View Full Version : WL-HDD cluster size
I am a newbee here, so hello to everyone. I bought this gadget after someone broke into my friends house and stole his computer together with all his data. I came up with the idea that having a wireless harddrive as a backup disk hidden in my flat would save me from the same trouble. BUT!!!
I have 60GB disk inside using a single partition formatted by the supplied "Disk Tool" utility (Firmware 1.2.3.4). This bastard uses 512KB (!!!) cluster size so all including the smalles text file allocates at least a half MB from the disk. If I copy my development project with ~3000 files that all together not more than couple of MB will allocate 1.5GB
Do you have any idea what file system should I use and how can I format the disk to achieve that? The disk tool does not offer any choices, so I assume I have to do it somehow outside the machine.
If I were you I would go for EXT2 (or 3) instead of FAT32.
If not for other reasons, then for increased performance.
My meassurements indicate an performance increase of some 20% from using ext2 instead of FAT32 on the WL-HDD.
herrmann89
07-04-2006, 11:09
I too would like to alter the filesystem because of the cluster size.
I understand EXT2 or EXT3 would be a better choice.
But in the Asus firmware there is no choice! There is just the disk tool and it doesn't have any options.
I have no laptop or other external casing to connect the disk in and change the format.
Is there a way to change the filesystem? Which?
There are some pointers here:
http://www.macsat.com/macsat/content/view/22/29/
You could also try the firmware that turns your WL-HDD into a WL-HMD ( http://wl500g.info/showthread.php?t=4934 ). I have a WL-HMD and it formats its partitions in ext3. The media server is of no use if you do not have the (mediocre) DiXiM client software.
Word of warning: My device has always been a HMD, so I am not 100% sure flashing the HMD firmware onto a HDD will work. From what I've seen, however, the hardware is identical. Proceed at your own risk.
Hello guys,
Thanx for the replies. I finally decided to have FAT32 because of the very simple reasons: speed is not an important issue to me. I could preformat the HDD in a desktop machine that had a slot for 2.5" hdd. This way the cluster size is guaranteed to be 4 or 8KB. When I have put the hdd back to the WL-HDD case, I just started to use it without formatting. The windows explorer still displays 1MB cluster size (not 512KB as I earlier wrote) , but I just do not believe that :rolleyes: .
Herrmann89: if you have no means available to reformat externally your 2.5" hdd, go to local computer shop, probably they can help you. In my neighborhood, they offered me to do it for EUR15 :eek: . I found it a bit much for a single formatting job but fortunatelly my colleagues in the office could help me.
herrmann89
10-04-2006, 12:54
I guess the options are to either use different firmware (thanks for the hint, Macsat) or format the drive externally.
Shame this isn't easier.....
I'll probably go for one of these then:http://www.nowthatsit.nl/shop.asp?itemtype_id=5493&categorie_id=70
Oh and another thing: I was starting to get worried about the lifespan of my HD (4200 rpm Toshiba) so I modded my wl-hdd a bit. I now have a switch on it to cut power to the drive. Extremely primitive but at least the drive isn't spinning 'round the clock for no reason anymore. I only access the data on it about once a week.
(because I use the AP functionality often I don't want to just switch the thing off)
I'll probably go for one of these then:http://www.nowthatsit.nl/shop.asp?itemtype_id=5493&categorie_id=70
That should work, although something like
http://tweakers.net/pricewatch/44620
is a lot more versatile for just a Euro more :-)
I now have a switch on it to cut power to the drive. Extremely primitive but at least the drive isn't spinning 'round the clock for no reason anymore. I only access the data on it about once a week.
I would be very careful with that, especially as long as you're not using a journalled FS (like Ext3). As soon as the data on your WL-HDD is of value to you, this becomes a bad idea imho.
herrmann89
10-04-2006, 19:19
Thanks for the tip on the usb enclosure. But adding shipping makes it more expensive. And NowThatsIT is only 5 minutes from my work so no shipping.
I realise the risk of cutting power to the drive while using it. It's impossible to flip the switch by accident (in fact, it's a connector and not a switch). I dis(connect) is after I have powered down my wl-hdd.