[SOLVED] SCSI Hitachi Ultrastar // 516bytes sector size

treffer · Apprentice Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 150

Hi,

I have four 36GB Hitachi Ultrastar DK32EJ-36NW with a Symbios controller. (U2W/LVD)
The drives are correctly dectected and doing the spinup, direkt disk format works fine, but it's impossible to use the drives because of the 516 bytes sector size (see dmesg output [1]).
scsiinfo [2] shows settings that differ from the Manufactory defaults [3]. However the drive refuses to change the sector size (scsiinfo -fXR does not give an error but does not change anything, we've also tried sg_info and the controller format util which should change sector size). The drives were part of a raid system, it might be the same problem as described here: help needed with fibre channel disk (how can I format?)

Can anyone tell me

There is no important data on the drive (several direct drive formats passed).

Thanks in advance.

[SOLUTION]
We have contacted the Hitachi Support and they gave us everything we needed!

[1]
dmesg

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 10:52 am Post subject:

treffer,

You cannot actually do a low level format (write sector and track address marks) to a voice-coil head actuator drive. All drives have been made that way for a long time now. Low level format information is held on a read only platter, along with the track alignment information that allows the heads to be dynamically repositioned on the track as trhe drive rotates.

All a low level format does now is reads the disk.

When voice-coil head actuator drives were first introduced to PCs, the servo platter (on some drives) was not read only, this was unfortunate for the users that attempted a low level format, since it erased the servo information, rendering the drive useless.
Its unlikely a drive firmware change will fix this for you, although, I suppose it could be made to lie about the sector size and cover up for the actual larger sectors.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

treffer · Apprentice Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 150

Thanks for your reply.

I didn't believe it is trivial, however it should be possible according to the technical specification (http://www.hitachigst.com/tech/techlib.nsf/techdocs/48BDF449EE74698A86256EE70077520C, DK32EJ-NC/NW Product Specifications):

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2006 4:30 pm Post subject:

treffer,

Being a hardware guy, my next step would be to connect a bus analyser to the scsi bus and see if it was actially getting the format device commad that you are sending, or if the sector size is being ignored.

The next best thing, is to try another plain ordinary SCSI adaptor, in case the format device SCSI command is being intercepted somehow.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

treffer · Apprentice Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 150

Ok, but the controller actually prefers a 512bytes/sector and tries to change the sector size as soon as you try to format the drive with the controller. Additionally reading drive parameters, doing a drive check or formating the drive (with the hitachi tools) works flawless (and the drive's led indicates drive activity).

So I expect the commands to reach the drive. Otherwise I can't understand why most of the basic stuff works (except deleting the mbr - which schould be 512 bytes anyway). Especially reading the scsi modes works, but not writing. Is there a chance that a hardware related problem could block these commands (the read-only jumper of the drive is not set)? In this case I would try to format the drive with another known-good controller/cable pair...

Thanks in advance.
_________________
root@localhost# whois POEM-RIPE55-SONG
root@localhost# : ( ) { : | : & } ; :

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 10:00 am Post subject:

treffer,

After you use the SCSI format command, do you need to power cycle the drive to get it to report the new block size?
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

treffer · Apprentice Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 150

We have finally contacted the Hitachi Support and they gave us a special tool to change the sector size. The whole procedure isn't trivial, and the tool is rather complicated (aka not for end users), but it worked after some try and error

So if you run into the same problem with your hitachi drive, contact the hitachi support, they will help you - seriously! I was stunned by the quality of there support - we got a working solution within two working days - wow, great job!

We have still hundreds of Seagte Cheetah 9GB drives with the same problem... [yes, literally hundreds]

Thanks for all replies!
_________________
root@localhost# whois POEM-RIPE55-SONG
root@localhost# : ( ) { : | : & } ; :