Expected lifetime of always-on MJ dongle

[robatino]

I've read that a MJ dongle is opened for write every 3 seconds. Given the known characteristics of USB flash drives, is it possible to estimate how long a MJ dongle would last if plugged into an always-on computer?

[HolmanGT]

I've read that a MJ dongle is opened for write every 3 seconds. Given the known characteristics of USB flash drives, is it possible to estimate how long a MJ dongle would last if plugged into an always-on computer?

No that is not enough information to calculate the life expectancy.

1. you need to know how much flash the MJ has and its read/write capabilities. Not all flash is created equal.
2. how much data is actually being written to the flash, if any. You have to know if the write is actually being performed (just opening for write means nothing) and if it is writing to the internal flash or ram.
3. I have not done this type of programming in a very long time but you can in some languages open for read and that is all you can do is read. Depending on the way it is handled you can open for "write" and then read or write to the device. So opening for write does not tell you if a write, read or if either are actually be done.

[LyosNorezel]

No that is not enough information to calculate the life expectancy.

1. you need to know how much flash the MJ has.

For the record... the MagicJack gen2 device has a Samsung K9F5608U0D TSOP NAND Flash chip which is a 256Mbit (32MByte) chip.

2. how much data is actually being written to the flash, if any. You have to know if the write is actually being performed (just opening for write means nothing) and if it is writing to the internal flash or ram.

Again, for the record... there is no onboard RAM on the Gen2 MagicJack, unless, of course, it's built into to the custom branded 'Magic Chip' IC... which seems doubtful.


Lyos Gemini Norezel

[az2008]

I've read that a MJ dongle is opened for write every 3 seconds. Given the known characteristics of USB flash drives, is it possible to estimate how long a MJ dongle would last if plugged into an always-on computer?

I've posted that observation a few times. I don't know if it's actually writing. All I know is that it opens the device for write access every 3 seconds.

My only concern about this is that it could lead to a corrupted flash drive when someone just pulls it out without first either killing the MJ process, or (preferably) uses the "Safely remove hardware" feature from the task bar.

Others (maybe me too) speculated that it could be a stealthy way for MJ to give the device a limited shelf life.

Anyone can download "procmon", run it, set a filter for "magicjack.exe" and watch what happens. It reads about 100 registry entries every 3 seconds too.

Maybe it's some kind of load discovery so it can pace how it processes voice based upon how fast it can get things done?

Mark

[xxM5xx]

No that is not enough information to calculate the life expectancy.

1. you need to know how much flash the MJ has.

For the record... the MagicJack gen2 device has a Samsung K9F5608U0D TSOP NAND Flash chip which is a 256Mbit (32MByte) chip.

2. how much data is actually being written to the flash, if any. You have to know if the write is actually being performed (just opening for write means nothing) and if it is writing to the internal flash or ram.

Again, for the record... there is no onboard RAM on the Gen2 MagicJack, unless, of course, it's built into to the custom branded 'Magic Chip' IC... which seems doubtful.


Lyos Gemini Norezel

Not to start an argument ( already had one this morning ) but the NAND Flash chip is a 264 megabit chip (not 256Mb) and the custom branded Magic Chip is nothing more than a Tiger580.

Doubtful as it may be Lyos Gemini, The Tigerjet 580 chip has 64K of RAM on it, just like my lovely Commodore 64 had in it in 1982.
.
.

[mberlant]

I have had TigerJet 580-based devices in use for about 7 years without failure. So, at least that half of the MJ should hold up over time.