Working USB-Sticks

My latest favorite is using microSD and this tiny adapter: http://www.amazon.com/elago-Mobile-microSDHC-Memory-Reader/dp/B002HGFKR8.

I've had success with an 8 gig Corsair and Lenny.

I hava a workaround for usb sticks not recognized by uboot by using the mtd3.

This involves loading the kernel and initrd files from a ubifs volume instead of usb, while still using rootfs from usb stick.

Boot debian on USB stick with a warm boot and first of all install the needed tools:

apt-get install mtd-utils uboot-envtools

Now prepare the ubifs partition (this was taken from http://forum.doozan.com/read.php?2,72):

flash_eraseall /dev/mtd3
ubiformat /dev/mtd3 -y
ubiattach /dev/ubi_ctrl -m 3
ubimkvol /dev/ubi0 -m -N rootfs
mkdir /tmp/ubifs
mount -t ubifs ubi0:rootfs /tmp/ubifs

This will create a ubifs partition in mtd3. Then copy uImage and uInitrd in the ubifs partition:

cd /tmp/ubifs
mkdir boot
cp /boot/uImage /boot/uInitrd boot/

Unmount the partition:

cd /tmp
umount /tmp/ubifs

Finally it's time to change the environment variables:

fw_setenv doozan_bootcmd "usb start; run force_rescue_bootcmd; run ubifs_bootcmd; run usb_bootcmd; usb stop; run rescue_bootcmd; run pogo_bootcmd; reset"
fw_setenv marcov_hybrid_bootcmd "run usb_set_bootargs; if ubi part data && ubifsmount rootfs && ubifsload 0x800000 /boot/uImage && ubifsload 0x1100000 /boot/uInitrd; then bootm 0x800000 0x1100000; fi"
fw_setenv bootcmd "run marcov_hybrid_bootcmd; run doozan_bootcmd"

Even thought this method worked for me, I suggest you to have a serial console cable in case something goes wrong.

Sandisk Cruzer Slice 8gb. Works great.

Lexar 16 GB Works Perfect !!

Timing cached reads = 7224.61 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads = 87.18 MB/sec

Quote
Arto
Arto
Re: Working USB-Sticks
May 20, 2011 06:42PM
Lexar 16 GB Works Perfect !!

Timing cached reads = 7224.61 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads = 87.18 MB/sec

Cached and Buffered = Not reading it from thumbdrive.

Post the LOWEST speeds you get from the benchmark. Those may be the ACTUAL write speeds of the thumbdrive you are using. They're generally in the 7-15MB/sec ballpark.

I checked two of Transcend JetFlash 300 8GB. Both doesn't work (cold/warm boot)
Can't boot from Verbatim StoreNGo 16GB (cold/warm boot)!

Kingston DataTraveler 100 G2 4Go couldn't boot ... :(

Recently tested out a Sandisk Cruzer Blade and Cruzer Edge, both work great. Not terribly fast, but no issues with warm or cold booting.

The SD Plus USB Sandisk Ducati branded card still remains my most favourite out of the bunch though. The 4GB card currently sits on the eBays for $23 approx. Very solid 15 to 20MB/sec writes.

Just installed on a scandisk cruzer 8gb.

thanks for this wonderful resource jeff!

Verbatim STORE N GO 8 GB (black sliding body) boots warm and cold. Cheap stick, but poor write performance.

hdparm -tT /dev/sda

/dev/sda:
 Timing cached reads:   360 MB in  2.00 seconds = 179.95 MB/sec
 Timing buffered disk reads:  42 MB in  3.11 seconds =  13.49 MB/sec

dd count=100 bs=1M if=/dev/zero of=./test.img
100+0 Datensätze ein
100+0 Datensätze aus
104857600 Bytes (105 MB) kopiert, 69,0586 s, 1,5 MB/s

rat-netbook Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Recently tested out a Sandisk Cruzer Blade and
> Cruzer Edge, both work great. Not terribly fast,
> but no issues with warm or cold booting.
>
> The SD Plus USB Sandisk Ducati branded card still
> remains my most favourite out of the bunch though.
> The 4GB card currently sits on the eBays for $23
> approx. Very solid 15 to 20MB/sec writes.

