Swap Drive and USB-3.0

[ChiTownDroneGuy]

I want to install some additional scripts on my RT-AC88U running 3004.388.8_2 firmware.

All of the instructions I have read say to set the USB mode setting to USB 2.0 for setting up a swap file/partition.

I would think that USB 3.0 would be faster with a USB 3.0 USB flash drive.

1. Should I set the USB mode to 2.0 or 3.0?
2. Is it better to create a swap partition on the USB drive or just a swap file.
3. Should I create the partitions and format the drive on my PC or do it in the router?
4. If I format the drive on the PC should it be EXT3, EXT4 or NTFS?
5. If I should create a separate partition on the router what parameters/commands should I use to create the partitions and format the drive?
6. If I should create a separate partition on the PC what parameters should I use to create the swap drive partition.

Thanks...

 

[ColinTaylor]

1. I can't think why someone would suggest using USB 2 instead of USB 3 for anything. Except perhaps if they were experiencing RF interference on the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band.
2. Swap file.
3. Do it on the router using amtm which also has an option to create a swap file.
4. Do it on the router and use the defaults, ext4 with journaling.
5. Run amtm and use the defaults suggested.
6. -

 

[Tech9]

I would think that USB 3.0 would be faster with a USB 3.0 USB flash drive.

Makes no noticeable speed difference for scripts use. This swap file is mostly for compatibility. If your router runs out of memory it will slow down to a crawl and crash anyway. The use of USB 2.0 mode advice is interference with 2.4GHz band related.

 

[bbunge]

Swap or swap partition - your choice. When I ran Merlin I used a swap partition. I'm "old" school Linux and do not really trust swap files. I partitioned and formatted (EXT4) the thumb drive with Gparted.
Just use a USB2 thumb drive. Most times it will last longer and has less chance of 2.4 GHz interference.

 

[sfx2000]

Just use a USB2 thumb drive. Most times it will last longer and has less chance of 2.4 GHz interference.

Yep, and there's more than a couple of small form-factor USB thumb drives that are good for purpose...

https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-512GB-Ultra-Flash-Drive/dp/B07855LJ99/?tag=snbforums-20

Handy one - and at 128GB, more than enough space - remember that there is flash leveling that is transparent to the OS, and 128GB offers a lot of room for that...

 

[sfx2000]

I partitioned and formatted (EXT4) the thumb drive with Gparted.

IIRC - some of the Asus devices use older EXT3/4, so best to format the drives on the router to avoid problems...