fstrim on external SSD drives don't work
I have two external USB 3.0 SSD drives from Samsung (one is Model T1, other T3).
I would like to trim them with my Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS.
While doing that I receive a error message. Here an example:
sudo fstrim -v /media/techo/Samsung_T3
fstrim: /media/techno/Samsung_T3: the discard operation is not supported
But the device support the TRIM Command:
techno@server:~$ sudo hdparm -I /dev/sdb |grep -i TRIM
* Data Set Management TRIM supported (limit 8 blocks)
thx. What do I wrong?
luckyrings
USB drives use a USB<>SATA translation via an IC. Different ICs offer slightly more or less SATA command translations. They all translate the SATA commands required for typical disk usage.
So, the hdparm -I (inquiry) command will work. It will tell the user that 'trim' is supported. But that doesn't mean the USB<>SATA translation includes translating the trim command.
It isn't that the inquiry -I command gives incorrect information. The USB<>SATA translation chip just isn't designed to translate the trim command. If enough users complain, something might be done to make the translations more complete.