USB 2.0 vs 3.0

[crashdev]

I'm configuring a new box for home use, and planned on running the OS off a USB drive.

Is there any performance difference between USB2.0 and 3.0?
I've also read some forums about USB3.0 not being supported and/or having issues during installation. Is USB 3.0 even a viable option?

Thanks!

 

[solarisguy]

USB drive as in hard drive connected using SATA-USB bridge?

USB drive as in a USB solid state memory device?

FreeNAS is an appliance and not a general purpose OS, there is nothing written back to the OS device (unless there is an upgrade or a configuration change). Logs go into a separate ZFS filesystem named .system. It is by default placed on the first data zpool (I am guessing, I do not know the actual algorithm, but it really does not matter for this discussion).

You may be able to shave off some seconds from the boot time when using USB 3.0 (if your chipset is supported), no advantage over USB 2.0 otherwise. Since the OS filesystem is semi-static, a USB solid state memory device tends to be a good choice.

It is possible to mirror the OS device with 9.3.

Someone might be able to compare their experience with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 during the upgrades.

 

[Rilo Ravestein]

You can use USB3 drives (i do), even though USB3 is disabled by default (so is mine), but you really should't care, since:

FreeNAS is an appliance and not a general purpose OS, there is nothing written back to the OS device (unless there is an upgrade or a configuration change). Logs go into a separate ZFS filesystem named .system. It is by default placed on the first data zpool (I am guessing, I do not know the actual algorithm, but it really does not matter for this discussion).

You may be able to shave off some seconds from the boot time when using USB 3.0 (if your chipset is supported), no advantage over USB 2.0 otherwise.

But you shouldn't care about boot time anyway, since you will leave a NAS on 24/7 usually.

 

[crashdev]

USB drive as in hard drive connected using SATA-USB bridge?

USB drive as in a USB solid state memory device?

Sorry for the lack of specificity; USB flash to install the OS onto.
I just own more USB3 devices than I do USB2, I'll try there first and if not I'll swap to USB2.

Thanks

 

[Z300M]

Sorry for the lack of specificity; USB flash to install the OS onto.
I just own more USB3 devices than I do USB2, I'll try there first and if not I'll swap to USB2.

If the USB3 devices are compatible with USB2, I don't see why they wouldn't work.

 

[crashdev]

Am I correct in assuming its not recommended to install FreeNAS from a USB3.0 flash drive? I'm getting errors while doing so. Even while plugging the USB drive into a USB2.0 port.

Also, can you use a USB flash drive to install the OS onto another USB flash drive? What about to itself?

Thanks

 

[Rilo Ravestein]

Am I correct in assuming its not recommended to install FreeNAS from a USB3.0 flash drive? I'm getting errors while doing so. Even while plugging the USB drive into a USB2.0 port.

Strange... Should work plugged into USB2 port. Did you prepare the media correctly (see link to the Manual below)?

Also, can you use a USB flash drive to install the OS onto another USB flash drive? What about to itself?

RTFM ;)
http://doc.freenas.org/9.3/freenas_install.html#preparing-the-media

"Beginning with version 9.3, FreeNAS® must be installed using a menu-driven installer, as the ZFS boot partition is created during the installation. To perform an installation, download the .iso file and write it to either a CD or a USB stick."

This means you cannot install to the installation media.

 

[crashdev]

Strange... Should work plugged into USB2 port. Did you prepare the media correctly (see link to the Manual below)?

Yup. Followed it to the T. Even tried multiple block sizes with the 'DD' command.

This means you cannot install to the installation media.

I assumed as much. I tried to install it to itself the first time around, thought about it for a quick second and realized how terribly illogical it was to try. You can't install a new foundation on a house without first lifting it off the existing one.

 

[Rilo Ravestein]

What is the exact command you used?

 

[crashdev]

What is the exact command you used?

$ sudo dd if=FreeNAS-9.3-STABLE-201501151844.iso of=/dev/sdc
Then with 'bs=64k', then bs=128k'.

 

[Rilo Ravestein]

Checked the image hash? Maybe try another USB stick?

 

[crashdev]

I did check the hash and it was good. Also tried 2 different sticks. Both of them were USB3.0 though.

I was being stubborn and kept trying to get the USB3.0 to work because I bought a new USB3.0 drive just for the new build. When I get home I'll be trying it again with both USB2.0 drives and ports.

 

[Rilo Ravestein]

I installed mine using an usb3 stick, plugged into an usb2 port, installing to two usb3 devices both in usb3 ports. Usb3 devices should just work in usb2 ports. Maybe some bios setting to disable usb3?

 

[crashdev]

There is a BIOS setting to disable 3.0. That was one of the last things that I did before I had to call it a night. Doing that got the installer to load, and then immediately after I entered my password and hit enter it stopped with an error. The exact error I can't recall (I'll post it if I see it again once I get home), but I remember thinking it was very vague. Something to the effect of 'cannot continue'.

 

[solarisguy]

Since you know how to use dd, zero both of your USB devices, then try

Code:

dd if=FreeNAS-9.3-STABLE-201501162230.iso of=/dev/sdc bs=64k

Please notice that above I have used FreeNAS-9.3-STABLE-201501162230 and not FreeNAS-9.3-STABLE-201501151844. See https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/a-furious-week-of-9-3-stable-updates.26796/ to learn why.

 

[solarisguy]

P.S.
I think 18-24 months ago, I started buying only USB 3.0 devices and cables, as I found it annoying to remember to check which one is fast and which one is not. So far, none of my USB 3.0 solid state memory devices had problems when plugged into USB 2.0. As opposed to hard drives connected using SATA-USB 3.0 bridge, since these sometimes fail with over-current protection when connected to USB 2.0.

 

[Rilo Ravestein]

Then everything should just work fine now, it is not the usb media what's cousing trouble

Do like solarisguy wrote. Also, use something like GParted to delete the partitions and create a new (msdos) partition table. The usb media you are installing to is not the problem here, it will be wiped by the installer anyway.

Then dd the iso onto it. The latest one (again, like solarisguy wrote)

 

[crashdev]

Much appreciated everyone. I'll try it out as soon as I can and report back.

 

[crashdev]

Well I was able to install to the USB3 drive through the USB2 port. But whatever I try, I can't get FreeNAS to boot successfully from the USB3 port. It stops and gives me a 'mount:' prompt.

 

[solarisguy]

Well I was able to install to the USB3 drive through the USB2 port. But whatever I try, I can't get FreeNAS to boot successfully from the USB3 port. It stops and gives me a 'mount:' prompt.

That does not look like USB 2.0 / USB 3.0 issue

LATE EDIT (after Z300M's post):
Because this is a USB 3.0 issue. Read next posts in the thread