Do I need to enable TRIM in all OS if multibooting?











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1
down vote

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I multiboot. Does one OS issuing TRIM to my SSD cover all partitions or not?



I have a MacBook Pro (Core2Duo version 2.1 - late 2007) with the HDD replaced with a SSD. I am multi-booting it with Windows 10, Linux, Lion (the last supported OS X version) and El Capitan (the last OS X version that will work with Core2Duo).



All of these run on the same SSD.



I have enabled TRIM support for my SSD in Windows and OS X Lion but I'm not sure how to in the other OS. That isn't my question though.



My question is do I have to enable TRIM support in all OS or will one OS issuing the TRIM command work for the other OS on the same SSD?



That is does TRIM work for the SSD device or the individual OS?










share|improve this question


























    up vote
    1
    down vote

    favorite












    I multiboot. Does one OS issuing TRIM to my SSD cover all partitions or not?



    I have a MacBook Pro (Core2Duo version 2.1 - late 2007) with the HDD replaced with a SSD. I am multi-booting it with Windows 10, Linux, Lion (the last supported OS X version) and El Capitan (the last OS X version that will work with Core2Duo).



    All of these run on the same SSD.



    I have enabled TRIM support for my SSD in Windows and OS X Lion but I'm not sure how to in the other OS. That isn't my question though.



    My question is do I have to enable TRIM support in all OS or will one OS issuing the TRIM command work for the other OS on the same SSD?



    That is does TRIM work for the SSD device or the individual OS?










    share|improve this question
























      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite











      I multiboot. Does one OS issuing TRIM to my SSD cover all partitions or not?



      I have a MacBook Pro (Core2Duo version 2.1 - late 2007) with the HDD replaced with a SSD. I am multi-booting it with Windows 10, Linux, Lion (the last supported OS X version) and El Capitan (the last OS X version that will work with Core2Duo).



      All of these run on the same SSD.



      I have enabled TRIM support for my SSD in Windows and OS X Lion but I'm not sure how to in the other OS. That isn't my question though.



      My question is do I have to enable TRIM support in all OS or will one OS issuing the TRIM command work for the other OS on the same SSD?



      That is does TRIM work for the SSD device or the individual OS?










      share|improve this question













      I multiboot. Does one OS issuing TRIM to my SSD cover all partitions or not?



      I have a MacBook Pro (Core2Duo version 2.1 - late 2007) with the HDD replaced with a SSD. I am multi-booting it with Windows 10, Linux, Lion (the last supported OS X version) and El Capitan (the last OS X version that will work with Core2Duo).



      All of these run on the same SSD.



      I have enabled TRIM support for my SSD in Windows and OS X Lion but I'm not sure how to in the other OS. That isn't my question though.



      My question is do I have to enable TRIM support in all OS or will one OS issuing the TRIM command work for the other OS on the same SSD?



      That is does TRIM work for the SSD device or the individual OS?







      linux windows macos ssd trim






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked Dec 2 at 17:55









      lx07

      1728




      1728






















          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

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          up vote
          2
          down vote



          accepted











          does TRIM work for the SSD device or the individual OS?




          Neither. It works for an individual mounted filesystem. Your drive is unable to tell by itself which data can be discarded because it knows nothing about filesystems nor other structures (like swap partitions), so it needs support from an OS that understands them.



          If two of your OS-es access the same filesystem (not at the same time, of course) and the first one didn't trim, a trim command from the second one will do the job for the entire filesystem because it perceives the whole filesystem including whatever changes the first OS did.



          As it's not advisable (nor sometimes possible) to mount the root partition of another OS, each OS should trim at least its own root partition and not rely on another OS to do this instead (even though in some cases it may be technically possible).



          Also note you cannot trim a filesystem your (current) OS doesn't understand. A possible exception to this may be a utility that understands a filesystem foreign to the OS and can send trimming commands manually, despite the filesystem not even being mounted. You will probably never need such utility; your first choice should be to trim from an OS that understands a given filesystem natively.




          will one OS issuing the TRIM command work for the other OS on the same SSD?




