Seagate releases workaround for Linux users
11 Dec 2007 | 07:36 GMT
If you have Windows
SEAGATE has issued a workaround for Linux users who want to use its Free Agent drives.
Earlier this week, we reported how the Free Agent range had difficulty using the Linux operating system due to the power management system.
A Seagate diskspinner called Nathan Papadopulos said that all Seagate and Maxtor branded external storage drives feature a power management that places the drive into a sleep mode after 15 minutes of inactivity.
Linux can't work with this system and can't wake the drive up once it has gone into sleep mode. Linux is throwing its toys out of its pram.
He said that the drive "needs to return" to full power mode, which can be done by simply disconnecting the USB connector and plugging it back into the system.
There is a method to disable power management, but it will have to be done through a Windows system.
To disable the function with a Windows system said the man - and by the way this is at your risk - not mine Open the Seagate FreeAgent Tools application. Click Utilities in the Command panel.
Click Adjust Drive Sleep Interval. Select an interval from the dropdown menu. Set it to Never. Click Apply and then OK.
For the Maxtor OneTouch 4 Family you need to double click the Maxtor Manager icon on your Desktop. Click on the Settings button. Click Adjust Power Setting Button. By default, an OneTouch 4 will spin down after 15 minutes of inactivity and the OneTouch 4 Mini will spin down after five minutes of inactivity. Click on the time field to select an inactivity period. Set it to Never. Click Apply.
Papadopulos denied that Seagate was snubbing Linux users. The Maxtor OneTouch 4 Plus and OneTouch 4 Mini ship with a Linux boot CD that works in conjunction with Maxtor Safety Drill as a bare metal restore.
The Maxtor OneTouch 4 and OneTouch III do not have any problems with spinning the drives up through Linux after sleep mode, he said.
It is just the Free Agent range as we reported. What a palaver. µ
© 2007 Incisive Media Investments Ltd. 2007