RE: Running linux from CF

[tdeloggio]

Anyone have experience running linux from compact flash media?

I need to make linux machines to run OpenSwan at a few sites in my company. Since some sites have no IT staff, I want these machines to have very high reliability. I'm thinking that zero moving parts would increase my reliability a bit, so I went with C3 processors (no fan needed) and I'm thinking of using CF Media with IDE-CF adaptors as primary storage.

Any thoughts on what to expect from CF as primary storage, as far as performance and reliability are concerned?

[easuter]

well, i've never actually used compact flash as a media storage, but from what i've read its really fast. not sure about reliability though.

[gtmtnbiker98]

I think that you are actually increasing complexity which migh decrease reliability. If you are that worried about hardware failure(s) have you considered a RAID array with redundant power supplies? That is about as reliable as you can get by today's standards.

[tdeloggio]

The question really is: Does CF have a lower failure rate than rotational-disk storage?

If my guess is correct and it does have a lower failure rate, I'll sacrifice simplicity for reliability.

hrm

[fgonzales]

I read somewhere once that the memory in a CF device has a limited amount of writes before it wears out. This is not a problem for the kind of usage a CF normally goes through, but it might be in the kind of environment you intend to use it.


-fernando