          In general: no. Your drive doesn't care which OS trims what part, but, to trim right, an OS needs to tell apart relevant data from expendable; so it needs to understand the filesystem you want to trim. For this reason trimming from one OS in a multiboot setup like yours is not enough. A sane approach is to let each OS trim filesystems it uses exclusively. For filesystems "shared" between OS-es at least one OS should trim it on a regular basis.






          share|improve this answer






























            up vote
            -1
            down vote













            The TRIM command is issued by disk driver, which is why you had to turn it on in
            Windows and OS X.



            Therefore this is a function of the OS, or more specifically of the disk driver,
            which needs to support TRIM and use it to execute deletes.



            As in Wikipedia Trim (computing):




            A trim command (known as TRIM in the ATA command set, and UNMAP in the SCSI command set) allows an operating system to inform a solid-state drive (SSD) which blocks of data are no longer considered in use and can be wiped internally.







            share|improve this answer





















            • I know it is issued by an OS - that is the question - I have done it twice. I also know what TRIM is or I would not have asked. This doesn't answer the question at all so downvoted for ignoring my question.
              – lx07
              Dec 2 at 19:07












            • There is no other answer, or your question doesn't make sense. What does it mean "work for the SSD device or the individual OS" - of course it works by the OS on the SSD via its firmware. So what else?
              – harrymc
              Dec 2 at 19:09












            • Sure there is. "Do all OS need to enable TRIM in a multiboot scenario? "YES" or "NO"
              – lx07
              Dec 2 at 19:11










            • Neither: The OS enables nothing. It only permits its driver to use the TRIM command, the driver that is part of the OS. This is enabled by default, but the disabling part is just in case the TRIM support of the SSD is faulty, a transitional measure that will surely disappear in a few years. The disk firmware is always capable of receiving TRIM commands, if issued, and doesn't need enabling, nor does it care which OS issued the commands.
              – harrymc
              Dec 2 at 20:58











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            2 Answers
            2






            active

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            2 Answers
            2






            active

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            active

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            up vote
            2
            down vote



            accepted











            does TRIM work for the SSD device or the individual OS?




            Neither. It works for an individual mounted filesystem. Your drive is unable to tell by itself which data can be discarded because it knows nothing about filesystems nor other structures (like swap partitions), so it needs support from an OS that understands them.



            If two of your OS-es access the same filesystem (not at the same time, of course) and the first one didn't trim, a trim command from the second one will do the job for the entire filesystem because it perceives the whole filesystem including whatever changes the first OS did.



            As it's not advisable (nor sometimes possible) to mount the root partition of another OS, each OS should trim at least its own root partition and not rely on another OS to do this instead (even though in some cases it may be technically possible).



            Also note you cannot trim a filesystem your (current) OS doesn't understand. A possible exception to this may be a utility that understands a filesystem foreign to the OS and can send trimming commands manually, despite the filesystem not even being mounted. You will probably never need such utility; your first choice should be to trim from an OS that understands a given filesystem natively.




            will one OS issuing the TRIM command work for the other OS on the same SSD?




            In general: no. Your drive doesn't care which OS trims what part, but, to trim right, an OS needs to tell apart relevant data from expendable; so it needs to understand the filesystem you want to trim. For this reason trimming from one OS in a multiboot setup like yours is not enough. A sane approach is to let each OS trim filesystems it uses exclusively. For filesystems "shared" between OS-es at least one OS should trim it on a regular basis.






            share|improve this answer



























              up vote
              2
              down vote



              accepted











              does TRIM work for the SSD device or the individual OS?




              Neither. It works for an individual mounted filesystem. Your drive is unable to tell by itself which data can be discarded because it knows nothing about filesystems nor other structures (like swap partitions), so it needs support from an OS that understands them.



              If two of your OS-es access the same filesystem (not at the same time, of course) and the first one didn't trim, a trim command from the second one will do the job for the entire filesystem because it perceives the whole filesystem including whatever changes the first OS did.



              As it's not advisable (nor sometimes possible) to mount the root partition of another OS, each OS should trim at least its own root partition and not rely on another OS to do this instead (even though in some cases it may be technically possible).



