Auto-spindown for external disks..

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tor Tveitane
  • Start date Start date
T

Tor Tveitane

Hi,

I plan to purchase a Linksys NSLU2 and a couple of USB disks (Maxtor
OneTouch?) to connect to it.

I want to use this setup for backup purposes. However I need the drives to
automatically stop rotating after a defined number of minutes with no disk
activity. I don't want them to spin 24/7 as I just need to backup stuff
once each day.

Does the disk auto-spindown functionality depend on the drive's IDE
controller or would the drives need 'stop' commands transmitted across the
USB link?

Does anyone here know if the above scenario will support auto-spindown of
the drives? Do you have any (other) suggestions to achieve what I describe?

Thanks for any comments or tips (also on which external disk brand /models
which are most reliable ;-)

best regards

Tor
 
Tor Tveitane said:
I plan to purchase a Linksys NSLU2 and a couple
of USB disks (Maxtor OneTouch?) to connect to it.
Click to expand...
I want to use this setup for backup purposes. However I need
the drives to automatically stop rotating after a defined number
of minutes with no disk activity. I don't want them to spin 24/7
as I just need to backup stuff once each day.
Click to expand...
Does the disk auto-spindown functionality depend
on the drive's IDE controller or would the drives
need 'stop' commands transmitted across the USB link?
Click to expand...

It can be done both ways, entirely done in
the drive itself, and commanded over the link.
Does anyone here know if the above scenario
will support auto-spindown of the drives?
Click to expand...

Yes, some external drives have that capability standard.
Do you have any (other) suggestions to achieve what I describe?
Click to expand...

Its obviously possible to do it with a dedicated PC for the drives.
Thanks for any comments or tips (also on which external
disk brand /models which are most reliable ;-)
Click to expand...

I'd use internal drives in a separate server myself.
 
The proper method is for the USB-IDE bridge to translate USB and SCSI power
commands into ATA power commands. In that case, Windows issues the commands.

Often the bridge's sets the drive to spin down. Not a good idea, but it prevents overheating.

Note: if you are using the machine, explorer and other apps
scan drive letters, and the drives spin up constantly.
 
I'd like to barge in on this discussion.

All this talk about IDE, ATA, bridges, etc. loses me. Can anybody tell
me what I need to do in order to make my laptop's extenal USB drive
(LaCie) spin down? Or does the fact that it doesn't imply that
something somewhere is not supported?

TIA.
 
Rod Speed said:
Wrong. It can also be done by the drive itself.
Click to expand...

Which will not be ATA compliant:

6.11.2 Standby timer

The Standby timer provides a method for the device to automatically enter Standby mode from either Active or
Idle mode *following a host programmed period of inactivity*. If the Standby timer is enabled and if the device is
in the Active or Idle mode, the device waits for the specified time period and if no command is received, the
device automatically enters the Standby mode.
Doesnt need to be, supported by the bridge capability, actually.
Click to expand...

If that's a sentence.
 
Which will not be ATA compliant:
Click to expand...

Wrong, as always.
6.11.2 Standby timer
Click to expand...
The Standby timer provides a method for the device to
automatically enter Standby mode from either Active or
Idle mode *following a host programmed period of inactivity*.
Click to expand...

That just means that the host can specify the period of inactivity.

That doesnt need to be the host its being used with when it idles.
If the Standby timer is enabled and if the device is in the Active
or Idle mode, the device waits for the specified time period and if no
command is received, the device automatically enters the Standby mode.
Click to expand...

What I said in different words.
If that's a sentence.
Click to expand...

Pathetic, really.
 
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