Can Ubuntu Run Efficiently on an External SSD?

[member 428835]

Hi PF!

Can I boot Ubuntu from a portable SSD on a computer, say a laptop? If I run ubuntu from a portable SSD plugged into a usb drive, will it run slow? We have this old computer in my lab, but it's Windows and runs Ubuntu from a VM, so super slow and awful memory. Or should I just buy another SSD, plug it into the motherboard, and go from there? What do you recommend?

 

[Vanadium 50]

Can I boot Ubuntu from a portable SSD on a computer, say a laptop?

Yes.

If I run ubuntu from a portable SSD plugged into a usb drive, will it run slow?

Maybe. How slow is slow?

Or should I just buy another SSD, plug it into the motherboard, and go from there?

That will work too.

 

[member 428835]

Yes.

Maybe. How slow is slow?

That will work too.

How slow? I was thinking about using an M.2 SSD with 3400 megabytes/s. I was thinking of mounting to an external mount: M.2 NVME SSD enclosure adapter USB C 3.1 Gen 2 at 10 Gbps, 6 Gbps SATA PCIe. So this SSD mounted externally to this enclosure. I'd be running simulations that can take a few days. Does anything scream "no don't do it" to you?

 

[Vanadium 50]

I installed Centos on a USB 3 key. It took ~10x longer to install on it than on a USB 2 spinning disk. Running felt about the same as on the spinning disk. I eventually went with an internal SATA 3 SSD (a $10 bargain basement deal from Microcenter) which was faster than both and entirely acceptable.

My home area is on a remote server.

 

[pbuk]

Can I boot Ubuntu from a portable SSD on a computer, say a laptop?

Probably; you may need to update the BIOS on an old machine.

If I run ubuntu from a portable SSD plugged into a usb drive, will it run slow?

Yes, particularly if the laptop does not have a USB 3 port.

Or should I just buy another SSD, plug it into the motherboard, and go from there? What do you recommend?

This. You will get much better performance from a bog-standard SATA internal SSD (which is all an old laptop is likely to support) than an external M2 device over USB, and the setup will also be cheaper and more convenient.

I've just realized you said plug it into the motherboard. Does this laptop have an M2 port on the mobo? It is not that old then, and an internally mounted M2 drive will blow anything external out of the water.

If it doesn't have an M2 mobo you will instead be replacing the existing spinner installed in the SATA drive bay.

 

[member 428835]

Probably; you may need to update the BIOS on an old machine.Yes, particularly if the laptop does not have a USB 3 port.This. You will get much better performance from a bog-standard SATA internal SSD (which is all an old laptop is likely to support) than an external M2 device over USB, and the setup will also be cheaper and more convenient.

I've just realized you said plug it into the motherboard. Does this laptop have an M2 port on the mobo? It is not that old then, and an internally mounted M2 drive will blow anything external out of the water.

If it doesn't have an M2 mobo you will instead be replacing the existing spinner installed in the SATA drive bay.

The laptop is a mac, which I don't like tinkering with. I was going to add another SSD to the mobo of a desktop, but then I have to remote access. I think the better option might be to plug an external SSD into the mac and let it do its thing. Would the external SSD run substantially slower when going through a USB-c, thunderbolt, or USB3.0?

 

[Vanadium 50]

Would the external SSD run substantially slower when going through a USB-c, thunderbolt, or USB3.0?

Maybe.