Brief help information for the following topics related to the hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display gadget/application is provided below:
Background Information
Several versions of the Microsoft® Windows® operating system (e.g., Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2) provide support for control I/O operations (specifically "Device Control" I/O operations) that specify "Manage Data Set Attributes (MDSA)" requests. These MDSA requests include "TRIM" action requests.
TRIM action requests (also known as "TRIM commands") are used, for example, by the file system to inform a Solid State Disk (SSD) device that a specific set of blocks (i.e., sectors upon the SSD device) are considered by the file system to be "deleted data blocks" (that is, sectors upon the SSD device that the file system considers to no longer contain valid data). This information can enable the SSD device to better manage its internal operations (such as background media management), which in turn can potentially provide improved device performance.
The MDSA TRIM command specifies a particular set of blocks by means of a "Data Set Range (DSR)". A DSR identifies the starting offset (i.e., essentially the starting block address for the particular set of blocks) along with the overall combined length of the blocks. In addition, a single MDSA TRIM command can specify one or more DSRs.
The MDSA metrics captured by the hIOmon I/O Performance Monitor software include a variety of related information such as the number of TRIM commands observed, the minimum and maximum number of DSRs observed for a single TRIM command, the overall combined number of DSRs observed, the combined lengths of all DSRs observed, etc. The hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display provides a simple and quick way to display a selected subset of the SSD TRIM-related metrics that can be collected by the hIOmon software.
The hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display can be run either as a Microsoft Windows Gadget and/or as a Windows HTML Application (HTA). In either case, the metrics displayed are those currently collected by the hIOmon I/O Monitor, which must be properly configured to collect the particular types of metrics displayed by the hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display gadget/HTA. See the section immediately below for the configuration requirements.
Configuration Information
The hIOmon software must be properly configured in order to collect the hIOmon SSD TRIM metrics for display by the hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display gadget/HTA. This proper configuration of the hIOmon I/O Performance Monitor includes an active/loaded hIOmon "Filter Selection", which specifies the particular files/devices that are to be monitored by the hIOmon software as well as the specific types of I/O operations to be monitored and the types of I/O operation performance metrics to be collected. Moreover, the collection of I/O operation performance metrics begins when the Filter Selection is loaded/activated.
More specifically, the active Filter Selection must be configured to request the monitoring of "Manage Data Set Attributes (MDSA)" control I/O operations along with the collection of "summary" metrics (including "Device Summary" metrics) for the particular physical volume(s) and/or physical device(s) of interest.
The hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display gadget/HTA provides a simple and quick way to display a selected subset of the SSD TRIM-related metrics that can be captured by the hIOmon I/O Monitor. Please note that this gadget/HTA cannot be used, however, to configure the hIOmon software so as to collect such metrics. Rather, a hIOmon client (e.g., the hIOmon Presentation Client, the hIOmon WMI Browser, etc.) must be used to properly configure the hIOmon software in accordance with requirements mentioned above.
In addition, the hIOmon "SSD I/O Performance Metrics Analysis Add-On" can also be used to quickly and easily configure the hIOmon software so as to meet these configuration requirements. This hIOmon Add-On uses interactive input prompts that allow you to simply specify the particular physical volumes and/or physical devices for which the hIOmon software is to collect SSD TRIM-related metrics. Based upon your selected input parameters, the hIOmon Add-On will then automatically configure the hIOmon software; please note that a restart/reboot of the computer system might be required in order to activate the hIOmon configuration changes.
Additional information about the hIOmon "SSD I/O Performance Metrics Analysis Add-On" can be found within the "hIOmon Add-On User Guide" document.
Installation Information
The "hIOmonSSDTrimMetrics.gadget" is provided as a code-signed CAB file in a standard gadget package that can be directly added to the Windows Sidebar Gadget Gallery by double-clicking on this file (or by manually adding it to the Gadget Gallery). The various files used by the hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display gadget will automatically be unzipped from this gadget file as part of the Windows Sidebar Gadget installation process (and will be placed into a gadget system folder).
Please note that the
"hIOmonSSDTrimMetrics.hta" file (i.e., the HTA version of the gadget) is
also included amongst the CAB zipped files within the "hIOmonSSDTrimMetrics.gadget" file.
To use the HTA version of this gadget, simply double-click upon the "hIOmonSSDTrimMetrics.hta"
file.
Also please note that the first time after installation, the hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display gadget/HTA will by default automatically select physical device 0 (i.e., "\Device\Harddisk0\DR0") as the physical device for which metrics are to be displayed if this physical device is currently being monitored by the hIOmon software.
