the time it's plugged in, you can treat it just
like any other disk drive (albeit somewhat slowly).

I'd point out too that many digital camera's function exactly the same
way.  My Olympus D-560 is just as good as a file transfer device.  If
we were allowed to take camera's in to work, I'd use it instead of my
Cig at r drive because it has higher capacity.

I've never tried booting Linux from my camera - but I'm pretty sure
it would work.

I have no idea what distinguishes the 'good' USB drives from the ones
that are a major pain though.  We've just discovered by trial and error.

I recommend going somewhere like Fry's where they have a number of
different USB drives for sale and a good returns policy!

Either that - or get the Cig at r - which I know for sure works.

--------------------------- Steve Baker -------------------------
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