Entware Can we check how much life a USB flashdrive has left?

[domic]

I have a slow 4GB SanDisk Cruzer Blade USB 2.0 drive as my entware device, plus a smaller swap file just in case, it hasn't died on me ever since I got it over 10 years ago. Granted, it hasn't been used often either, but for various smaller projects.
I intend to run it until it dies, backing up everything on it every once in a while.

 

[ColinTaylor]

I'm not aware of any way of finding that information from the flash drive itself. I very much doubt that it would even contain such information, unlike an SSD for example.

https://documents.westerndigital.com/content/dam/doc-library/en_us/assets/public/sandisk/product/usb-flash/cruzer-blade-usb-2-0/data-sheet-cruzer-blade-usb-2-0.pdf

 

[Viktor Jaep]

I have a slow 4GB SanDisk Cruzer Blade USB 2.0 drive as my entware device, plus a smaller swap file just in case, it hasn't died on me ever since I got it over 10 years ago. Granted, it hasn't been used often either, but for various smaller projects.
I intend to run it until it dies, backing up everything on it every once in a while.

Most tools available can just test for bad blocks/errors on your drive... it won't be able to tell you how much longer it will last. Here's a few options:

5 Free USB Flash Drive Tester & Checker Tools [Best in 2023]

One of my friends came up to me a little while back and asked me if I was interested in buying some USB flash drives from him. He had about 200 pieces,

whatsoftware.com

 

[bbunge]

I have an old PNY 2GB USB2 drive that is still working for swap and Entware. I do not remember when I got it

 

[L&LD]

The older 'early' flash drives are much more robust than anything made today (USB 'sticks'). They used real nand, that is why.

But, they were made to occasionally store music, photos, and/or video files. Not be used for page write OS (i.e. entware) use.

The drive will die. It may have excellent nand, but without a controller to do proper wear leveling, it will die needlessly in this use case.

Today's USB 'sticks' have inferior nand, QC, and performance (sustained/consistent). And they're guaranteed to die fast.