Vk3jed wrote to N1uro <=-

I use the Pis for low load applications, even BBSs. ;) I'll have your spares. ;)

You got guts! I would *never* run a BBS on a Pi. Too many read/writes.
Before I run my monthly CloneZilla backups, I do a mirror image of my
SDCard so that also gets grabbed by CloneZilla. I have a very simple script that does it I call do-image. Here it is if you wish it:

#! /bin/sh
echo -n "What size in do you want (ex: 4M): "; read answer1
echo -n "Input device or file with path: "; read answer2
echo -n "Output device or file with path: "; read answer3
sleep 1
echo "preparing: dd bs=$answer1 if=$answer2 of=$answer3 is this correct?"
sleep 3
echo -n "This will take a L O N G while... "
/bin/dd bs=$answer1 if=$answer2 of=$answer3
echo "backup/restore done."

It uses DD... makes bootable backups. You can use it on almost any sort of drive you wish to mirror really... and reverse things to do a restore.
Just make the input device the source and Output device the destination.
I've had to restore my SDCard a couple times already when I've made a dumb
typo <G>

Yeah that helps. The one the BBSs run on has a read only SD card.
Writing is only done to the attached 500GB SSD. :)

I tried using an external drive in a USB case... didn't fly well at all.
I just gave up on the RPi units for anything remotely server related.

Hmm, that's a pain.

Very much so. Makes me sometimes feel as if my assistance really isn't appreciated.

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N1uro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

I use the Pis for low load applications, even BBSs. ;) I'll have your spares. ;)

You got guts! I would *never* run a BBS on a Pi. Too many
read/writes. Before I run my monthly CloneZilla backups, I do a
mirror image of my SDCard so that also gets grabbed by
CloneZilla.

On an RPi-4 (and I think the 3B+ also), an SD card is not required at
all. I have a 4 that boots and runs from a 500GB SSD housed in an
(externally powered) enclosure connected to the Pi with USB3. It runs
24x7 doing various things for me (not running the BBS), such as my DDNS updater, automated system-status emails, and distributed computing (the
BOINC projects). Works very well and is fast. Again, it does not even
have an SD card installed in it, and boots/operates from the SSD.



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Hello Gamgee;

On an RPi-4 (and I think the 3B+ also), an SD card is not required at
all. I have a 4 that boots and runs from a 500GB SSD housed in an (externally powered) enclosure connected to the Pi with USB3. It runs 24x7 doing various things for me (not running the BBS), such as my DDNS updater, automated system-status emails, and distributed computing (the BOINC projects). Works very well and is fast. Again, it does not even have an SD card installed in it, and boots/operates from the SSD.

I haven't looked at the 4's. When they first came out there was a flood of reports of them catching fire - and I don't care to make smores indoors <G>
At least they realized one of their faults. What about ram expansion for the
4?

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On 05-22-21 12:47, N1uro wrote to Vk3jed <=-

Vk3jed wrote to N1uro <=-

I use the Pis for low load applications, even BBSs. ;) I'll have your spares. ;)

You got guts! I would *never* run a BBS on a Pi. Too many read/writes. Before I run my monthly CloneZilla backups, I do a mirror image of my SDCard so that also gets grabbed by CloneZilla. I have a very simple script that does it I call do-image. Here it is if you wish it:

The SSD takes the writes. I used to do a 6 monthly SD replacement cycle, but now leave the SD read only, and do all the writes on the SSD (or RAM disk).

#! /bin/sh
echo -n "What size in do you want (ex: 4M): "; read answer1
echo -n "Input device or file with path: "; read answer2
echo -n "Output device or file with path: "; read answer3
sleep 1
echo "preparing: dd bs=$answer1 if=$answer2 of=$answer3 is this
correct?" sleep 3
echo -n "This will take a L O N G while... "
/bin/dd bs=$answer1 if=$answer2 of=$answer3
echo "backup/restore done."

Nice. :)

It uses DD... makes bootable backups. You can use it on almost any sort
of drive you wish to mirror really... and reverse things to do a
restore. Just make the input device the source and Output device the destination. I've had to restore my SDCard a couple times already when I've made a dumb typo <G>

Yeah, dd is my friend too. ;)

Yeah that helps. The one the BBSs run on has a read only SD card.
Writing is only done to the attached 500GB SSD. :)

I tried using an external drive in a USB case... didn't fly well at
all. I just gave up on the RPi units for anything remotely server
related.

Yeah, mine's working well, though I am running on a Banana Pi, not the Raspberry flavour. :)

Hmm, that's a pain.

Very much so. Makes me sometimes feel as if my assistance really isn't appreciated.

:(

... JOIN THE PARTNERSHIP FOR A FUNDAMENTALIST-FREE AMERICA

Good luck with that. :/


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Re: RPis
By: N1uro to Vk3jed on Sat May 22 2021 12:47 pm

I use the Pis for low load applications, even BBSs. ;) I'll have your spares. ;)

You got guts! I would *never* run a BBS on a Pi. Too many read/writes.

Wow, I'm surprised by your issues.

I've been using PI's for many years now - started on the P1 (connected to the TV as plex clients, powered by the TV) and now have P4's.

My main BBS ran on a PI3 for a good two years without any issues (on an SD card). The Net 3 hub as well - for the last 18 months or so.

I've never had an SD card fail - I've had them for many years.

(I lie, my P4 got really hot one day, because the fan failed - and it started getting I/O errors - but cooling it down seemed to fix it.)

Now my P4's run ESXi with 3 VMs - with a BBS in docker that floats between the 3 VMs. Additionly its running on an M2 Sata - which is just a USB device. With USB booting now (which I started using on the P4s), I'm only using the SD card as a backup device.

I'm very happy with the Pis.

...ëîåï
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On 05-23-21 13:45, deon wrote to N1uro <=-

I've been using PI's for many years now - started on the P1 (connected
to the TV as plex clients, powered by the TV) and now have P4's.

I've had mostly good experiences, though my Pi 1B did die (was the Pi itself, not the SD).

My main BBS ran on a PI3 for a good two years without any issues (on an
SD card). The Net 3 hub as well - for the last 18 months or so.

I've never had an SD card fail - I've had them for many years.

I have had one fail after heavy R/W use.

I'm very happy with the Pis.

Me too. :)

Replying from the VKRadio side of the gateway for a change. ;)


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Hello deon;

deon wrote to N1uro <=-

Wow, I'm surprised by your issues.

I wasn't just talking about mine, which in reality have been quite few but those of others who use them and have had poor luck with them.

I've never had an SD card fail - I've had them for many years.

I had one fail, but I was also logging every little thing that happened on it. SD Cards almost 10 years ago did not like that.

(I lie, my P4 got really hot one day, because the fan failed - and it started getting I/O errors - but cooling it down seemed to fix it.)

Sounds as if you got a little luck there and saved it before things became
more permanent.

Now my P4's run ESXi with 3 VMs - with a BBS in docker that floats
between the 3 VMs. Additionly its running on an M2 Sata - which is just
a USB device. With USB booting now (which I started using on the P4s),
I'm only using the SD card as a backup device.

I'm very happy with the Pis.

I haven't touched a 4 yet. Mainly I get them to make a distro with my stuff pre-installed for those who aren't familiar with installing things. Pi3 was my last one. Now there's multiple issues with Linux's ham protocol stack.
We've submitted patches but they keep rejecting them claiming our patches aren't required - yet they've helped fix many MANY guys who use the native kernel protocol stack.

... I route, therefor you exist.
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