Tips and Tricks to Optimize the Use of SSDs as Cache for HDDs
Using an SSD as a cache for HDDs is an effective way to improve your computer’s performance and speed, but you also need to pay attention to a few things to keep your SSD used optimally and lasting. The following are some tips and tricks that you can apply:
- Choose a quality SSD and has a good warranty. Cheap, fake SSDs may have poor performance, low endurance, and a high risk of failure. Choose an SSD that has a trusted brand, specifications that suit your needs, and a long warranty. You can read reviews and testimonials from other users to find out the quality and reputation of the SSD you want.
- Choose the cache size that suits your needs. A cache size that is too large may not be effective, because infrequently accessed data will take up space on the SSD that would otherwise be used for frequently accessed data. A cache size that is too small is also ineffective, because frequently accessed data will not be stored enough on the SSD. You can adjust the cache size according to your usage patterns, and monitor cache statistics by using commands like sudo bcache-status or sudo lvs -o +cache_total_blocks,cache_used_blocks,cache_dirty_blocks,cache_read_hits,cache_write_hits.
- Perform regular SSD maintenance. SSDs also require maintenance to maintain their performance and durability. You can do things like enable the TRIM feature, which will clean up unused blocks on the SSD, by using commands like sudo fstrim -v /mnt/cache, where /mnt/cache is your CLV location. You can also do things like check SSD health, update SSD firmware, and back up your important data.
- Don’t rely on SSDs as cache for HDDs as a permanent solution. Using an SSD as a cache for your HDD is a great way to improve your computer’s performance and speed, but that doesn’t mean you can ignore your HDD. Your HDD is still your primary storage medium, and you should still maintain the condition and performance of your HDD. You should also be aware that SSDs as a cache for HDDs have a risk of data loss if your SSD or HDD is damaged. Therefore, you should always back up your data regularly, and consider replacing your HDD with a larger SSD if possible.
Hope this article is useful and can help you improve the performance and speed of your computer. Thank you for reading this article, and see you in the next article!