Re: hot IDE change

[Allan Sandfeld <linux@sneulv.dk>]

On Wednesday 23 January 2002 23:07, Wakko Warner wrote:
> > This question is more about hardware, but is also related to Linux.
> > If I have a harddisk, plugged into the motherboard (IDE cable and power),
> > can I turn it off, plugging out first power cable, then IDE cable.
> > Can it harm harddisk or motherboard?
> > If I can do it, then will Linux detect it back, if I make this
> > operation back: i.e. plug IDE cable, then power cable.
>
> I've read what everyone else has said about this.  The one guy talking
> about the pins and power has some good points.  For me, I've always yanked
> the ide cable before the power  and made sure the drive was powered and
> spinning before applying the ide cable.  I have a machine at work dedicated
> for this kind of thing.
>
> anyway, from the linux side, as others have said, make sure it's unmounted.
> On my dedicated box at work, it's nfs mounted and the ide driver is a
> module.  I'm always sure to remove the modules before removing the disk.
>
> When compiled in, it's trickier.  the source to hdparm has a script in the
> contrib directory that allows you to turn off and back on an ide
> controller. It won't do that if the disk is currently in use.  You have to
> do this before it will find another drive (ideally, turning off that
> channel, swapping drive, turning back on)  I've used this on my laptop that
> has a hotswap cdrom.

Maybe ask it to spin down before cutting the power will be even better?
Also the cable issues are not a problem if you have a controller meant for 
hotplugging (IDE RAID-controllers)

-Allan