I'm new to Linux and need help testing the I/O speed on a disk. When I try to run FIO, it doesn't seem to execute anything; it just returns to the command prompt immediately. I've tried the same command on an Ubuntu VM, where it works perfectly and shows the output during the test. However, on my client's computer, it doesn't do anything. I've also changed the file path for the test output, thinking it might be a directory access issue, but that didn't help either. Here's the command I'm using:
fio --name=full-write-test --filename=/tmp/testfile.dat --size=25G --bs=512k --rw=write --ioengine=libaio --direct=1 --time_based --runtime=600s
Any suggestions on why this might be happening or alternative tools I could use?
3 Answers
Have you tried using `strace` to see what's happening when you run FIO? That tool can give you insights into system calls being made. Also, make sure the full command you’re using isn’t cut off when you post it—it's essential to keep all details intact.
It sounds like you might be trying to test in the /tmp directory. That location can be mounted with tmpfs, which means it's not using disk I/O like you'd expect. Try running the test in a different directory on your actual disk instead.
I actually tried a different folder, but it had the same result.
Also, it's a good idea to check which version of FIO you're running. You can do that with `which fio` or `command -v fio`. If it’s not returning the expected pathway like `/usr/bin/fio`, you might be running a different version that's causing the issue.
What should I do if it doesn't return the expected path?
I think the command formatting is causing issues. I’m not familiar with strace, so I might need some guidance on that.