Interesting information.  Thank you for this.

 

Counterfeiters are not designing and making their own chips, they buy existing designed memory and controller chips off the shelf.  They then assemble them on a circuit board and throw that into a case (which resembles the flash drive they wish to pass as).  The memory chips are likely to be lower bin from China.  I originally felt this was the weak point, but the deeper into this rabbit hole I get, I am more convinced it is the controller chips which have given us all problems.  Be it that the controller is an older design, perhaps less capable, or just not programmed with the correct "special sauce" which makes them work more reliably, it is likely the point of failure.

Just to be clear, the initial topic was the lack of GUID on some flashdrive (or ones that are not actually unique).

If your flashdrive works, no need to worry too much as long as you have a good backup strategy for your flashdrive.

1 hour ago, ChatNoir said:

Just to be clear, the initial topic was the lack of GUID on some flashdrive (or ones that are not actually unique).

The first post of the topic links a bunch of the "best" flash drives to purchase which is based on the 3+ year old test which doesn't even mention any widespread cases related to proliferation of fakes.

It performs a bunch of durability tests that don't have any relevance as applied to the specific Unraid environment.

It also doesn't spell out differences between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 as related to thermal properties either.

It's very likely that Spaceinvader wasn't even aware of those factors at the time of making the video.

 

With all do respect, a good back up strategy is a must but I wouldn't call it a good advise to "not worry too much".

The quite frequently posted reports of failed boot devises on this board and also everywhere else speak volumes about the importance of choosing a long lasting drive.

With users reporting a failed USB while not having, displacing or forgetting to maintain a proper configuration backup.

Which is real common since USB drive backups are often treated as an afterthought.

It would only be wise, based on all available info at the moment, to make at least a minimum effort in selecting the potentially longer lasting device.

The USB drive I bought from Micro Center (their brand) was blacklisted.

Then I bought a SanDisk Ultra Flair from Micro Center and I was able to register using that drive.

4 hours ago, John_ said:

The USB drive I bought from Micro Center (their brand) was blacklisted.

Then I bought a SanDisk Ultra Flair from Micro Center and I was able to register using that drive.

Sounds like another case of a shady product, likely originating from the same pool of cheaply made circuitry as the rest of fakes.

Only this time sold and branded by a popular computer hardware outlet!

 

Apparently Micro Center's purchasing managers couldn't be bothered (or woudn't care) with conducting any research as related to the product's origin and quality and have made their sourcing decision based purely on price.

And why wouldn't they?

Since USB drives are commonly treated as throw-away devices.

Edited October 5, 20232 yr by Lolight

Sorry im confused..

i just bought the sandisk because it was mentioned as one of the best (yes a bit Old post)

i was not able to create the usb drive directly with the app. However the manual process seems to have worked. And currently running on the trails version. So should I be ok? Or can I still have issues when I try to activate it?

1 hour ago, Caveman68 said:

So should I be ok?

If the trial worked you should be fine, most Sandisk flash drivers are, as long as they are not counterfeit.

My two cents (FWIW), I used to be loyal to the Sandisk brand. From SD cards for photography, right up to SSD.

Since becoming an unRaid user, I've burnt through at least 2 Sandisk USB sticks, one was a Sandisk Cruzer and I forget the other. As a side note, I've also burnt through a Sandisk SSD, acting as a cache drive in less than 6 months. I just don't think Sandisk has the same credibility it used to have.

 

I've burnt through one Samsung key, which looks identical to the Samsung FIT and probably is one. An identical one is currently running my unRaid and has been great for the last couple of years. I own at least three Samsung portable SSD, T5 and T7 with no reliability issues, again as a side note.

 

I'm pretty trustworthy of the Samsung product range, if not the company, because of their poor customer service.

It would be so nice to have the option to us an SSD. USB is so picky and occasionally will just disconnect on its own and I will have to reboot (which causes a parity check) to get it back online. You know what is reliable? SATA. I do not understand why the option to use an SSD is not provided. People could still use USB if they wish. It would improve stability across the board and prevent the constant worry in the back that the USB drive, which have much higher failure rates than SSDs, will go bad on you. 

53 minutes ago, BWBama85 said:

It would be so nice to have the option to us an SSD.

 

Do you have a solution as to how Unraid would handle licensing?  One that does not increase cost, allows for immediate deployment after purchase, allows for portability/transfer from one hardware configuration to another, and would not allow for increased piracy of the Unraid software?

3 hours ago, ConnerVT said:

 

Do you have a solution as to how Unraid would handle licensing?  One that does not increase cost, allows for immediate deployment after purchase, allows for portability/transfer from one hardware configuration to another, and would not allow for increased piracy of the Unraid software?

 

I am under the impression that Unraid creates the GUID via this method: [Vendor]-[ProdID]-[4 digits from the serial preceding the last 12 digits]-[Last 12 digits of serial number]

 

How is this not able to happen via an SSD? No increased costs other than potentially some upfront coding by their devs to support it. People can still use the USB method if the wish, which solves your portability/transfer/deployment issue. 

