From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Jeff Garzik Subject: new tool: blktool Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2004 17:36:04 -0400 Sender: linux-ide-owner@vger.kernel.org Message-ID: <411FD744.2090308@pobox.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Return-path: Received: from parcelfarce.linux.theplanet.co.uk ([195.92.249.252]:16266 "EHLO www.linux.org.uk") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S266910AbUHOVgX (ORCPT ); Sun, 15 Aug 2004 17:36:23 -0400 List-Id: linux-ide@vger.kernel.org To: Linux Kernel , "linux-ide@vger.kernel.org" I just posted "blktool" on my SF page, http://sourceforge.net/projects/gkernel/ and in BitKeeper at bk://gkernel.bkbits.net/blktool blktool aims to be an easier to use, and more generic version of the existing utility 'hdparm'. For example, $ hdparm -c1 /dev/hda becomes $ blktool /dev/hda pio-data 32-bit and $ hdparm -L0 /dev/hda becomes $ blktool /dev/hda media unlock The utility is currently still fairly specific to IDE devices (as hdparm is), but that will change in the coming weeks as SCSI, I2O, and possibly some bits of hardware RAID control are added. The audience for this application, like hdparm, is fairly narrow, specific to people who tweak their storage devices and _know what they are doing_. Improper use of this tool, like hdparm, can turn your disk into a doorstop. Jeff