Raspberry Pi storage
 

Hi, I am hoping to use my Pi as a torrent client. I was originally planning to use an external USB HDD to store the torrent files. Then I got to thinking that these drives are more designed for storage/backup. Are they suitable for torrenting?

Then I thought about a decent SD-Card (SDXC). Smaller capacity but I can live with that. An SD Card is far more portable than a clunky HDD. I wonder how long an SD Card would last though under this kind of usage.

I would be interested whether anyone has any views/recommendations on this topic?

Cheers

Hi Timl,

A good file system for flash card would be something like*: JFFS2, YAFFS/YAFFS2, LOGFS or UBIFS (with a preferance for YAFFS2)
Unfortunatly the default Raspbian “wheezy” (at the time of speaking) is running EXT4 file system.


*Source: Choosing a Linux File System for Flash Memory Devices (Page 7)

Best regards,
Angel.

I have a digimate external hdd plugged into pi (used for torrents)

Member Response
 

Hi,

I see no reason to not use a external drive. You need to use a powered USB hub to support the power requirements for the external device since the Pi limits port current. Plus the Mod A& B Pi supports USB 2.0 not 3.0. Model A Pi does not have a Ethernet port. Your network will dictate the throughput for torrent sharing.
I believe SDHC class 10 supports 20 MB/s, Model B Pi supports 10/100 Ethernet.

A SSD would be a low power solution in a USB enclosure but the speed advantage would be limited by USB 2.0. Of course a smaller footprint SSD & a good enclosure would be a good solution. You would need to optimize the install to handle your needs. I would select the Model B Pi and use the USB_SSD with a powered USB hub.

Hi guys & thanks for the feedback. To be honest, I didn't really know what a SSD was before I posted this so that looks like the way to go. I need to do a bit more research on this kind of drive before I buy. The model that pan64 suggested looks quite nice and a colleague hops over to NZ quite frequently so that may be an option.

[EDIT] I should point out I already have a model B Pi and powered USB hub ready for this task.

thanks again

SSD and flash memory are not really suitable for torrent files.
(if you want to say thanks just press YES)

Member Response
 

Hi,
Care to expand on why a 'SSD' should not be used or "not really suitable for torrent files"?

I have been using 'SSD' for some time now without issues when the system is configured to suit the 'SSD'. Plus a current SSD with newer controllers do not have the issues of earlier manufactured units.

They use the same HDDs in external HDDs as are sold as internal HDDs. Typically they are WD 'Green Power' drives, or the equivalent from seagate (and rarely others).

Apart from 'USB 1.0/1.1/2.0 are slow' there shouldnt be any more issues with torrenting to or from an external HDD than the same drive fitted internally (though if the drive was being used heavily, heat could be a issue, but with farily low I/Os like you would get torrenting, heat shouldnt be an issue either).

I wouldnt get a SSD in an external USB enclosure for your use....speed will be limited be USB 2.0 and the drive wont be any faster than a 'standard' spinning HDD. SSDs are also pretty expensive for any given size. 64GB SSDs are now affordable but you can get a 64GB USB 2.0 flash drive for less than a bare 64GB SSD. No need to pay for or play around with an external enclosure, power brick, etc..

Depending on how you intend to use torrents, you migth be better off with an external HDD (large size, huge space, cheapest) flash drive (small size, smallish space, cheapish) or even internal SD/MMC (tiny/motherboard mounted, smallish space, slightly more expensive than flash memory). It would depend on how many (if any) torrents you want to seed (how much space you will use), how many different torrents you want to d/l (how often the sapce will be overwritten with small drives) and probably other things I'm not thinking of now. ;)

If you have any worries about data intergerity, you can always just check the torrent data with most clients. ;)