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How to verify my drive is "spinning down"

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How to verify my drive is "spinning down"

Posted: August 11th, 2011, 5:27 pm
by LarryJB
I implemented the drive spin down procedure the other day. But am suspicious that it is not working. I don't notice a delay when accessing that drive from windows explorer. Is there some way of verifying that the drive has actually spun down?

Re: How to verify my drive is "spinning down"

Posted: August 11th, 2011, 8:56 pm
by Ian
Hi Larry,

You can check whether your drives have spun down or not by issuing the hdparm command with the -C argument:

Code: Select all

sudo hdparm -C /dev/sda

where /dev/sda is the drive you want to test.

It will return something along the following lines

/dev/sda:
drive state is: active/idle

this would indicate that the drive is spinning. If it comes back with

/dev/sda:
drive state is: standby

then your drive is spun down.

Hope this helps.

Ian.

Re: How to verify my drive is "spinning down"

Posted: August 13th, 2011, 12:26 pm
by LarryJB
Thanks for the info.
Well, I guess either the command did not work, or there is something running that keeps it active. How do I go about figuring this out?

Re: How to verify my drive is "spinning down"

Posted: August 13th, 2011, 12:51 pm
by Ian
LarryJB wrote:Thanks for the info.
Well, I guess either the command did not work, or there is something running that keeps it active. How do I go about figuring this out?


With difficulty basically :-(

If you're within earshot of your server and so can hear the drive(s) spin up and down then you could try setting the drive to sleep after, say, 20 seconds and then listen. If it spins down but then immediately spins up again then you'll need to work out what is causing it to spin up again. SATA S.M.A.R.T. monitoring tools can cause this. Are you running anything like that? What commands are you using to spin the drive(s) down?

Ian.

Re: How to verify my drive is "spinning down"

Posted: August 13th, 2011, 1:57 pm
by LarryJB
I am not running anything that would keep it spinning that I know of. I was running serviio, but gave up on it and removed it. I am using the hdparm command described in your guide. And yes, I did reboot after adding the command to hdparm.conf. I guess I will need to review what is actually running.
As a real linux lightweight, what is the best way to tell what is running?

Re: How to verify my drive is "spinning down"

Posted: August 14th, 2011, 12:05 am
by Ian
For a full list of what you have running try issuing the following command in a Putty session:

Code: Select all

ps -ef

Re: How to verify my drive is "spinning down"

Posted: August 14th, 2011, 1:06 pm
by LarryJB
Here is what that command produced: What could it be?