The Main Display includes the display of three basic SSD TRIM-related metrics:
Cmds. This
reflects the total number of successful Control I/O operations observed by the hIOmon I/O Monitor that specified
a "Device Control" operation with a "Manage Data Set
Attributes (MDSA)" request for a "Trim" action.
Ranges. This
reflects the total combined number of "Data Set Ranges (DSR)" specified
by the TRIM commands. That is, it is the combined total for all of the
TRIM commands, whose total is shown by the "Cmds" metric described
above. Each TRIM command specifies a particular set of blocks (i.e.,
sectors upon a SSD) by means of a DSR. A DSR identifies the starting
offset (i.e., essentially the starting block address for a particular set of
blocks) along with the overall combined length of the blocks. In
addition, please note that a single TRIM command can specify one or more DSRs.
Space. This reflects the total combined length in bytes of the DSRs. Please note that this is the combined total for all of the DSRs as indicated by the "Ranges" metric noted above. This metric basically represents the total number of bytes that have been requested to be "trimmed" for the respective physical volume/device.
The total number of bytes read ("Read Xfer") from the physical volume (or device) and the total number of bytes written ("Write Xfer") to the physical volume (or device) are also displayed within the "larger size" display (i.e., when the gadget option to re-size the display to set to the "larger size"). Please note that these metrics are only available if the active Filter Selection has been configured to request that the hIOmon I/O Monitor additionally collect metrics for Read I/O operations and Write I/O operations respectively.
Also please note the following:
All of
the above metrics reflect the total,
cumulative values that have been automatically accumulated by the hIOmon I/O Monitor since
the hIOmon Filter Selection was last loaded/activated. You can view the
elapsed time duration since the Filter Selection was activated by clicking on the
gadget "Options" (or the "Settings" button in
the lower right-hand corner of the Main Display in the HTA).
The metrics are displayed
upon a individual physical volume (or device) basis for a single
physical volume/device. You can view the full name of the respective physical
volume/device by clicking on the "Settings" option (as described
immediately above) and viewing the "Device
Names" list box; the currently selected physical volume/device
whose metrics are being displayed is shown with a green
background within this list box. The "Settings" option can also be used to
select a different physical volume/device for which the metrics are to be
displayed.
The display of the metric
values is periodically refreshed/updated to the current values.
You can view the refresh time interval by clicking on the
"Settings" option; the "Settings" options can also be
used to select a different refresh time interval.
An error indication
will be displayed in the lower left-hand corner of the Main Display in the
event that the hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display gadget/HTA encounters an
error. Click on the "Settings" option (HTA) or
"Options" (gadget) to view additional
details about the error.
If a Filter Selection change
is made while the hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display gadget/HTA is active
(i.e., is running), it is then recommended that the gadget/HTA be
closed/stopped and then restarted so that it can recognize and operate in
line with
the Filter Selection changes.
You can invoke/run more than one instance of the hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display gadget/HTA. Each instance can be configured to display the current metrics for a different physical volume/device.
The Settings Display includes the following displayed information and configuration options:
Metrics collection period.
This value reflects the overall elapsed time duration during which the displayed
metrics were collected by the hIOmon I/O Monitor. Please note that the
start of this time period is when the hIOmon Filter Selection was
last loaded/activated. This value is retrieved from the hIOmon I/O
Monitor at the same time when the metrics themselves are retrieved from the
hIOmon I/O Monitor as part of the periodic refresh of the metrics shown
within the Main Display.
Device names. This drop-down list box displays the full names of the physical volumes and physical devices that are currently being monitored by the hIOmon software. To display the metrics for a particular physical volume/device, simply select the specific physical volume/device of interest and then click on the "OK" button. Please note that the selection will immediately take effect upon clicking the "OK" button. Please see the "OK" button below for additional details.
The physical volume/device for which metrics are currently being displayed in the Main Display is highlighted with a green background within the drop-down list box. Also please note that alongside each physical volume/device name are the drive letters of the particular Logical Disks that are associated with the respective physical volume/device.
Lastly, please note that the specified physical volume (or physical
device) represents a physical volume (or physical device) at the respective
level within the Windows operating system. The "physical
device", for instance, is akin to the Windows Performance Monitor "PhysicalDisk"
performance object (with "\Device\Harddisk0\DR0", as an example, representing physical device 0).
Seconds between refreshes. This input text field enables you to specify the time interval between refreshes/updates of the metrics displayed within the Main Display. This time interval is specified in terms of seconds and must be a number greater than zero.
The new refresh interval will
immediately take effect upon clicking the "OK" button. Please
see the "OK" button for additional details.
