How can I verify the speed of my SSD drive?
Hey there! I have stored my website on an SSD drive to boost its performance. Is there any way for me to confirm if my device indeed has an SSD drive and how fast it is?
It's interesting to note that only 1 in 5 hosting providers offers legitimate SSD technology. Many have now resorted to using a combination of both HDD and SSD in the form of "flashcache", where an SSD is utilized to cache larger HDDs. To be considered a true SSD bundle, write speeds need to exceed 100 Mb/s. However, full SSD storage generally offers more than 200-230 Mb/s.
To conduct a speed test, you can utilize the 'dd' utility available on any Linux system. However, it is essential to thoroughly understand how it operates beforehand as it can potentially corrupt the data stored on the server. Therefore, exercise caution while performing any checks or maintenance.
Testing VPS Speeds Using Unix Command Line Utility
When using a VPS, we typically do not have direct access to the server as it is either in the cloud or utilized as part of a master cluster. Nevertheless, there are many testing methods available to assess its speeds.
One of the most straightforward options is to use the Unix command line utility, which is used by about 80% of servers. To get started, you will need to run hdparm and enter the command:
hdparm -tT /dev/sda1
The command line will then provide you with crucial details regarding the disk's response and overall speed. This method is both quick and easy, making it an excellent choice for everyday usage.
You can check which disk you are using with the command: cat_sys_block_sda_queue_rotational
If the command returns 0, then you have a non-spinning disk (SSD), if 1, you have an HDD.
The speed can be found using the command: dd if=_dev_sda of=_dev_null bs=8M count=1000;
instead of _dev_sda, substitute the path _dev_vda or _dev_vdb
and monitor the result of processing - this is the speed of the SSD.
P.S Use / instead of _ in commands...
Assessing Disk Performance with jDiskMark for Windows, macOS, and Linux
jDiskMark is an easy-to-use java-based tool designed to test a disk's overall performance. The tool functions by creating and reading data files into a customizable directory. When undertaking a combined read and write operation, the disk cache does not clear automatically, so it's necessary to restart the app to ensure that the cache does not impact the read and I/O speeds.
Features of the software include cross-platform compatibility, previous launch information storage, single- or multi-file versions, random or sequential testing variants, drive model identification, and adjustable block sizes. jDiskMark is an excellent option for those looking for an effortless yet effective tool to analyze their disk's performance.