re: Promise SATA-standby +selftest=hungdrive; Sil works...

[Linda Walsh <smartmontools@tlinx.org>]

This is with 2.6.26.5  (there are multiple other problems with 2.6.27[.0]).

The problem with the drive going "offline" doesn't happen with a
sil_sata(3124) controller -- so no need to unplug and replug...


I.e. when the drives are in standby, if smartd or a smartctl command
attempts to run a drive self-test (short), I get timeout errors from the
Promise controller (which hangs the sys if I try unplugging/replugging
the cable to the hung drive). 

The drives correctly spin up to speed and perform the short-test with
the sil controller.

It would seem there is a problem with the Promise controller or driver?


Tejun Heo wrote:
> Linda Walsh wrote:
>   
>> Tejun Heo wrote:
>>     
>>> Linda Walsh wrote:
>>>  
>>>       
>>>> Controller is a Promise TX4/300
>>>> Yeap.  After the drive goes offline, does unplugging and replugging
>>>> the power cable to the harddrive makes it come back?
>>>>     
>>>>         
>> ----
>>    No.  It hangs the computer. about 2-3 seconds after plugging the
>> drives back in.  Did it twice to verify it wasn't a fluke.  Verified
>> drives removed from /dev, then
>> plugged them back in -- was able to do about 1-2 ls commands on /dev, then
>> keyboard goes dead.
>>
>>    First time I tried unplugging the power cables and replugging --
>> that hung...
>> 2nd time tried unplugging a sata cable and replugging -- that hung too.
>>     
>
> Ah.. okay, so the controller went bonkers then.  Any chance you can
> shell out ~15 bucks and try a sil SATA controller?
>
>   
>>    Hopefully you won't need any more tests of this exact nature...? :-)
>>     
>
> Wasn't it fun and empowering?  :-P
>
>