Code: Select all

UID        PID  PPID  C STIME TTY          TIME CMD
root         1     0  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /sbin/init
root         2     0  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [kthreadd]
root         3     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [migration/0]
root         4     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [ksoftirqd/0]
root         5     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [watchdog/0]
root         6     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:02 [events/0]
root         7     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [cpuset]
root         8     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [khelper]
root         9     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [async/mgr]
root        10     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [pm]
root        11     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [sync_supers]
root        12     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [bdi-default]
root        13     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [kintegrityd/0]
root        14     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:01 [kblockd/0]
root        15     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [kacpid]
root        16     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [kacpi_notify]
root        17     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [kacpi_hotplug]
root        18     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:01:10 [ata/0]
root        19     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [ata_aux]
root        20     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [ksuspend_usbd]
root        21     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [khubd]
root        22     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [kseriod]
root        23     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [kmmcd]
root        26     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [khungtaskd]
root        27     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:03 [kswapd0]
root        28     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [ksmd]
root        29     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [aio/0]
root        30     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [ecryptfs-kthrea]
root        31     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [crypto/0]
root        35     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:02:05 [scsi_eh_0]
root        36     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [scsi_eh_1]
root        39     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [scsi_eh_2]
root        40     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [scsi_eh_3]
root        43     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [kstriped]
root        44     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [kmpathd/0]
root        45     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [kmpath_handlerd]
root        46     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [ksnapd]
root        47     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [kondemand/0]
root        48     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [kconservative/0]
root       203     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [usbhid_resumer]
root       209     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:05 [kdmflush]
root       213     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [kdmflush]
root       217     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [kdmflush]
root       251     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:03 [flush-251:0]
root       252     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:06 [jbd2/dm-0-8]
root       253     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
root       296     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 upstart-udev-bridge --daemon
root       300     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 udevd --daemon
root       509     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [kpsmoused]
root       528     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [radeon/0]
root       529     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [ttm_swap]
root       531   300  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 udevd --daemon
root       533   300  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 udevd --daemon
root       667     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [jbd2/dm-2-8]
root       668     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
root       675     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 dhclient3 -e IF_METRIC=100 -pf /
root       692     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [jbd2/sdb1-8]
root       693     2  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 [ext4-dio-unwrit]
root       727     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 smbd -F
root       728     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/sbin/sshd -D
syslog     746     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:01 rsyslogd -c4
104        754     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:14 dbus-daemon --system --fork
avahi      773     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 avahi-daemon: running [Server1.l
avahi      774   773  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 avahi-daemon: chroot helper
root       790     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:16 nmbd -D
root       803     1  0 Aug07 tty4     00:00:00 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty4
root       808     1  0 Aug07 tty5     00:00:00 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty5
root       823   727  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 smbd -F
root       824     1  0 Aug07 tty2     00:00:00 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty2
root       825     1  0 Aug07 tty3     00:00:00 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty3
root       827     1  0 Aug07 tty6     00:00:00 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty6
daemon     829     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 atd
root       830     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 cron
root       835     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:03 /usr/sbin/winbindd
root       885   835  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/sbin/winbindd
prlarb0    887     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:04 Xvnc4 :1 -desktop Server1:1 () -
root       912     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:18 /usr/sbin/pwrstatd
prlarb0    922     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/bin/ck-launch-session /usr/
prlarb0    942   922  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:01 /usr/bin/ssh-agent /usr/bin/ck-l
root       944     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/sbin/console-kit-daemon --n
prlarb0   1017   922  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:11 x-session-manager
prlarb0   1020     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/bin/dbus-launch --exit-with
prlarb0   1021     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:03 /bin/dbus-daemon --fork --print-
prlarb0   1024     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:03 /usr/lib/libgconf2-4/gconfd-2
prlarb0   1030     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:24 /usr/lib/gnome-settings-daemon/g
prlarb0   1031     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/bin/gnome-keyring-daemon --
prlarb0   1035     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd
prlarb0   1038  1017  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:32 gnome-power-manager
prlarb0   1040  1017  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/policykit-1-gnome/polki
prlarb0   1041  1017  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/bin/metacity
prlarb0   1043  1017  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:11 gnome-panel
prlarb0   1044  1017  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:11 nautilus
root      1046     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:22 /usr/lib/upower/upowerd
root      1047     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:18 /usr/bin/perl /usr/share/webmin/
root      1051     1  0 Aug07 tty1     00:00:00 /sbin/getty -8 38400 tty1
root      1055     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/policykit-1/polkitd
prlarb0   1056     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/bin/pulseaudio --start --lo
rtkit     1058     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:03 /usr/lib/rtkit/rtkit-daemon
prlarb0   1095     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-trash --spaw
prlarb0   1097     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/bonobo-activation/bonob
prlarb0   1101     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:04 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-gdu-volume-mo
root      1103     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:23 /usr/lib/udisks/udisks-daemon
root      1104  1103  0 Aug07 ?        00:02:27 udisks-daemon: polling /dev/sr0
prlarb0   1108     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-gphoto2-volum
prlarb0   1116     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/gnome-panel/wnck-applet
prlarb0   1117     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/gnome-applets/trashappl
prlarb0   1119     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:08 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfs-afc-volume-mo
prlarb0   1127     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:12 /usr/lib/gnome-panel/clock-apple
prlarb0   1128     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/indicator-applet/indica
prlarb0   1129     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/gnome-panel/notificatio
prlarb0   1132     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-metadata
prlarb0   1134     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/indicator-sound/indicat
prlarb0   1136     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/indicator-application/i
prlarb0   1138     1  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/indicator-messages/indi
root      1147   835  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:04 /usr/sbin/winbindd
root      1155   835  0 Aug07 ?        00:00:00 /usr/sbin/winbindd
root      2612   727  0 01:02 ?        00:02:11 smbd -F
1001      6755   727  0 07:01 ?        00:00:00 smbd -F
root      6758   728  0 07:01 ?        00:00:00 sshd: prlarb0 [priv]
prlarb0   6836  6758  0 07:02 ?        00:00:00 sshd: prlarb0@pts/0
prlarb0   6837  6836  3 07:02 pts/0    00:00:00 -bash
root      6857  1047 10 07:02 ?        00:00:00 [miniserv.pl] <defunct>
prlarb0   6858  6837  0 07:02 pts/0    00:00:00 ps -ef
root     15285   727  0 Aug12 ?        00:00:33 smbd -F
root     20422   727  0 Aug13 ?        00:00:00 smbd -F
prlarb0  22436     1  0 Aug13 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib/gvfs/gvfsd-computer --s
prlarb0@Server1:~$ sudo hdparm -C /dev/sda
[sudo] password for prlarb0:

/dev/sda:
 drive state is:  active/idle
prlarb0@Server1:~$ sudo hdparm -C /dev/sdb

/dev/sdb:
 drive state is:  active/idle
prlarb0@Server1:~$

Re: How to verify my drive is "spinning down"

Posted: August 14th, 2011, 4:05 pm
by Ian
Does the drive spin down but then spin back up again or does it never spin down?

Re: How to verify my drive is "spinning down"

Posted: August 21st, 2011, 7:00 pm
by LarryJB
Ian wrote:Does the drive spin down but then spin back up again or does it never spin down?

sorry I have not been working on this lately, but I have been very busy and have not had the time.
I changed the hdparm.conf to say hdparm -S 4 /dev/sdb Which I believe should cause the drive to spin down after 20 seconds.
The "sudo hdparm -C /dev/sdb" command only produces the active/idle status. So I guess it is not spinning down at all.

Re: How to verify my drive is "spinning down"

Posted: August 28th, 2011, 10:52 am
by Ian
Hi Larry,

Rather than change the hdparm.conf file try issuing the "hdparm -S 4 /dev/sdb" command in a Putty session. It's possible the process is not being run at boot. Does it make a difference?

Ian.
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