Wipefs Error Nvme
Resolving the "Error Wiping '/dev/nvme0n1'" Issue
When attempting to use the wipefs command to wipe a partition or disk, you might encounter an error like this:
wipefs: error: /dev/nvme0n1p1: probing initialization failed: Device or resource busy
This error typically indicates that the device or partition is currently in use. This guide will walk you through troubleshooting and resolving the issue.
Step 1: Check if the Partition is Mounted
A common reason for this error is that the partition is mounted. You can check this with:
lsblk
If /dev/nvme0n1p1 is shown as mounted, unmount it using:
sudo umount /dev/nvme0n1p1
Step 2: Check for LVM or RAID Usage
The partition might be part of an LVM (Logical Volume Manager) volume group or a RAID array. Verify this with the following commands:
sudo lvmdiskscan
sudo pvscan
sudo vgscan
sudo mdadm --detail --scan
If the partition is part of an LVM volume group, deactivate it:
sudo vgchange -an <volume_group_name>
Step 3: Check for Swap Usage
The partition could be configured as swap space. Disable it with:
sudo swapoff /dev/nvme0n1p1
Step 4: Kill Processes Using the Partition
To determine if any processes are using the partition, run:
sudo fuser -v /dev/nvme0n1p1
If necessary, kill the processes:
sudo fuser -k /dev/nvme0n1p1
Step 5: Retry the Wipe
With the partition unmounted and processes terminated, reattempt the wipefs command:
sudo wipefs --all /dev/nvme0n1
Step 6: Force a Wipe (If Necessary)
If you’re still encountering issues, you can force a wipe by writing zeros to the start of the disk. Be cautious, as this will irreversibly erase all data on the device:
sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/nvme0n1 bs=1M count=100
After completing this step, run wipefs again to clean up any remaining filesystem signatures:
sudo wipefs --all /dev/nvme0n1
Conclusion
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the "Device or resource busy" error and successfully wipe your NVMe drive or partition. Always ensure you understand the implications of each command, especially those that can lead to permanent data loss, like dd or wipefs. If you’re still experiencing issues, feel free to reach out or consult additional system logs for more information.