Date:	Wed, 14 May 2008 09:20:46 -0400
From:	"linux-os (Dick Johnson)" <linux-os@...logic.com>
To:	"Arnd Hannemann" <arnd@...dnet.de>
Cc:	"Roland" <devzero@....de>, <tvrtko@...ulin.net>,
	<pernegger@...il.com>, <snitzer@...il.com>,
	<jengelh@...putergmbh.de>, <zorglub_olsen@...mail.com>,
	<renatoyamane@...dic.com.br>, <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>
Subject: Re: WD doesn`t use disks with Linux - was Re: Re:Western Digital GreenPower drives and Linux


On Tue, 13 May 2008, Arnd Hannemann wrote:

> Roland wrote:
>>> BTW, WD's tech support has gone silent so chances for an easier
>>> solution are not so great.
>>>
>>> Tvrtko
>>
>> I`ve got a real funky response from WD support  today, i`d like to
>> share here.
>> This is just too weird....
>>
>> After asking if they could give a comment if the problem with the high
>> Load_Cycle_Count may be an issue of their drives or an issue of Linux
>> i got:
>>
>> ------
>> Dear......
>> The problem is, that we actually don`t use the disks with Linux. I´m
>> sorry that i cannot send further information to you.
>>
>> Sincery yours
>> <insert support employee name here>
>> Western Digital Service and Support
>> ------
>> (translated from german)
>
> Well the answer was probably just from a first level support person so
> nothing one should get excited about.
> Anyway to the high Load_Cycle_Count; if I understood the technology
> correctly the WD GreenPower drives are exactly "Green" because they
> unload the heads on a plastic ramp (no landing zone!) quite often during
> longer idle periods. Thus they can power off the positioning logic and
> actuator of the heads. -> safe Power
> This also explains why the power usage under seek is comparable with
> other "non-green" drives...
>
> <snipped a lot of stuff>
>> 193 Load_Cycle_Count 0x0032 197 197 000 Old_age  Always  - 10233
> my 1 TB drive has also a relative high value:
>
> 193 Load_Cycle_Count        0x0032   200   200   000    Old_age
> Always       -       2786
>
>
> Just my 2 cents,
> Arnd
> ||

Practically nobody has any on-line support that means anything
anymore. The person who wrote the response is probably in the
Philippines, makes about $US 3.00 per hour, and is allowed to
pee twice a day. Don't worry. The tiny "bump-proof" drives
cycle on an off many times to conserve power. They also
keep the heads from landing "crashing" by inserting a plastic
wedge between the swing-arms during power down. It's probably
a lot less harmful than letting the heads touch down somewhere.

It's not just the positioning logic that gets powered off. The
discs are spun down, which saves a lot of power.


Cheers,
Dick Johnson
Penguin : Linux version 2.6.22.1 on an i686 machine (5588.29 BogoMips).
My book : http://www.AbominableFirebug.com/
_

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