How to Check Disk Format (SSD or HDD) in Linux

How to Check Disk Format (SSD or HDD) in Linux

When managing a Linux system, it’s often useful to know whether your storage device is a Solid-State Drive (SSD) or a Hard Disk Drive (HDD). Each type of storage has its own characteristics, performance metrics, and use cases. In this blog post, we’ll explore several methods to identify whether your disk is an SSD or an HDD on a Linux system.

Method 1: Using lsblk

The lsblk command can provide detailed information about all block devices. By examining the ROTA (rotation) attribute, you can determine the type of disk.

1. Open a terminal.
2. Run the following command:

   lsblk -d -o name,rota

   

   Here, -d restricts the output to only the main devices, and -o specifies the columns to display. The name column shows the device name, and the rota column indicates if the device is rotational (1 for HDD, 0 for SSD)

Example Output:

In this example, sda is an HDD (ROTA=1) and sdb is an SSD (ROTA=0).

Method 2: Using cat with /sys Filesystem

The /sys filesystem provides a way to access kernel-related information. You can check the queue/rotational file for each block device.

1. Open a terminal.
2. Run the following command:
    

   cat /sys/block/sdX/queue/rotational

   

   Replace sdX with the actual device name (e.g., sda, sdb).

Example Command:

Example Output:

If the output is 1, it indicates an HDD. If it is 0, it indicates an SSD.

Method 3: Using lsblk with Extended Information

You can use lsblk to get extended information about your storage devices.

1. Open a terminal.
2. Run the following command:
    

   lsblk -o name,rota,disc-aln,disc-gran,disc-max,disc-zero

   

Example Output:

In this output, ROTA indicates whether the device is rotational. SSDs typically have DISC-GRAN, DISC-MAX, and DISC-ZERO values set to 0B, reflecting their lack of physical sectors.

Method 4: Using smartctl

The smartctl utility from the smartmontools package can also provide detailed information about your disk.

1. Install smartmontools if it’s not already installed:
    

   sudo apt-get install smartmontools

   

2. Run the following command:
    

   sudo smartctl -a /dev/sdX | grep Rotation

   Replace sdX with the actual device name.

Example Command:

Example Output:

If the output includes a rotation rate, the device is an HDD. If no rotation rate is mentioned, it’s likely an SSD.

Method 5: Using hdparm

The hdparm command can also be used to get information about a disk.

1. Install hdparm if it’s not already installed:
    

   sudo apt-get install hdparm

2. Run the following command:
    

   sudo hdparm -I /dev/sdX | grep 'Nominal Media Rotation Rate'

   Replace sdX with the actual device name.

Example Command:

Example Output:

If the output includes a nominal media rotation rate, the device is an HDD. If there is no such entry, it’s an SSD.

Conclusion

Identifying whether a disk is an SSD or an HDD on a Linux system can be accomplished using several methods. By leveraging commands like lsblk, examining the /sys filesystem, or using tools like smartctl and hdparm, you can easily determine the type of storage device in your system. Each method provides reliable results, allowing you to make informed decisions about storage management and performance optimization.

How to Check Disk Format (SSD or HDD) in Linux (F.A.Q)