OK Button. Click on the "OK" button to immediately activate the configuration changes described above (i.e., the "Device Names" and "Seconds between refreshes" configuration options). Please note that if you click on the "OK" button without making any configuration changes, then the "Settings" display window will simply close and the operation of the hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display gadget/HTA will continue without any change.
Also please note that the
configuration changes are persistent. That is, the configuration
options will be saved so that they will automatically be used the next
time that you start/invoke the hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display gadget/HTA.
Cancel Button. Click on the "Cancel" button to close the "Settings" display without activating/saving any of the changes that you have made to the configuration option input fields; that is, any such entered changes will be ignored.
Help Button. Click on the "Help" button to display this help information html page.
Error Information. In the event of an error, the bottom portion of the "Settings" display window will provide detailed information about the error encountered by the hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display. This error information will be displayed in red and will be cleared when the "Settings" display window is closed. Please the the "Error Messages" section below for additional information about each of the error messages that can be displayed.
The following error messages can be displayed by the hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display gadget/HTA:
HSTMD100E. The hIOmon Manager service is not currently running (and so the
hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display gadget/HTA cannot retrieve the SSD TRIM
metrics from the hIOmon Manager). You can verify whether the hIOmon Manager is
currently running by going to the Windows "Administrative Tools",
selecting the "Services" option, and viewing the current status of
the "hyperI/O hIOmon Manager" service. Please note that the
standard hIOmon software installation process configures the hIOmon Manager
service so that it is automatically started when the system is started.
HSTMD120E. The hIOmon
WMI Support is not accessible/available. Please ensure that the hIOmon
software installation process was successfully performed (please see section
5.2 within the hIOmon "readMe" document). Also note that
this error can occur if the hIOmon WMI Support has been uninstalled (e.g.,
as part of the uninstall/removal of the hIOmon software).
HSTMD150E. No
physical volumes/devices are currently being monitored by the hIOmon
software. Please see the "Configuration Information" section
above for how to properly configure the hIOmon
software so that the particular physical volume(s)/device(s) of interest to
you are monitored by the hIOmon software and that the appropriate metric
types are collected for
display.
HSTMD200E. No
physical volume/device is selected for which metrics are to be
displayed. Please select the particular physical volume/device of
interest from the "Device Names" drop-down box list.
HSTMD250E. No
metrics were available for retrieval for the physical volume/device
identified within the error message. This can occur if the active Filter
Selection was changed during the refresh interval, with the change resulting
in a Filter Selection that does not meet the configuration requirements
described above.
HSTMD300E. The
hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display gadget/display was not able to successfully
update the metrics display due to the indicated error shown within the error
message.
HSTMD400E. An
invalid physical volume/device name was specified within the saved
configuration options. This error
condition is detected when the saved configuration options are restored by
the gadget/HTA when it is started.
HSTMD450E. An
invalid number was entered for the refresh interval configuration
option/setting. Please enter a positive number, which represents the
number of seconds for the refresh time interval (i.e., the number of seconds
between refreshes/updates of the displayed metrics).
HSTMD500E. The
metrics cannot be retrieved/displayed because the currently loaded/active Filter Selection is not properly
configured for use by the hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display gadget/HTA.
If the Device Names box list shows
"No monitored devices", then the currently active Filter Selection
is not properly configured for any of the physical volumes/devices
available to be monitored by the hIOmon software.
If the Device Names box list does show the currently-selected physical
volume/device, then the Filter Selection does not request that the required metrics (of the type indicated within the error
message) be collected;
consequently, the metrics cannot be retrieved/displayed by the
hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display gadget/HTA for the currently-selected
physical volume/device.
Please see the
"Configuration Information" section above
for how to properly configure the hIOmon software so that the appropriate metrics
are collected for display.
HSTMD520E. The
hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display gadget/HTA encountered the indicated error
when trying to retrieve the desired Filter from the currently loaded/active
hIOmon Filter Selection. Please see the
"Filter Selection" description section above
for basic information related to the Filter Selection configuration
requirements.
HSTMD800E. The
hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display encountered the indicated error while
attempting to retrieve the settings (i.e., the various configurable options
that are preserved between invocations of the hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics
Display).
HSTMD820E. The
hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display encountered the indicated error while
attempting to save the settings (i.e., the various configurable options that
are preserved between invocations of the hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display).
HSTMD900E. The hIOmon SSD TRIM Metrics Display encountered the indicated error when attempting to connect to the hIOmon WMI Support. Ensure that the hIOmon software was successfully installed and that the hIOmon Manager service is running.
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