Linux

Hello Nick,

Thank you for including Seagate's response to your article. I would emphasize that there are no difficulties writing and reading to either a Seagate FreeAgent or a Maxtor. The power management can be turned off. What I sent over yesterday were directions on how to change the settings using a Windows system. Pasted below are Linux directions.

How to disable power management on FreeAgent drives on Linux system.

1 - It is assumed in this example that the drive is attached to device /dev/sdc

2 - Check that the right drive is selected:
$ sudo sdparm -a /dev/sdc
/dev/sde: Seagate FreeAgent Pro 400A
Power condition mode page:
IDLE 0 [cha: n, def: 0, sav: 0]
STANDBY 1 [cha: y, def: 1, sav: 1]
ICT 0 [cha: n, def: 0, sav: 0]
SCT 9000 [cha: y, def:9000, sav:9000]

3 - Force restart the drive ( if the drive was in stanby mode):
$ sudo sdparm --command=start /dev/sdc

4 - Disable power management:
$ sudo sdparm --clear STANDBY -6 /dev/sdc

5 - Check the drive power management has been disabled:
$ sudo sdparm -a /dev/sdc
/dev/sde: Seagate FreeAgent Pro 400A
Power condition mode page:
IDLE 0 [cha: n, def: 0, sav: 0]
STANDBY 0 [cha: n, def: 1, sav: 0]
ICT 0 [cha: n, def: 0, sav: 0]
SCT 0 [cha: n, def:9000, sav: 0]

Is Seagate so dumb?

The Linux community doesn't want a workaround that disables the power saving mode. Why should we accept reduced functionality? Seagate should simply disclose enough of the protocol for controlling the power saving mode (and any other interface details needed to make effective use of the power saving mode) so that the Linux community can update its disk drivers to make proper use of the power saving mode. I've been in contact with Seagate customer support over the issue. They are hiding behind the typical "we don't support Linux" claims. We don't demand that they support Linux. Only that they properly document the interfaces to their devices so that the Linux community can support the devices themselves. I don't understand why they are so reluctant to disclose the programming interface.

or

if you're a competent linux user, you could just set up a script to 'sync' every so often to keep the drive from going to sleep in the first place.