              Also note you cannot trim a filesystem your (current) OS doesn't understand. A possible exception to this may be a utility that understands a filesystem foreign to the OS and can send trimming commands manually, despite the filesystem not even being mounted. You will probably never need such utility; your first choice should be to trim from an OS that understands a given filesystem natively.




              will one OS issuing the TRIM command work for the other OS on the same SSD?




              In general: no. Your drive doesn't care which OS trims what part, but, to trim right, an OS needs to tell apart relevant data from expendable; so it needs to understand the filesystem you want to trim. For this reason trimming from one OS in a multiboot setup like yours is not enough. A sane approach is to let each OS trim filesystems it uses exclusively. For filesystems "shared" between OS-es at least one OS should trim it on a regular basis.






              share|improve this answer

























                up vote
                2
                down vote



                accepted







                up vote
                2
                down vote



                accepted







                does TRIM work for the SSD device or the individual OS?




                Neither. It works for an individual mounted filesystem. Your drive is unable to tell by itself which data can be discarded because it knows nothing about filesystems nor other structures (like swap partitions), so it needs support from an OS that understands them.



                If two of your OS-es access the same filesystem (not at the same time, of course) and the first one didn't trim, a trim command from the second one will do the job for the entire filesystem because it perceives the whole filesystem including whatever changes the first OS did.



                As it's not advisable (nor sometimes possible) to mount the root partition of another OS, each OS should trim at least its own root partition and not rely on another OS to do this instead (even though in some cases it may be technically possible).



                Also note you cannot trim a filesystem your (current) OS doesn't understand. A possible exception to this may be a utility that understands a filesystem foreign to the OS and can send trimming commands manually, despite the filesystem not even being mounted. You will probably never need such utility; your first choice should be to trim from an OS that understands a given filesystem natively.




                will one OS issuing the TRIM command work for the other OS on the same SSD?




                In general: no. Your drive doesn't care which OS trims what part, but, to trim right, an OS needs to tell apart relevant data from expendable; so it needs to understand the filesystem you want to trim. For this reason trimming from one OS in a multiboot setup like yours is not enough. A sane approach is to let each OS trim filesystems it uses exclusively. For filesystems "shared" between OS-es at least one OS should trim it on a regular basis.






                share|improve this answer















                does TRIM work for the SSD device or the individual OS?




                Neither. It works for an individual mounted filesystem. Your drive is unable to tell by itself which data can be discarded because it knows nothing about filesystems nor other structures (like swap partitions), so it needs support from an OS that understands them.



                If two of your OS-es access the same filesystem (not at the same time, of course) and the first one didn't trim, a trim command from the second one will do the job for the entire filesystem because it perceives the whole filesystem including whatever changes the first OS did.



                As it's not advisable (nor sometimes possible) to mount the root partition of another OS, each OS should trim at least its own root partition and not rely on another OS to do this instead (even though in some cases it may be technically possible).



                Also note you cannot trim a filesystem your (current) OS doesn't understand. A possible exception to this may be a utility that understands a filesystem foreign to the OS and can send trimming commands manually, despite the filesystem not even being mounted. You will probably never need such utility; your first choice should be to trim from an OS that understands a given filesystem natively.




                will one OS issuing the TRIM command work for the other OS on the same SSD?




                In general: no. Your drive doesn't care which OS trims what part, but, to trim right, an OS needs to tell apart relevant data from expendable; so it needs to understand the filesystem you want to trim. For this reason trimming from one OS in a multiboot setup like yours is not enough. A sane approach is to let each OS trim filesystems it uses exclusively. For filesystems "shared" between OS-es at least one OS should trim it on a regular basis.







                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited Dec 3 at 6:20

























                answered Dec 2 at 19:19









                Kamil Maciorowski

                23.3k155072




                23.3k155072
























                    up vote
                    -1
                    down vote













                    The TRIM command is issued by disk driver, which is why you had to turn it on in
                    Windows and OS X.



                    Therefore this is a function of the OS, or more specifically of the disk driver,
                    which needs to support TRIM and use it to execute deletes.