Thanks for the Sandisk Ducati recommendation. I've been using this for a few months, performance's been great! I also used another on my Cannon camera, phenomenal speed and very convenient. You can also find this drive on Overstock.com for similar price (a little bit cheaper if you buy 2):

http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/SanDisk-Extreme-Ducati-Edition-4GB-SD-Plus-Flash-Memory-Card-Bulk-Packaging/5113833/product.html

bodhi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for the Sandisk Ducati recommendation. I've
> been using this for a few months, performance's
> been great! I also used another on my Cannon
> camera, phenomenal speed and very convenient. You
> can also find this drive on Overstock.com for
> similar price (a little bit cheaper if you buy
> 2):
>
> http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/SanDisk-Extre
> me-Ducati-Edition-4GB-SD-Plus-Flash-Memory-Card-Bu
> lk-Packaging/5113833/product.html

Now you know why I love it. It being an SD Plus card is just a huge bonus. It's also a nice performance boost in straight up SD mode as you've discovered. Perfect for cameras and the original SD based sheevaplugs. Just a shame that having the USB plug built in isn't the default for SD cards in general. The ExtremeIII cards are also *quite* nice, but when it comes to tradeoffs... faster writing speeds versus having that oh-so-handy USB connector on there... USB connector, every time.

Hi,
I use a TREKSTOR Traveler 8GB stick as /dev/sda

I did like hkramski:
debian:~# hdparm -tT /dev/sda
/dev/sda:
Timing cached reads: 510 MB in 2.01 seconds = 254.29 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 38 MB in 3.05 seconds = 12.46 MB/sec

Coldstart with the stick does not work, without stick it boots to the left over pogoplug system
Now plug in the stick and reboot does the trick
System boots awful slowly
minidlna seems not to start on boot although rc0.d (and so forth are set

When I hook a samsung 160GB to the mini usb port
(I desintegrated the right wall of the HD bay so a cheap chinese 2.5" housing fits,
but is not positioned neatly in the middle)
the system does not do a warm boot.
There are other issues around using the samsung in the bay port but I'l write about this in a different thread.

In a few week I will set up the system new on a different stick i have available for comparision.
Another setup will use the samsung.

rgds

Martin

SONY Ultrablack 8G works OK!

Hi, I was able to install Debian on Dane-elec 8gb flash drive however cold start did not work. I tried 2gb micro SD card with USB adapter but it ended up initializing on /dev/sdd1. According to the installation script, uboot requires usb on /dev/sda1. Please let me know how to install Debian on partition other than sda1 or how to adjust uboot...

I gave up with usb sticks...
I used marcov_ method (kernel and initrd on mtd3) and I've changed boot command line for usb linux system in order to search my rootfs by label (you can set it also to use uuid).

These are the variables I've chianged on uboot:
usb_root=LABEL=mylabel
usb_rootfstype=ext3

I've also set netconsole on usb_custom_params to get kernel messages via udp like u-boot netconsole, but that's another topic.

This evening I'm trying to boot in this way directly from my usb 3.5" harddrive to get a free usb and more speed, and it seems that it works. Great!

my 2 cents

Hi fear_factory,

is a how to available on the "marcov_method"?

to change the variables in uboot, do I need to recompile it?
If yes, is there a how to available?
THX

Martin

ititoff Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hi, I was able to install Debian on Dane-elec 8gb
> flash drive however cold start did not work. I
> tried 2gb micro SD card with USB adapter but it
> ended up initializing on /dev/sdd1. According to
> the installation script, uboot requires usb on
> /dev/sda1. Please let me know how to install
> Debian on partition other than sda1 or how to
> adjust uboot...


Turn device off, unplug all other drives from it, boot with only your MicroSD card plugged in.

Drive lettering does not increment unless you have other devices taking that slot. The MiniUSB plug gets priority, so if you have a drive in the slot, it will always get SDA. This includes the LCD Keyframes.

