System Resources
What Influences dd Block Size Performance? When using the dd command to clone disks or partitions in Linux, the block size parameter (-bs) specifies the size of the blocks of data that are copied at a time. The optimal block size can vary widely depending on several factors related to the source and destination storage…
Measuring dd Performance Across Block Sizes The dd command is a versatile and widely used tool for copying data between files and devices on Linux systems. A key parameter that impacts dd’s copy performance is the block size specified with the bs option. By tuning the block size, users can optimize the throughput of dd…
What is Block Size and Why it Matters for dd The block size in dd determines how much data is read and written at a time. Specifically, it refers to the chunk size that dd uses when copying data from the input file to the output. Choosing an optimal block size can have a dramatic…
What is ZFS and How is it Different? The ZFS file system was developed by Sun Microsystems to provide improved data integrity, support for high storage capacities, and better performance. Key architectural features of ZFS include: Copy-on-write transactions – All modifications are done atomically to prevent corruption. Variable block size – Allocates data in optimal…
Finding the Source of System Slowdowns When a system experiences performance slowdowns or high latency, identifying the root cause is key to optimizing and tuning the system. Monitoring key subsystems like CPU, memory, and disk usage over time can uncover areas that are overutilized or experiencing high saturation. Tools like top, vmstat, iostat, and sar…
Defining Key Terms: du, df, inode, storage utilization When managing a computer system, monitoring and understanding disk space usage is critical. There are some key terms and concepts to understand when analyzing storage utilization: du – Short for “disk usage”, this command provides statistics on disk space used by files and directories on your filesystem….
Describing key concepts – blocks, inodes, file system overhead Files systems are responsible for organizing and managing file storage on disks. To understand disk space usage, we need to get familiar with some key concepts like blocks, inodes and file system overhead. Blocks are minimum addressable block storage units used by file systems. A typical…
Locating Open but Deleted Files Open deleted files refer to files that have been deleted from disk but are still held open by running processes. Although deleted, storage space cannot be freed up until all open file handles are properly closed. Identifying these open deleted files can help troubleshoot apparent disk space exhaustion issues. Using…
The Risks of Editing Live Data Editing live data on Unix systems without proper precautions carries significant risks of data loss or corruption. Critical system files and databases often do not have built-in protection against manual editing errors. A single mistaken keystroke can permanently destroy data or cause system instability. Examples of potential issues include:…
Diagnosing Linux Boot Failures When a Linux system fails to successfully boot, there are several common culprits that should be investigated first: Failed hard drive or SSD – If the boot drive has failed mechanically or has severe file system corruption, the system will not be able to locate and load the kernel and initramfs…