Migrating from microSD to SSD on Raspberry Pi 4: A Comprehensive Guide

General
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After extensive research and experimentation, I’ve successfully transitioned my Raspberry Pi 4 from a microSD card to a USB SSD. This migration was motivated by the need for faster read/write speeds and increased reliability. Below, I’ll walk through the process I followed, share some insights, and invite feedback from the community.

The Challenge

For over eight months, the Raspberry Pi community has eagerly awaited native USB boot functionality. Despite rumors of progress, this feature remains elusive. In the interim, users are left with three options:

  1. Stay on microSD: This option maintains compatibility but suffers from slow speeds and susceptibility to corruption.
  2. Use the expand script: This method simplifies the migration but doesn’t create a boot partition, which may complicate future native USB booting.
  3. Manual setup: This involves setting up the SSD with a boot partition, allowing for smoother transitions and future-proofing.

My Approach

I opted for the manual setup method. Here’s a concise overview of the steps I took:

  1. Prepare the SSD: Using the official OpenHABian image, I set up the SSD with the correct partitions (FAT for boot and EXT4 for rootfs).
  2. Expand the rootfs partition: This was done using Paragon Hard Disk Manager on Windows, ensuring optimal space utilization.
  3. Copy existing files: I mirrored the contents of my microSD card to the SSD, preserving critical boot files on the microSD for redundancy.
  4. Update boot configuration: By modifying cmdline.txt and fstab, I ensured the system boots from the SSD while maintaining the microSD as a backup.
  5. Test performance: Post-migration, I conducted speed tests, achieving impressive read/write speeds of 202 MB/s and 267 MB/s respectively.

Key Takeaways

  • Backup First: Always ensure your system is backed up before making such changes.
  • Partition Management: Pay close attention to partition UUIDs to avoid conflicts.
  • Community Resources: This guide would not have been possible without the insights from Rick Makes, Andries Spiess, and Try At Home.

Questions and Feedback

I’m curious to hear if others have encountered similar challenges or have alternative methods to share. Additionally, I’d appreciate any tips on optimizing the SSD setup further.

Let’s continue to support each other in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of smart home technology!

Best regards,
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