                    As in Wikipedia Trim (computing):




                    A trim command (known as TRIM in the ATA command set, and UNMAP in the SCSI command set) allows an operating system to inform a solid-state drive (SSD) which blocks of data are no longer considered in use and can be wiped internally.







                    share|improve this answer





















                    • I know it is issued by an OS - that is the question - I have done it twice. I also know what TRIM is or I would not have asked. This doesn't answer the question at all so downvoted for ignoring my question.
                      – lx07
                      Dec 2 at 19:07












                    • There is no other answer, or your question doesn't make sense. What does it mean "work for the SSD device or the individual OS" - of course it works by the OS on the SSD via its firmware. So what else?
                      – harrymc
                      Dec 2 at 19:09












                    • Sure there is. "Do all OS need to enable TRIM in a multiboot scenario? "YES" or "NO"
                      – lx07
                      Dec 2 at 19:11










                    • Neither: The OS enables nothing. It only permits its driver to use the TRIM command, the driver that is part of the OS. This is enabled by default, but the disabling part is just in case the TRIM support of the SSD is faulty, a transitional measure that will surely disappear in a few years. The disk firmware is always capable of receiving TRIM commands, if issued, and doesn't need enabling, nor does it care which OS issued the commands.
                      – harrymc
                      Dec 2 at 20:58















                    up vote
                    -1
                    down vote













                    The TRIM command is issued by disk driver, which is why you had to turn it on in
                    Windows and OS X.



                    Therefore this is a function of the OS, or more specifically of the disk driver,
                    which needs to support TRIM and use it to execute deletes.



                    As in Wikipedia Trim (computing):




                    A trim command (known as TRIM in the ATA command set, and UNMAP in the SCSI command set) allows an operating system to inform a solid-state drive (SSD) which blocks of data are no longer considered in use and can be wiped internally.







                    share|improve this answer





















                    • I know it is issued by an OS - that is the question - I have done it twice. I also know what TRIM is or I would not have asked. This doesn't answer the question at all so downvoted for ignoring my question.
                      – lx07
                      Dec 2 at 19:07












                    • There is no other answer, or your question doesn't make sense. What does it mean "work for the SSD device or the individual OS" - of course it works by the OS on the SSD via its firmware. So what else?
                      – harrymc
                      Dec 2 at 19:09












                    • Sure there is. "Do all OS need to enable TRIM in a multiboot scenario? "YES" or "NO"
                      – lx07
                      Dec 2 at 19:11










                    • Neither: The OS enables nothing. It only permits its driver to use the TRIM command, the driver that is part of the OS. This is enabled by default, but the disabling part is just in case the TRIM support of the SSD is faulty, a transitional measure that will surely disappear in a few years. The disk firmware is always capable of receiving TRIM commands, if issued, and doesn't need enabling, nor does it care which OS issued the commands.
                      – harrymc
                      Dec 2 at 20:58













                    up vote
                    -1
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    -1
                    down vote









                    The TRIM command is issued by disk driver, which is why you had to turn it on in
                    Windows and OS X.



                    Therefore this is a function of the OS, or more specifically of the disk driver,
                    which needs to support TRIM and use it to execute deletes.



                    As in Wikipedia Trim (computing):




                    A trim command (known as TRIM in the ATA command set, and UNMAP in the SCSI command set) allows an operating system to inform a solid-state drive (SSD) which blocks of data are no longer considered in use and can be wiped internally.







                    share|improve this answer












                    The TRIM command is issued by disk driver, which is why you had to turn it on in
                    Windows and OS X.



                    Therefore this is a function of the OS, or more specifically of the disk driver,
                    which needs to support TRIM and use it to execute deletes.



                    As in Wikipedia Trim (computing):




                    A trim command (known as TRIM in the ATA command set, and UNMAP in the SCSI command set) allows an operating system to inform a solid-state drive (SSD) which blocks of data are no longer considered in use and can be wiped internally.








