New SG-4860 w/MSATA SSD, TRIM not enabled on factory install
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I just received a set of rack mount SG-4860s with 120GB MSATA SSDs pre-installed. I checked and TRIM was not enabled on either system. I generally think TRIM is a good idea.
Anyone know of any reason why TRIM should be left disabled on these systems? If I don't get feedback from the pfSense people on this post, I'll open a ticket and post any info they can share, because I think it might be useful to others.
Thanks,
Frank -
It looks like our factory installer on 2.3 isn't setting trim like it should. We're looking into it.
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I have the same unit. How does one check whether TRIM is enabled?
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tunefs -p / -
Looks like TRIM is disabled on mine too.
tunefs: POSIX.1e ACLs: (-a) disabled
tunefs: NFSv4 ACLs: (-N) disabled
tunefs: MAC multilabel: (-l) disabled
tunefs: soft updates: (-n) enabled
tunefs: soft update journaling: (-j) enabled
tunefs: gjournal: (-J) disabled
tunefs: trim: (-t) disabled
tunefs: maximum blocks per file in a cylinder group: (-e) 4096
tunefs: average file size: (-f) 16384
tunefs: average number of files in a directory: (-s) 64
tunefs: minimum percentage of free space: (-m) 8%
tunefs: space to hold for metadata blocks: (-k) 6408
tunefs: optimization preference: (-o) time
tunefs: volume label: (-L) -
Connect the console cable.
At power on, make sure you are watching the boot. Eventually you will get an option to boot to single user mode (screen shot attached). Select option 2 and press enter.
Eventually you will be asked to select a shell or press enter (IIRC). Press enter and you will be at a command prompt. Enter the following:
/sbin/tunefs -t enable / /sbin/shutdown -r nowAfter the reboot login and confirm TRIM is enabled:
[2.3.1-RELEASE][admin@burns.springfield.com]/root: tunefs -p / tunefs: POSIX.1e ACLs: (-a) disabled tunefs: NFSv4 ACLs: (-N) disabled tunefs: MAC multilabel: (-l) disabled tunefs: soft updates: (-n) enabled tunefs: soft update journaling: (-j) enabled tunefs: gjournal: (-J) disabled tunefs: trim: (-t) enabled tunefs: maximum blocks per file in a cylinder group: (-e) 4096 tunefs: average file size: (-f) 16384 tunefs: average number of files in a directory: (-s) 64 tunefs: minimum percentage of free space: (-m) 8% tunefs: space to hold for metadata blocks: (-k) 6408 tunefs: optimization preference: (-o) time tunefs: volume label: (-L)
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Is there any way to do this from the GUI?
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Is there any way to do this from the GUI?
No.
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Was able to get it enabled from the console following the instructions above. Thanks!
Will it stay enabled through further pfSense updates? Or do I have to manually re-enable it following each system update? -
Will it stay enabled through further pfSense updates?
I am still using the 64Bit version 2.2.6 and so I am not able to answer your question.
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Will it stay enabled through further pfSense updates? Or do I have to manually re-enable it following each system update?
It will stay in place unless you reinstall the OS.
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how would one enable trim? a command or?
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how would one enable trim? a command or?
Please read the comment from @nicholfd above, if you are in single user mode you open a shell and
type in the following two commands./sbin/tunefs -t enable / /sbin/shutdown -r now1rst enables TRIM
2nd reboot the pfSense box
done. -
I just wanted add a small note to this that you can check TRIM status through the dashboard at Diagnostics->Command Prompt. In the Execute Shell Command field enter:
tunefs -p /
Clicking Execute will print the output, just the same as with TTY.
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It looks like our factory installer on 2.3 isn't setting trim like it should. We're looking into it.
Would this also explain why my 4860 also didn't have the AES-NI settings turned on by default?
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How can I enable TRIM on a remote SG-2220 where a serial cable is not an option ?
Would be great if TRIM could be enabled via GUI or by software update/install …
I.e. During install/update -> If SSD present then Enable TRIM
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How can I enable TRIM on a remote SG-2220 where a serial cable is not an option ?
Would be great if TRIM could be enabled via GUI or by software update/install …
I.e. During install/update -> If SSD present then Enable TRIM
You can't. The procedure requires running the command in single user mode to work properly, and you can't do that remotely (unless you have some sort of OOB console access that doesn't involve the firewall)
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Thanks a lot for your help jimp. I have already enabled TRIM on my local 4860 but my SG-2220 is at my parents house at the other side of the globe.
I plan to be there in approx 2 years and I hope the built in 60GB SSD will last that long without TRIM enabled.The SG-2220 has been rock solid as IPSEC endpoint. Even remote Software Updates to 2.3.2 went without a problem. However, my hands are tied in regards to enabling TRIM and therefore I'd like to minimise writes to the SSD as much as possible. I use the SSD for SNORT etc, but do not require extensive logging or RRD.
I do use the RAM Disk for /tmp and /var and have tripled the default sizes.
What happens if the RAM Disk fills up ? Will the logs rotate automatically ?SSD only shows 2% usage of 50GB (reported)after 8 months of 24/7 operation.
Is there anything else I can do to minimise writes to SSD ? -
If you have /tmp and /var in RAM, writes to the actual disk should be minimal unless you have packages that keep data there.
The log files are a fixed size and do not need rotating, they are binary circular log files (clog). I wouldn't worry much, given the scenario you describe.
