New in AUR: wiper (TRIM tool for SSD's)

Fackamato · 2009-10-22 20:54:47

http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=31405

Useful if you have an OCZ SSD like me! Suggestions of improvements to the package are welcome. (note: I did not write the script)

fphillips · 2009-11-06 04:32:53

Hey Fackamato

I just found your package today. I have a Vertex running my MythTV box, so I'll have to see what firmware it has and if I'm ready to do this. Do you know of a test to show results? Does it just speed up deletes? This drive would benefit because it has the LiveTV partition, which creates and deletes large files quickly.

Frank

Fackamato · 2009-11-06 08:11:15

fphillips wrote:

Hey Fackamato
I just found your package today. I have a Vertex running my MythTV box, so I'll have to see what firmware it has and if I'm ready to do this. Do you know of a test to show results? Does it just speed up deletes? This drive would benefit because it has the LiveTV partition, which creates and deletes large files quickly.
Frank

It only speeds up the deletes. You need firmware 1.4 for this to work. (you need firmware 1.3 to flash to 1.4)

There's another firmware from OCZ (check their forums) that has built-in GC (garbage collection) which apparently does a similar thing as TRIM. So, I would suggest you use that instead, that way you don't have to worry about running wiper, the drive would "trim" itself whenever somewhat idle. When Linux fully supports TRIM (and the filesystem that you use also support it) then you can switch to 1.4.

(the only OS that currently implements TRIM correctly is Windows 7)

jordz · 2009-12-18 13:27:44

Thank you for the wiper package. I tested it on my Intel X25-M postville/G2 with the latest firmware that supports TRIM.

I'm using it on my ext4 mounted / root partition:

[jordy@jordy-desktop ~]$ sudo wiper /dev/sda1                                        

wiper: Linux SATA SSD TRIM utility, version 2.5, by Mark Lord.
Preparing for online TRIM of free space on /dev/sda1 (ext4 mounted read-write at /).
This will be a DRY-RUN only.  Use --commit to do it for real.                       
Creating temporary file (69360723 KB)..                                             
Syncing disks..                                                                     
Simulating TRIM operations..                                                        
(dry-run) trimming 138721448 sectors from 2269 ranges                               
Removing temporary file..                                                           
Syncing disks..                                                                     
Done.                                                                               
[jordy@jordy-desktop ~]$ sudo wiper /dev/sda1 --commit

wiper: Linux SATA SSD TRIM utility, version 2.5, by Mark Lord.
Preparing for online TRIM of free space on /dev/sda1 (ext4 mounted read-write at /).

This operation could silently destroy your data.  Are you sure (y/N)? y
Creating temporary file (69360783 KB)..
Syncing disks..
Beginning TRIM operations..

/dev/sda:
trimming 138721568 sectors from 2269 ranges
FAILED: Input/output error
Removing temporary file..
Syncing disks..
Aborted.

Any idea why it goes wrong? And any idea how you can enable TRIM/discard on ext4?

I found this: http://osdir.com/ml/linux-ext4/2009-11/msg00268.html
Adding discard: "/dev/sda1 / ext4 defaults,noatime,<discard> 0 1" doesn't work

Last edited by jordz (2009-12-18 13:30:44)

jordz · 2009-12-20 17:58:08

I used the new 2.6.32 kernel from testing and now I can enable the discard mount option as described in the previous link.

+discard Controls whether ext4 should issue discard/TRIM
+nodiscard(*) commands to the underlying block device when
+ blocks are freed. This is useful for SSD devices
+ and sparse/thinly-provisioned LUNs, but it is off
+ by default until sufficient testing has been done.

cecilyen · 2009-12-20 19:59:52

jordz wrote:

I used the new 2.6.32 kernel from testing and now I can enable the discard mount option as described in the previous link.
+discard Controls whether ext4 should issue discard/TRIM
+nodiscard(*) commands to the underlying block device when
+ blocks are freed. This is useful for SSD devices
+ and sparse/thinly-provisioned LUNs, but it is off
+ by default until sufficient testing has been done.

Just order an OCZ vertex SSD.
Great info! Thanks!

Fackamato · 2010-02-08 12:37:29

This package might be useful for you SSD guys as well: http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=34354

Automated graphical user interface for wiper.sh

Arch Linux

#1 2009-10-22 20:54:47

New in AUR: wiper (TRIM tool for SSD's)

#2 2009-11-06 04:32:53

Re: New in AUR: wiper (TRIM tool for SSD's)

#3 2009-11-06 08:11:15

Re: New in AUR: wiper (TRIM tool for SSD's)

#4 2009-12-18 13:27:44

Re: New in AUR: wiper (TRIM tool for SSD's)

#5 2009-12-20 17:58:08

Re: New in AUR: wiper (TRIM tool for SSD's)

#6 2009-12-20 19:59:52

Re: New in AUR: wiper (TRIM tool for SSD's)

#7 2010-02-08 12:37:29

Re: New in AUR: wiper (TRIM tool for SSD's)

Board footer