Thanks brubber for the links

To check which chip is the USB-IDE controller, execute the following command:
Code:
cat /proc/scsi/usb-storage-0/0
This gives me:
Host scsi0: usb-storage
Vendor: Genesyslogic
Product: USB Mass Storage Device
Serial Number: None
Protocol: Transparent SCSI
Transport: Bulk
GUID: 05e307020000000000000000
Attached: Yes
The chipset manufacturer is Genesys Logic.

I found the following info on Genesys Logic USB-IDE controllers:
> Hello,
> When I try to use my external h/d under Suse 9.0 I get
> the following errors
>
> usb_control/bulk_msg: timeout
> SCSI Disk Errors
> I/O Errors
>
> This happens when I open yast2 to partition the drive.
> I can see and edit the disk, the errors happen when I
> apply the changes. I can format and use this drive
> fine with Windows.
>
> I read this information regarding max_sectors
>
> "Some devices can only transfer 64 KB or less at a
> time. The most notable example is the suite of USB-IDE
> adapters made by Genesys Logic. According to their
> technical support staff transfers should be limited to
> 32 KB (max_sectors = 64), and usb-storage
> automatically sets max_sectors to this value when it
> detects a Genesys Logic device. However people have
> had no trouble using 64 KB transfers (max_sectors =
> 128), and that's what Windows uses. You can always
> increase the value above 64 using sysfs, but don't go
> beyond 128 as Genesys Logic devices are known to fail
> when transferring more than 64 KB."
>
> The controller is Gensys Logic...

There is a 2.4 patch for Genesys chips available here:

https://lists.one-eyed-alien.net/pip...ly/000583.html

I don't know it hasn't been added to the standard kernel yet...

Alan Stern
I don't know how to check if my kernel has been patched though.

There's another solution/possibility. Aparently I can echo (as root):
Code:
echo 64 > /sys/block/sdb/device/max_sectors
But I don't have /sys... Anyone an idea where I can find this?

Executing the above command might also lead to a higher throughput to/from the disk...