@MartinH,
Look up a few posts. You'll see one from marcov_. His method is to place the uImage and uInitrd in the nand on mtd3. It'll always find the kernel and initrd image to aid in the continuation of the boot process. Basically it allows for sticks that won't boot directly to still house the root filesystem.

http://forum.doozan.com/read.php?2,5552
And in this GoFlex Net threads I explained how to use partition labels to denote the root location since the GoFlex Net has a notorious problem where it won't boot from USB if there's a hard drive attached because the uboot and kernel disk enumeration are different. It just requires you to set the partition label and change a uboot variable.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/09/2011 05:51AM by kraqh3d.

Sandisk Cruzer Fit.

http://www.sandisk.com/products/usb-flash-drives/cruzer-fit-usb-flash-drive

Entire flashdrive in a micro Bluetooth dongle size package.

Warm and cold bootable. Averages about 4MB/sec write speeds. Good for people who can't find those tiny MicroSD adapters or want something a little more discrete than other thumbdrives.

ADATA C720 8GB works.
Tried another two 16GB and both are not working.

rat-netbook Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Recently tested out a Sandisk Cruzer Blade and
> Cruzer Edge, both work great. Not terribly fast,
> but no issues with warm or cold booting.
>
> The SD Plus USB Sandisk Ducati branded card still
> remains my most favourite out of the bunch though.
> The 4GB card currently sits on the eBays for $23
> approx. Very solid 15 to 20MB/sec writes.

I've also tried several Sandisk Cruiser Edge 4GB. Warm and Cold booting work fine! Costco has 4-packs for less than $30.

SanDisk Cruiser 8GB

[root@alarm /]# hdparm -tT /dev/sda

/dev/sda:
Timing cached reads: 450 MB in 2.01 seconds = 224.32 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 40 MB in 3.35 seconds = 11.93 MB/sec

Hello everyone

I have tried 1 usb-stick and 1 sd-card
Both work perfekt with cold and warm boot.

In the begining i get disk failure after cold boot,
but it helps to chnge the boot parameters "fw_setenv bootcmd usb start ; usb stop ; usb......." (search in the forum for right syntax)


Kingstone Datatraveler

Timing cached reads: 420 MB in 2.01 seconds = 209.44 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 54 MB in 3.08 seconds = 17.56 MB/sec

dd count=100 bs=1M if=/dev/zero of=./test.img
100+0 records in
100+0 records out
104857600 bytes (105 MB) copied, 36.2397 s, 2.9 MB/s

Sandisk Extreme 3 class6 8GB

Timing cached reads: 580 MB in 2.00 seconds = 290.02 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 48 MB in 3.03 seconds = 15.85 MB/sec

dd count=100 bs=1M if=/dev/zero of=./test.img
100+0 records in
100+0 records out
104857600 bytes (105 MB) copied, 20.9562 s, 5.0 MB/s

/Andreas H (Sweden)

Intenso Business Line 4 GB works like a charm.

... but failed after 1 year 24/7 uptime (data errors), so I will probably want to go for a CF Card option.

Stefan

Tested debian on sandisk sdhc 4Go (extreme3 => class 6). it looks working fine with average 15 Mo/s r/w.
Boot is pretty fast but not enough.
Just consider booting on sata disk, it's far better faster and more reliable.
I also booted on compact flash 16 go Silicon power 200x (25Mo/s read, 9 Mo/s write). Not much difference with sdhc
If you use memory card into usb card reader hard drive, check your usb cable.
Also consider connecting mass storage to external powered usb hub.

bturrie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've had success with an 8 gig Corsair and Lenny.





Congradulations

has anyone tried with a compact flash or sdcard in a memory card reader as boot device?

patriot supersonic express usb3 16 Go is ok too
announced as 50-20 Mo/s (r/w), only 27-17 Mo/s on windows in usb2 port

Quote

debian:~# lsusb
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 13fe:5000 Kingston Technology Company Inc.
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 05e3:0608 Genesys Logic, Inc. USB-2.0 4-Port HUB
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
debian:~# hdparm -tT /dev/sda

/dev/sda:
Timing cached reads: 580 MB in 2.00 seconds = 289.90 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 78 MB in 3.02 seconds = 25.79 MB/sec

debian:/tmp# dd count=100 bs=1M if=/dev/zero of=./test.img
100+0 records in
100+0 records out
104857600 bytes (105 MB) copied, 24.2449 s, 4.3 MB/s
debian:/tmp#