Should I install an OS (LInux) on a flash drive for a home mini-server?

Question

linux

I want to assemble a home server for storing files (Nas), a torrento rocker, dlna, a few more i2p gateway functions, etc...
I read that some people put the system on a USB flash drive. How good is this solution? If swap is disabled on it, I suspect that the number of entries to fail will still not be large ...
If there is a raid (software) from hdd for storing files, and the system is only on a flash drive, how will raid behave after replacement system crash, flash drive crash) flash drive and installation of a new system?

Answer 1

If you disable swap on it, I suspect that the number of entries to fail will not be large anyway...

But there will be reading. https://habrahabr.ru/post/214803/
A flash drive can be destroyed in a couple of months.
Do not take pity on the wild capacity as much as 2GB from each disk, put the system on raid1. And mark the rest of the disk capacity as you like.
When reinstalling the system, the normal softtrade installer will find and assemble it by itself.

Answer 2

I have a similar system. Even here the question was asked in search of a better solution. So far, I still change flash drives under warranty as soon as they die. Without much intervention in its work in the form of any tuning for writing / reading, flash drives live from several months to a year and a half. The main thing is not to put the same models at the same time, because they will most likely die on the same day. So far, the most reliable cheap ones are Silicon Power Marvel M01.
usb2 - very sad, you can live quite well with usb3. If there is room for an additional disk or there are other options, it is better without flash drives.

Answer 3

in the presence of hdd, the meaning of this tends to zero.
if just a server, no need for hdd, then yes.

Answer 4

There are specialized distributions, such as NAS4Free.
Everything you need is already there.
On the other hand, you need a small flash drive,
they cost now - a penny.
You can just change from time to time.

Answer 5

Buy a raid controller (google it or from the Chinese, rubles for 500-1000 are excellent options), they cost a penny. There will be a bunch of additional sat at once. Through the controller you will assemble the raid itself, on the motherboard you will plug in any hard drive of any size and there will be no problems.
If the raid will be assembled on the controller, then up to the bulb how many times or how you will reinstall the axis.

Answer 6

I had the experience of installing the system on a USB flash drive, to be honest - the idea is so-so. The first couple of days everything works fine, then the brakes and friezes begin, the further the stronger. It’s better to take a budget 256 gigabyte SSD and not worry. If there is an opportunity to raise a raid on the motherboard or buy a separate controller, then it will be great in general, as Dmitry Alexandrov already said