[Dxspider-support] RPI 4 settings for reduced writes to SD card

[Phil M0VSE]

Hi Mike.

 

I run a few repeaters on RPi and use a similar process to the one described here https://medium.com/@andreas.schallwig/how-to-make-your-raspberry-pi-file-system-read-only-raspbian-stretch-80c0f7be7353

 

Basically the SD card is in read-only mode the majority of the time and all logging etc., is done to RAM disk. The downside is that logs are lost after a reboot but you could always have a script that copies them somewhere periodically. In 2+ years of running repeaters this way, I have never needed to though. I also only ever use high-endurance cards from decent manufacturers! 

 

You will likely want to do this for /spider/data though so any data isn’t lost between reboots.

 

Another option that I have also used is a Pi Desktop case https://www.pcworld.com/article/3197985/the-pi-desktop-kit-transforms-your-raspberry-pi-into-a-stylish-ssd-powered-mini-pc.html this allows you to install an mSATA SSD which you can then install Rapsbian on. It has the added benefit that typically mSATA drives are significantly faster than most SD cards.

 

 

73 Phil M0VSE

 

From: Dxspider-support <dxspider-support-bounces at tobit.co.uk> On Behalf Of Michael Walker via Dxspider-support
Sent: 30 March 2020 13:37
To: The DXSpider Support list <dxspider-support at tobit.co.uk>
Cc: Michael Walker <mike at portcredit.net>
Subject: [Dxspider-support] RPI 4 settings for reduced writes to SD card

 

Hi All

 

A few weeks ago I moved my Cluster over to a RPI4 where it hums along nicely.  

 

I know from many weather stations that the SD card will go into a read only state in about 6-9 months as writes start to fail.  Running IOTOP tells me what we do significant writes to the card.

 

Does anyone have a list of things they do to minimize the writes?  

 

On my list I have:

 

1.	Turn off the swap space
2.	Move /spider/data to a RAM disk

Anything else?

 

Mike va3mw

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://mailman.tobit.co.uk/pipermail/dxspider-support/attachments/20200330/89a39175/attachment.htm>