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Been on USB enclosures using Linux software raid for 20 years and never lost a bit so far.

Didn’t go cheap with USB jbod, and i have no idea if zfs is more sensitive to USB… But I don’t use zfs either so don’t know.

But again I have been using two jbods over USB:

All three raid are managed by Linux software raid stack.

The original one I think I started in the 2000’s, then upgraded disks many times and slowly moving to ssds to lower heat production and power usage.

Keep them COOL that’s important.

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emptiestplace@lemmy.ml ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
What an assertion - if you’re not using ZFS, how do you know you’ve “never lost a bit so far”?

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lightrush@lemmy.ca ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
I’ve been on the USB train since 2019. You’re exactly right, you gotta get devices with good USB-to-SATA chipsets, and you gotta keep them cool. From all my testing I’ve discovered that:

ASM1351 and ASM235CM are generally problem-free, but the former needs passive cooling if close to a disk. A small heatsink adhered with standard double-sided heat conductive tape is good enough.

Host controllers matter too. Intel is generally problem-free. So is VIA. AMD has some issues on the CPU side on some models which are still not fully solved.

I like this box in particular because it uses a very straightforward design. It’s got 4x ASM235CM with cooling connected to a VIA hub. It’s got a built-in power supply, fan, it even comes with good cables. It fixes a lot of the system variables to known good values. You’re left with connecting it to a good USB host controller.
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