OS/2, eCS & ArcaOS - Technical > Hardware

Using a UPS to save SSDs

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Andrew Stephenson:
This is a follow-up of topics re setting up my work system...  A nice person (whose permission to quote names I have yet to obtain, hence vagueness here) is arranging for me to acquire a Lenovo M900 with 8GB RAM and 250GB SSD.  In due course, all being well and that permission having been obtained, I hope to regale you lot with Usefully Thrilling Tales of success and merriment &c.

A remark by Ivan "Moving archived SMTP emails to AOS-5.1 Thunderbird", re him using a backup PSU to keep files safe (thanks again, Ivan), set me researching how SSDs behave when power feeds turn dodgy.  (See. eg, Wikipedia's "Solid State Drive" & "Uninterruptible Power Supply".)  The news is not good: not only is whatever you are recording to SSD (or working on) apt to get broken but so too is the hardware.

My plan during work sessions: load RAM Drive with files being developed, do work, then save new file versions back to the SSD.  Which seems likely to go a lot better if I had an UPS minding my back.

The likely UPS load is:
* computer -- up to 90W;
* display -- up to 22W; and
* desk lamp (LED equivalent of hot-wire 60W) -- 9W (so I can see to close everything down tidily).
Total therefore == up to 121W.  (Roughly.)

I have been looking at the APC ES700G -- but it seems to have been discontinued.  It switches over to battery, if mains power goes awry, in 6-10msec IIRC.  Waveform is a stepped pseudo-sinewave.  On the whole the design seems rational, though battery (lead acid) life could be as low as 3 years.

Does anyone have a personal favourite I should look at (here in the UK, NB)?  Ta muchly.

ivan:
Since I have 4 UPS units in my workroom and one for upstairs I think I know a little about them.

First of all remember that most UPS units have output rated by VA not watts.  Next you need to know how long you need UPS support (how long will the mains power be off approx), since EDF put the village power cables underground the number of power outages has become almost non existent - we had one on Tuesday for a quarter hour.  I didn't notice it except for the UPS bleeping.

My main unit is an APC Bak-UPS 1400, i.e. 1400VA @ 240 V.  I have replaced the internal batteries twice during its life, the smaller Trust 650 units have had their batteries replaced three times during their time with me.

The last thing you need is to check the quality of the power supply for the computer you are getting, no matter how much you protect the computer if its power supply goes fut you can lose all your work which is why I am a great advocate of using a NAS box with raid disks to store everything.

Andi B.:

--- Quote --- I routinely add end-of-session backups onto Kingston 32/64GB USB MSD sticks.  Mind, given what I hear about SSDs, let's make that "2x backups".
--- End quote ---
No clue if I understand you correctly. But if you think USB sticks are as similar reliable as SSDs, then you're wrong. Suggestion, backup on external SSDs or conventional HDDs from well known manufactures. Don't save very important data to sticks.

Doug Bissett:
I think there are some misleading (or unclear) statements made.


--- Quote ---The news is not good: not only is whatever you are recording to SSD (or working on) apt to get broken but so too is the hardware.
--- End quote ---

This is more likely to happen with a spinning disk, than with an SSD. Now, by "SSD" do you mean a SATA (AHCI) SSD, or do you mean a NVME SSD? OLD SATA SSD are far more likely ti fail (for more than one reason), then those less than about 5 ears old. The same is true for spinning disks. NVME SSD is new enough that they generally don't have problems.

Now, I will state, that any drive, that survives the first 6 months, is probably good for 10 years (if properly handled). SSD does not have the vibration, or dropping, problem that can affect spinning disks. There are always exceptions.


--- Quote ---My plan during work sessions: load RAM Drive with files being developed, do work, then save new file versions back to the SSD.  Which seems likely to go a lot better if I had an UPS minding my back.
--- End quote ---

An UPS has its place, but don't bet on it "saving your work". There are many other reasons why you can lose it. Again, is it a SATA SSD, or a NVME SSD? NVME SSD will operate near the speed of a RAMDISK, without the problem of losing everything if the power goes off (or many other things). A modern SSD (either kind) will likely last 30 years. Using the RAMDISK, is likely to extend the SSD life by about 3 months. Other things are more likely fail first.


--- Quote ---The last thing you need is to check the quality of the power supply for the computer you are getting, no matter how much you protect the computer if its power supply goes fut you can lose all your work which is why I am a great advocate of using a NAS box with raid disks to store everything.
--- End quote ---

A NAS box is simply another storage medium. Until your work is copied to it, there is an exposure to losing it (even a NAS box can fail).  If you "build your own", you can select a PSU. If you buy a complete box, you get what you get. In either case, it can fail (usually if it lasts 6 months, it is good for 10 years).


