Re: [smartmontools-support] inactive SATA drives won't stay in standbyor sleep, PATA models did. (fwd)

From: Tejun Heo
Date: Mon Oct 06 2008 - 21:09:49 EST


Linda Walsh wrote:
> So the real problem is why issuing a smart command isn't re-starting
> the drive -- or bringing it back from standby. Whereas a "normal" disk
> read seems to bring it back to normal functioning just fine (and can
> then do the smart-test).
>
> Does this give anyone ideas about where the problem might be? Also
> sorta explains why my hangs have been infrequent, because I've been
> periodically polling the temps of all the drives -- and only when I stop
> the polling would the drive timeout, then die the next morning when
> smartd tried to run a short test between 1 and 2 am.

Sounds like a firmware problem to me. Issuing ATA_CMD_VERIFY on block
0 before issuing test commands should work around the problem. Also,
which controller are you using? Can you post the failing kernel log?

--
tejun
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