cannot install unetbootin

[Ralf Mardorf]

On Fri, 2024-03-08 at 00:08 -0500, Jeffrey Walton wrote:
> I know Intel and Samsung make firmware updates available for their
> SSDs. I don't know about the other brands, though. See,
> <https://www.samsung.com/ca/support/memory-storage/update-the-firmware-of-your-samsung-ssd/>

In my experiences the best SSD Linux support was provided by
toshiba/ocz/kioxia but they discontinued the Linux support.

I can't speak for Intel's SSD Linux support, but since Intel dropped
it's GPU support for Linux, I assumed that soon or later they will do
the same with SSD support.

The real problem aren't firmware updates. I've got very old
toshiba/ocz/kioxia, as the life expectancy of a regularly used SSD far
exceeds that of a HDD.

New firmware updates for these ancient SSDs are no longer expected, but
the time when I want to make use of the vendor's software secure erase
promise is getting closer.

The point here is not whether the manufacturer can be trusted to erase
securely or whether there are alternatives to the manufacturer's
software. The point is that the Vendor's Linux software with which this
is possible is discontinued, while the drives are still in good health.

So you can't rely on promises or guarantees from a vendor.

I own keyboard and microphones stands and the like from a renowned
German manufacturer who gives a 10-year guarantee that spare parts can
be reordered. This guarantee is credible insofar as these are largely
standardised screws and the like.

Mobos, CPUs etc. get seldom used as long as 10+ years nowadays, but it's
quite possible that SSDs get used for that long, while never ever a
vendor will continue support for that long. I would expect that even if
a vendor provides Linux software, very old SSDs get removed from the
Linux (and Windows) software's data base.