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

submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks 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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[-] dhork@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

There is such a thing as industrial-grade flash chips, they have better specs and durability. I am familiar with them in terms of using the chips directly in circuit boards, and also industrial grade SD cards. But I bet if you look for industrial USB 3.0 sticks, you will find them. Industrial flash vendors may also have free utilities available that can help you better diagnose failures if you care to.

They will be more expensive, but if you are only buying low quantities you can probably invest another $40 or $50 per device (just my guess) to get more longevity out of it.

this post was submitted on 21 Jul 2025

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