Firmware to spin-down HDD?

[scuby]

After days of messing, i've finally got my WL-500gP doing pretty much what I want. However, the one remaining annoyance is that the USB hard drive won't spin down, and to remove it I need to login to the web interface just to say "eject"... which isn't particularly helpful.

So, i'm looking for a new firmware with that implemented. I'm currently using the standard Asus FW and happy enough with that - i need to keep the ability for it to operate as a router (share the WAN connection with several wifi devices), to share a printer, to share a hard drive, and for a wired network device to be on the network too. Other than that, i'll happily lose all the other features.

Are there any firmwares out there that can do that, and that are suitable for a linux-novice (i've played a teeny bit with Linux, and can get a friend to explain bits of it over the phone, but not experienced myself).

I have read around this and other forums about the problem, and it does seem to be possible, but I can't do anything with the standard firmware, and the most common Oleg one doesn't seem to include sharing the USB drive. Also, I only have a laptop so can't directly connect the drive to an IDE interface to change the HDPARAM settings.

Any suggestions very gratefully received!

David

[Xander]

Here's the possible solution:
1. Download http://oleg.wl500g.info/bin/scsi-stop - this binary is able to spin-down your disk immediately after execution.
2. Place it somewhere on your router (you should be able to reach it via PATH environment variable) and make it executable.
3. You can use the script I've written which works in background and spins down disk after some period of inactivity:
http://wl500g.info/showpost.php?p=47135&postcount=10
I use it this way (I named the script scsi-stop.sh):

./scsi-stop.sh /dev/scsi/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/disc &

It automatically writes some log messages to scsi-stop.log.
It works for me. You can change it as you wish.

[scuby]

Thanks a lot for that.

Is it possible to do that on the standard firmware, or will I need Oleg's (or similar) to do it? I'm a little apprehensive to put the Oleg firmware on as the documentation suggests it doesn't support the USB hard drives.

I noticed I couldn't telnet into the box with the standard firmware, how would I go about putting that file on it, and your script?

Cheers

David

[Xander]

Thanks a lot for that.

Is it possible to do that on the standard firmware, or will I need Oleg's (or similar) to do it? I'm a little apprehensive to put the Oleg firmware on as the documentation suggests it doesn't support the USB hard drives.

Well, this is definitely untrue.

I noticed I couldn't telnet into the box with the standard firmware, how would I go about putting that file on it, and your script?

Cheers

David

I don't know whether my solution can work with standard firmware. I really don't think so. I recommend you to replace it.
I didn't said that the most appropriate place for scsi-stop and scsi-stop.sh is in the router's flash so you should place it somewhere in /usr/local and then do:

flashfs save
flashfs commit
flashfs enable

I don't think that this feature is implemented in the Asus firmware.

[SuperB]

I am impressed that someone finally managed to find a way to spin down HDDs. I understand that Oleg was the hero (again).
Because I did not know of this solution at the time, I have bought an Western Digital MyBook Essential 250GB. This drive spins down by itself.

[britnet]

hi Xander,

great that you managed it!!!

I'm using your script and it works really nice.

Can you write a complete HOW-TO for the beginners?

[Xander]

hi Xander,

great that you managed it!!!

I'm using your script and it works really nice.

Can you write a complete HOW-TO for the beginners?

Well, Ok, I'll write it soon. I must tell everybody that this binary is not working with several hard drives. This was reported in the similar topic in the Russian forum.
Oleg said also that this tool is a part of scsi-idle package, so you can compile it yourself. Just grab sources here: http://lost-habit.com/scsi.html

[jolcese]

Guys,

After issuing the scsi-stop, I see that the HDD stops spinning but it starts again inmediately.
Does it means it's not working?

Thanks
Jose

[admin@router bin]$ cat /proc/scsi/usb-storage-0/0
Host scsi0: usb-storage
Vendor: Seagate
Product: FreeAgentDesktop
Serial Number: 9QG01V0D
Protocol: Transparent SCSI
Transport: Bulk
GUID: 0bc23000fffffff99b001f0d
Attached: Yes

[britnet]

Guys,
After issuing the scsi-stop, I see that the HDD stops spinning but it starts again inmediately.
Does it means it's not working?

