NAND flash memory and partitioning

Technical Support
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1

Hello,

We are currently using Colibri iMX6DL 512MB running Debian GNU/Linux 12 (Bookworm). Does the number of partitions and partition size matter in order to preserve/extend NAND flash memory? We also would like to know the exact limit of write cycles and if there are other ways/recommendations to extend the lifetime of flash storage.

Thank you

2

The Colibri iMX6DL module does not incorporate NAND flash; instead, it utilizes eMMC. The specific eMMC model used depends on the hardware revision of the Colibri iMX6DL module. Please check the revision history for details . For information regarding the eMMC’s details and health status, please refer to this post.

3

Some recommendations to extend the lifetime of flash storage:

  • Create a RAM disk to store temporary files
  • Redirect log files to RAM by mounting /var/log and /var/tmp on RAM disk
  • Use the noatime mount option to disable access time updates on file reads. This can significantly reduce write operations.
  • Adjust the system logging daemon to reduce the verbosity of logs (if logs are still stored on a flash disk), thus minimizing writes.
  • Optimize applications and services to write less frequently to the disk.
4

Hello @alex.tx ,

Thank you for quick response and we appreciate the recommendations. Although we just want a clarification to the other question, does it mean the number of partitions and partition size have no impact to the lifetime of flash storage?

5

The partitioning scheme does not impact the eMMC’s lifespan. However, the amount of free space across the entire device—including all volumes on the partition and the space between them—affects both performance and longevity. Maintaining a minimum of 25% free space is recommended.