[NTLUG:Discuss] SSD on Linux Desktop

[Stuart Johnston]

On 04/13/2012 04:32 PM, Patrick R. Michaud wrote:
> On Fri, Apr 13, 2012 at 02:44:01PM -0500, Ralph Green wrote:
>> The size of your drive and
>> how sensitime you are to the SSD wearing out should affect your usage.
>>   Most SSDs that I have seen are based around MLC flash cells and they
>> don't have a long life.
>
> To me, SSD lifetimes have thus far been a non-issue.
>
> Several studies that I've seen on SSD drives indicate that even
> with MLC, and especially newer models, the worst-case (shortest)
> lifetimes for SSD write cycle failures even under excessively
> heavy loads tend to be on the order of at least 5 years.  In
> more normal usage, I suspect SSDs will easily outlast the
> lifetime of whatever system they're actually in.  (I tend to
> replace/upgrade my primary system every 5 or 6 years.)
>
> I've had many many magnetic drives that start failing in far
> less time that that.  In fact, I suspect I've only ever had one
> magnetic drive that I've kept in active service for more than
> 5 years, due either to drive failure (usually) or the need for
> larger capacity (occasionally).
>
> My desktop system (Kubuntu) uses its SSD for both the /home
> and root partitions (including /usr, /tmp, and /var).  It's
> generally powered on 24x7, and I do a fair bit of heavy disk
> activity such as compiling (Parrot, Perl 6, etc) using the SSD,
> meaning lots of writes and temporary files.  I've also done
> many fresh OS installs to the SSD, which also involves a lot
> of disk writing.

What are you thoughts on journaling?  I went with EXT4 to get trim 
support and many recommend disabling the journal.  From what I've read, 
compiling is very journal heavy but then I don't do much of that.