                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Dec 2 at 18:17









                    harrymc

                    251k11259558




                    251k11259558












                    • I know it is issued by an OS - that is the question - I have done it twice. I also know what TRIM is or I would not have asked. This doesn't answer the question at all so downvoted for ignoring my question.
                      – lx07
                      Dec 2 at 19:07












                    • There is no other answer, or your question doesn't make sense. What does it mean "work for the SSD device or the individual OS" - of course it works by the OS on the SSD via its firmware. So what else?
                      – harrymc
                      Dec 2 at 19:09












                    • Sure there is. "Do all OS need to enable TRIM in a multiboot scenario? "YES" or "NO"
                      – lx07
                      Dec 2 at 19:11










                    • Neither: The OS enables nothing. It only permits its driver to use the TRIM command, the driver that is part of the OS. This is enabled by default, but the disabling part is just in case the TRIM support of the SSD is faulty, a transitional measure that will surely disappear in a few years. The disk firmware is always capable of receiving TRIM commands, if issued, and doesn't need enabling, nor does it care which OS issued the commands.
                      – harrymc
                      Dec 2 at 20:58


















                    • I know it is issued by an OS - that is the question - I have done it twice. I also know what TRIM is or I would not have asked. This doesn't answer the question at all so downvoted for ignoring my question.
                      – lx07
                      Dec 2 at 19:07












                    • There is no other answer, or your question doesn't make sense. What does it mean "work for the SSD device or the individual OS" - of course it works by the OS on the SSD via its firmware. So what else?
                      – harrymc
                      Dec 2 at 19:09












                    • Sure there is. "Do all OS need to enable TRIM in a multiboot scenario? "YES" or "NO"
                      – lx07
                      Dec 2 at 19:11










                    • Neither: The OS enables nothing. It only permits its driver to use the TRIM command, the driver that is part of the OS. This is enabled by default, but the disabling part is just in case the TRIM support of the SSD is faulty, a transitional measure that will surely disappear in a few years. The disk firmware is always capable of receiving TRIM commands, if issued, and doesn't need enabling, nor does it care which OS issued the commands.
                      – harrymc
                      Dec 2 at 20:58
















                    I know it is issued by an OS - that is the question - I have done it twice. I also know what TRIM is or I would not have asked. This doesn't answer the question at all so downvoted for ignoring my question.
                    – lx07
                    Dec 2 at 19:07






                    I know it is issued by an OS - that is the question - I have done it twice. I also know what TRIM is or I would not have asked. This doesn't answer the question at all so downvoted for ignoring my question.
                    – lx07
                    Dec 2 at 19:07














                    There is no other answer, or your question doesn't make sense. What does it mean "work for the SSD device or the individual OS" - of course it works by the OS on the SSD via its firmware. So what else?
                    – harrymc
                    Dec 2 at 19:09






                    There is no other answer, or your question doesn't make sense. What does it mean "work for the SSD device or the individual OS" - of course it works by the OS on the SSD via its firmware. So what else?
                    – harrymc
                    Dec 2 at 19:09














                    Sure there is. "Do all OS need to enable TRIM in a multiboot scenario? "YES" or "NO"
                    – lx07
                    Dec 2 at 19:11




                    Sure there is. "Do all OS need to enable TRIM in a multiboot scenario? "YES" or "NO"
                    – lx07
                    Dec 2 at 19:11












                    Neither: The OS enables nothing. It only permits its driver to use the TRIM command, the driver that is part of the OS. This is enabled by default, but the disabling part is just in case the TRIM support of the SSD is faulty, a transitional measure that will surely disappear in a few years. The disk firmware is always capable of receiving TRIM commands, if issued, and doesn't need enabling, nor does it care which OS issued the commands.
                    – harrymc
                    Dec 2 at 20:58




                    Neither: The OS enables nothing. It only permits its driver to use the TRIM command, the driver that is part of the OS. This is enabled by default, but the disabling part is just in case the TRIM support of the SSD is faulty, a transitional measure that will surely disappear in a few years. The disk firmware is always capable of receiving TRIM commands, if issued, and doesn't need enabling, nor does it care which OS issued the commands.
                    – harrymc
                    Dec 2 at 20:58


















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