How long do you use USB drives for live Linux systems? (infosec.pub)

submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by occultist8128@infosec.pub to c/linux4noobs@programming.dev

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i’ve been using a USB 2.0 drive to run a live linux OS for the past couple of years, mostly for storing linux ISOs, installing linux on laptops and live persistence. lately, i’ve noticed a huge drop in write speed, currently around 1.8 MB/s, which is pretty slow for the tasks i do. i'm planning to replace it with a USB 3.0 drive in the future, but i wanted to ask:

how long have you typically used a USB drive for live linux systems, including for live persistence??
do you still use USB 2.0, or did you upgrade to a 3.0 or higher?
any tips to extend the lifespan of a USB drive when using it for live linux systems?

i'm mainly looking for advice and insights on how others manage their USB drives for similar use cases. thanks in advance for sharing!

EDIT: it's a usb stick. forgot to tell.

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[-] CameronDev@programming.dev 3 points 5 months ago

Haven't used USB for this in years, USB flash drives just aren't reliable.

Maybe worth trying a USB SSD, it might give you much better performance and reliability.

[-] occultist8128@infosec.pub 2 points 5 months ago

okie

this post was submitted on 21 Jul 2025

17 points (100.0% liked)

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