Edited April 13, 20251 yr by BWBama85

Unraid uses the GUID which is set in the flash drive by the manufacturer.  This (I believe) is programed into the controller of the flash drive, and has been the standard business practice of the flash drive manufacturers for many years.  This is not done in SSD/NVMe drives.

 

There lately has been a rise in counterfeit flash drives hitting the market, where those making them don't care about standard business practices.  Instead of giving each drive a unique GUID, many just end with 0000000000.

 

So while your suggestion "solves your portability/transfer/deployment issue" it does nothing for the purpose of licensing the software.  As Unraid is not freeware, using a SSD does not do anything in preventing piracy.

Edited April 13, 20251 yr by ConnerVT

5 hours ago, ConnerVT said:

Unraid uses the GUID which is set in the flash drive by the manufacturer.  This (I believe) is programed into the controller of the flash drive, and has been the standard business practice of the flash drive manufacturers for many years.  This is not done in SSD/NVMe drives.

 

There lately has been a rise in counterfeit flash drives hitting the market, where those making them don't care about standard business practices.  Instead of giving each drive a unique GUID, many just end with 0000000000.

 

So while your suggestion "solves your portability/transfer/deployment issue" it does nothing for the purpose of licensing the software.  As Unraid is not freeware, using a SSD does not do anything in preventing piracy.

I'm confident that the user specifically provided an in-situe suggestion you failed to consider. I hardly expect the existence of a GUID is the sole reason USB boot has not been updated. It's my understanding that there's at least been internal dev discussions recently. There was a Limetech poll for a preferred solution within the last 12mths....

There's been no need, I believe the proliferation of counterfeits might be the catalyst for change.

Regarding the gripes with USB power usage, what's the point exactly? Because the theory is lacking, therefore point is invalid. Given the level of OT you chose to drag this topic in order to meet your coniption, it now becomes necessary to correct your fallacies so the readers-and-believers don't leave misinformed and begin preaching lies.

Quote

Not only is it a reasonable assumption to make that P(3,0) > P(2.0), but it's written into the specification that the idle supply current was doubled. It wasn't until 3.10/11 (precisely which revision holds the protocols I'm unsure off hand, but irrelevant) during the era of power conservation in devices over raw performance that this is addressed in a more direct manner... The cost of compliance rose exponentially, and unbeknownst to most people, a plugged in USB3.11+ Spec. cable not only draws power but will impact how a GaN charger operates - that is where a cable is plugged the requisite output restrictions as defined by the manual apply, regardless of whether a device is connected. A compliant cable is considered loaded.....

But at the end of the day, in the high;y honed 12VDC environment of an ATX PSU output, LOAD == PowerDraw == PowerRequired*Efficiency + heat == True for all circuits where Ohms/Watts law remains true. Current in the prescence of resistance will always result in a thermal coefficient in accordance with the various (4) laws of thermodynamics (radiation) and the implicit fact that all bodies radiate. So complaining that Newtons 3rd law of motion exists, because it's responsible for all falling objects that previously stood steady is the physical equivalent to your whole USB power gripe. I guarantee you that if I(load) = <200mA then the draw will be less, but you're not likely to find a USB3,0+ device that doesn't meet the specification, hence drawing 200mA minimum.

 

Just as table manufacturers are held responsible for keeping Newtons 3rd law from your sh*t falling to the floor, USB manufacturers are responsible for the amount of power their devices consume within the constraints of the specification,. 

 

It's impossible to "force" current (Amperes) into a circuit. To force electrons to flow in a circuit via electromagnetism is known as Voltage. 

 

You'll need to find a new fixation because complaining that your car consumes more fuel after upgrading your injectors is as common sense as anything you're trying to imply or place blame upon - What blame, and why it's even an issue has never been clear, besides it being your contention point.  Perhaps you'd prefer to take issue with Newtonian Gravity being incomplete, therefore the laws inferred do not apply, all without knowing what the construct was you pulled your gripe out of and applied it to nothing before proceeding. Whether you choose to take issue with Newton or not, the physics will remain true within the human-scale spacetime fabric.

 

Edited April 13, 20251 yr by Nasha

I have SSDs that are over a decade old that work. I have USB drives fail three times with Unraid, and using ones directly recommended by users here. It is the only thing I geniunely dislike about Unraid and the costs add up having to buy USB drives once one fails or doesn't even work. Not to mention the issues with USB 3 and people recommending USB 2.0. Eventually 2.0 will stop appearing on new hardware all together. 

7 hours ago, BWBama85 said:

I have USB drives fail three times with Unraid

Damn. I've used UnRaid for 6 years now and I'm still on my original USB - Verbatim Store'n'Go 16GB. Never used SanDisk USBs for UnRaid, though.

2 minutes ago, Lebowski89 said:

Damn. I've used UnRaid for 6 years now and I'm still on my original USB - Verbatim Store'n'Go 16GB. Never used SanDisk USBs for UnRaid, though.

Yea, I know each individual has likely different experiences, but it sucks being on this end of it and I feel like this could be resolved without a whole lot of development time. Hopefully something can be done that takes the reliance off of USB drives.