[Ma-linux] Re: [Novalug] Large and "small" media -- robustness?

[Roger W. Broseus]

There was some discussion on one of these lists some months ago about this
very topic. The short (small?) of it was that algorithms are used to avoid
over-writting the same locations on flash media because they have
limitations on the number of write-cycles. How many? I don't recall.
Definetly not forever.

One source says: Most Flash memories only guarantee a limited number of
erase and re-write cycles. Typical values are guaranteed cycles of 10,000
times. Most parts will work far longer - it's just not guaranteed. So if
your application counts on it - don't design it to do more than the
maximum numbers of erase cycles over the entire lifetime of the product.
  http://www.esacademy.com/faq/docs/flash/lifetime.htm

See also
  http://www.getusb.info/what-is-the-life-cycle-of-a-usb-flash-drive/
-- 
Roger W. Broseus

> Dear colleagues,
>
> There has been a lot of discussion here recently about tera- and
> petabyte disks/arrays etc.  My question is about the teency-weency[1]
>
> I have a Sony usbstick, which cost me about $25 after the rebate,
> and which contains a mere gig.  I tried to mount it this morning
> and had a fit; a horrid error message from the mount command!(I
> forget what it was).  Well, I hurried to back up stuff on one of
> my Microcenter usbsticks(they cost only $15, and also contain a
> gig).  And then my head cleared and I tried a fsck on the
> recalcitrant Sony.  That worked, everything got straightened out,
> and I am, at least temporarily, happy.
>
> But what about the longevity of these flash storage sticks?  does
> anyone have any horror stories?  are there articles out there
> telling us what one can expect?  I don't expect permanence; I'll
> put the usbstick stuff on CDs eventually, which I expect to last
> what remains of my life and a bit beyond.  But I am really relying
> on these lovely little ciggybutts now, and I hope they don't suddenly
> give up the ghost . . .
>
> TIA for info and/or pointers to info.
>
> Alan
>
> [1]  "Teency-weency"???!!  a gig??!!  this codger has lived to see
> the day . . .
>
> --
> Alan McConnell :  http://patriot.net/users/alan
>     There are many good Impeachment sites; one of the best is:
>            www.waifllc.org
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