--- Quote ---Volt-Amps, check -- power factor and that good stuff.
--- End quote ---

Interesting information, but it tells you nothing about how long it will keep your system powered. Each system quotes power usage, but that is mostly if it is fully loaded. I doubt if any system ever comes close to what they quote. <more below>


--- Quote ---I routinely add end-of-session backups onto Kingston 32/64GB USB MSD sticks.  Mind, given what I hear about SSDs, let's make that "2x backups".
--- End quote ---

Well, as mentioned, USB sticks are notoriously unreliable. Do not buy cheap ones, but the expensive ones are not much better. Personally, I find that Kingston sticks are okay, but they are SLOW. I got a couple of PATRIOT brand sticks, that seem to be better than most. I probably won't buy any more sticks. Get an SSD enclosure. The biggest problem, with USB, is the Type A connector, especially when using USB 3. Type C connectors are far better.


--- Quote ---I gather you have found APC/Schneider worthy of your trust.
--- End quote ---

I have two APC units. They have been very good (but this reminds me that I need to test them). The biggest exposure is battery failure (they don't last forever, and it depends on how much they have been used). <more below>


--- Quote ---As SSDs apparently can be damaged by power failures/surges, I plan double backups to USB sticks, good quality ones.
--- End quote ---

Any hardware can be damaged by power failures/surges. Make sure that you have SURGE protection (usually part of an UPS), even if you don't have an UPS.


--- Quote ---Would that rate as safe enough for archiving?
--- End quote ---

Personally, I prefer SEAGATE disks (internal, or external), but I have started using CRUCIAL SATA SSD for performance, and so far they are performing well. I have a NVME SSD (Samsung 960 Pro), in my main machine, but the machine is not smart enough to boot from it, so I use a Crucial SATA SSD to boot.

Okay (this is "<below>"). UPS is meant to ride through power problems that last less than about a minute Almost all of them will do that, but the length of time after that first minute will vary by how much power is needed, and how much power is available. One would think that simply pulling the plug, and wait for it to shut down, would be good test for that. First, it is recommended that you do not just pull the plug. That can cause large surges (although the UPS should filter them). Use a power strip, with a switch (or simply turn off the breaker) to test. One warning, is that you reduce the battery life, every time you do that (more than once I had a real power outage, and the UPS turned off immediately, because the battery was at end of life).

Okay, if the power is still off, after one minute, you need to save your work (can be automated), and shut down.  I recommend that you do NOT try to start your machine after power is restored, for a few minutes. That avoids a possible second/third power fail. The trick with saving your work, is to be sure that you can do it quickly (two minutes).

You can spend a LOT of money, for a longer time.

Now, I use a couple of (older) APC UPS. One is a BE550G and the other is a BE750G. I use mAPCUPS (it is at HOBBES) to monitor what is happening. That program can be configured to do what needs to be done, even if you are not watching.

Okay, now you need to decide what to connect to an UPS. The UPS that I have have two sections. On is powered from the battery, the other is simply surge protected (and goes off, when there is a power outage). You are interested in what needs to have power, for long enough to get shut down. So, to the battery supplied outlets, you connect the main machine, the screen, and any other devices that are going to cause shut down problems, or start up problems (running CHKDSK on a large USB attached drive can take a long time). Those can include NAS boxes, externally powered USB drives, network hubs, USB, hubs, and so on. If you don't need it to stay on, don't connect it to the battery supplied outlets.

You may notice, that I did not include a lamp (of any kind). You have the screen, that is a good light source. I keep a couple of LED flashlights handy, which I can find using the light from the screen. Some lamps (Fluorescent, especially) cause a lot of electrical noise, and should never be near computer equipment.

Printers can be a bit of a problem. I don't use powered outlets, for them. Generally, they are better off on the surge protected outlets.

That should be enough, for now. Ask questions, if you have any.

Sandra Asja Eickel:

--- Quote from: Andrew Stephenson on November 06, 2023, 03:06:08 pm ---Addendum, soon after the above:-  I see that the UK chain store Argos is offering Western Digital's Elements 2TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive for just under GBP70.  WD is a brand I have associated with quality for decades: in the old days, they made stuff like a widely used disk controller chip and today they own SanDisk.  (In fact, a few days ago they announced a forthcoming split between their SSD and HDD operations.)  Would that rate as safe enough for archiving?

--- End quote ---

Argh! Nooooooo! From the german c't Magazine (even if this is a commentary and not a normal article):

https://www.heise.de/meinung/SSD-Ausfaelle-Western-Digital-verspielt-alles-Vertrauen-9352972.html

Especially the newer external SSD stuff from WD / SanDisk dies like flys, customer service is non-existing!

If you can afford it, I would highly recommend getting an "IODD ST400" USB 3.0 External Hard Drive Enclosure (I use its predecessor IODD 2541 regularly - it is a "must have" tool for anyone doing computer support/administration) plus a normal 2.5" SATA SSD from Samsung EVO 870 series (not QVO!).

SSD must be powered up at least every once or better twice a year.
For some IODD maintenance tasks like creating virtual sticks and disks or keeping your newest ArcaOS or Linux ISO in one piece on the disk, Windows is required.

Greetings,
Sandra-Asja

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