Where is your Swap located? on the HDD?
The system often reads swap data.

For me the best solution was to read all program data and swap from an usb-stick and all the other data from the hdd.

[wengi]

@britnet:

swap and opt on an usb stick? How long is this active until now? Any problems with the flash memory producing errors? Is it USB v1 or v2? What about performance?

background: This were my first thoughts for the WL-HDD. But i didnt do it because of USB 1.1 and the limited rw cycles of flash chips.

wengi

[SpaceJazz]

Working

Host scsi0: usb-storage
Vendor: Toshiba
Product: GigaStore
Serial Number: 00063A0550013BFA0
Protocol: Transparent SCSI
Transport: Bulk
GUID: 09300b020063a0550013bfa0
Attached: Yes

[lordu]

WORKING

SEAGATE 7200.10 320Gb SATAII with NEXT STAR3 ( vantec) Hdd encosure


Host scsi0: usb-storage
Vendor: Sunplus Technology Inc.
Product: USB to Serial-ATA bridge
Serial Number: ST3320620A 6QF3KP6H
Protocol: Transparent SCSI
Transport: Bulk
GUID: 04fc0c25fffffff97af35971
Attached: Yes
Port: 1
Bus: 01:03.2-1

[gromit]

The TrekStor maxi m.u Disk works fine

Vendor=0c0b ProdID=b159 Rev= 1.03

$ cat /proc/scsi/usb-storage-1/1
Host scsi1: usb-storage
Vendor: Trekstor
Product: DataStation maxi m.u
Protocol: Transparent SCSI
Transport: Bulk
Attached: Yes

I explicitely checked the 500GB and the 750GB version.

[mateysz]

I'm a total Linux newbie but still I managed to spin down my HDD with scsi-stop. I also put scsi-stop.sh script in my router according to instruction provided here. However two questions come to my mind.
Is this instruction full or do I have to do something more to get this script running every time I reboot my router?
I read here that it is impossible to spin-down HDD when Samba is running. Is it true? I am using my HDD as a media disk so everyone in the house can acces it. That is why I don't want to use the switch on the enclosure to power off/on my drive (it won't be accessible). I want it to be accessible all the time but to spin-down in periods of inactivity (e.g. when everone is at work, at night) to extend life of the disk and not to make noise in the night. I use Samba to share disk in Windows.
As I'm new to Asus's router and Linux any help will be apreciated.

[tmsulica]

Hy , i have a question for you guys:

How can i stop my HDD from spinning when i don't need it ?

I read this post: http://wl500g.info/showthread.php?t=7836&page=5 and i tryied xander solution:

Here's the possible solution:
1. Download http://oleg.wl500g.info/bin/scsi-stop - this binary is able to spin-down your disk immediately after execution.
2. Place it somewhere on your router (you should be able to reach it via PATH environment variable) and make it executable.
3. You can use the script I've written which works in background and spins down disk after some period of inactivity:
http://wl500g.info/showpost.php?p=47135&postcount=10
I use it this way (I named the script scsi-stop.sh):

Code:
./scsi-stop.sh /dev/scsi/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/disc &It automatically writes some log messages to scsi-stop.log.
It works for me. You can change it as you wish.

but seems that my hdd doesn't work through scsi mode because i get:

/dev/scsi/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/disc: No such file or directory

and when i try the path that i think is correct ( newbie, i know )

[admin@RouterASSUS work]$ scsi-stop /dev/discs/disca/disc

i get:

/dev/discs/disca/disc is not a SCSI block device

I have latest 1.9.2.7-rtn-r3497 firmware from http://wl500g.googlecode.com/, and installed by wengi tutorial from: http://wl500g.info/showthread.php?t=10307 (with disca changes of course)

Can anybody help ? Thank you !