LinuxQuestions.org - [SOLVED] Partitioning question ("device presents logical sector size that is smaller than...")

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Partitioning question ("device presents logical sector size that is smaller than...")

I installed Arch Linux + Windows 7 on a new computer with two 60GB SSDs (Kingston V300) and two 1TB HDDs (WD Blue series), one of each per OS. When partitioning the HDD fdisk gave a message "The device presents a logical sector size that is smaller than the physical sector size..." and as far as I understand, wrongly aligned partitions can, in this case, have a significant (negative) effect on performance. Are these partitions correctly aligned or should I fix something? Windows installer didn't give any such warnings.

Quote:

Disk /dev/sda: 60.0 GB, 60022480896 bytes, 117231408 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xa8f744c7

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 2048 117231407 58614680 83 Linux

Disk /dev/sdb: 60.0 GB, 60022480896 bytes, 117231408 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x65a1bc6d

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 2048 117227519 58612736 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT

Disk /dev/sdc: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes, 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x65a1bc75

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 2048 1953521663 976759808 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT

Disk /dev/sdd: 1000.2 GB, 1000204886016 bytes, 1953525168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xa76f099f

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdd1 2048 156252048 78125000+ 83 Linux
/dev/sdd2 156252160 1953525167 898636504 83 Linux

Another question: What should I take into account if I want to mount the Windows partition located on the SSD on Linux? I guess NTFS-3G doesn't support TRIM but how about access time recording (atime)?

That message is informational - why would you expect Windoze to keep you informed of what's happening below the covers.
Current versions of the tools align automatically - as can be seen by the start sector on the first partition on the display(s).

As for ntfs-3g, the doco suggests noatime is supported, but not trim; see here.

Hi:

I went and looked at my partitions and did for a reason.
I noticed that you have:

Quote:

/dev/sdb1 * 2048 117227519 58612736 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sdc1 2048 1953521663 976759808 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT

It looks like you may have Windows on 2 different devices. Unless I am mistaken One on your HDD and the other partition on your 1 TB Drive.
I only have experience with installing on a HDD so I am just sharing what I am seeing and what I (think) is going on.

Looking at mine both of the Windows partitions are on the same HDD; but I am not using an additonal drive like you and don't know if the partitions can be seperated and still funtion.

Code:

  Device Boot      Start        End      Blocks  Id  System

/dev/sda1              63    7438094    3719016  12  Compaq diagnostics

/dev/sda2  *    7438095  293543077  143052491+  7  HPFS/NTFS/exFAT

/dev/sda3      332607486  976771071  322081793    5  Extended

/dev/sda5      332607488  334559231      975872  82  Linux swap / Solaris

/dev/sda6      334561280  976771071  321104896  83  Linux

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php...Arch_Dual_Boot
http://askubuntu.com/questions/24591...ubuntu-ssd-hdd
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Solid_State_Drives
http://www.void.gr/kargig/blog/2012/...lignment-tips/

Hope that helps

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ormu (Post 4945593)

When partitioning the HDD fdisk gave a message "The device presents a logical sector size that is smaller than the physical sector size..."

True, as you can see in the fdisk output you have 512 bytes logical sector size, but 4096 bytes physical sector size. That means that an aligned partition must start at a sector that can be divided by 8 (4096/512), which is the case for you. You don't need to do the math, fdisk would print a warning for partitions were this isn't the case.

Ok, thanks to everyone for clarification.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ztcoracat (Post 4945638)

Hi:

I went and looked at my partitions and did for a reason.
I noticed that you have:

It looks like you may have Windows on 2 different devices. Unless I am mistaken One on your HDD and the other partition on your 1 TB Drive.
I only have experience with installing on a HDD so I am just sharing what I am seeing and what I (think) is going on.

Windows system files and most used programs are located on the SSD. The NTFS partition on the HDD is for data and bulky programs such as games.