Re: hard drive head parking in linux

[Chuck Gelm <nc8q@gelm.net>]

 I feel the need to separate this discussion to two drive types:

 1. MFM & RLL
 2. IDE

Jerry James Haumberger wrote:
> 
> >> is this already an automatic feature of the
> >> later hard drives...
> 
> >Yes, AFAIK this is an automatic eature of all IDE drives.
> 
> Good.  If I listen closely to this 486 DX2 system, I can
> hear the gentle "plunk" sound as the IDE drive heads move
> into or out of position.  For example, I suspect that when I
> hear this sound shortly after activating the screen (when it
> has been blanked by the screen saver under BasicLinux) and do
> something on the keyboard, the HD heads that were lifted off
> from above the hard drive surface during the quiet period are
> moving back closer into their normal active position -- just
> scarcely above the hard disk surface.

 I assume that the aforementioned system is IDE based
and does not fall under the subject
 "hard drive head parking in linux".

> >It's not a big issue (it will be a very rare bird that
> >runs Linux on an old XT HD).  If you want to protect the
> >HD, just reset to DOS and run the park utility before
> >powering down.
> 
> These older machines do just fine with DOS and the Internet
> without the need for something more complex, like Linux.  I
> keep pretty close to software/hardware combinations that were
> usual for the active period of each of my classic machines.  The
> Linux console-only installation on this 486 DX2 is altogether
> "normal", in my opinion, right along with its dual relationship
> alongside PC DOS 7.  I don't think it would have been a peculiar
> combination back in the early 1990's (this machine has a late
> 1991 BIOS).  Around 1994, let's say, this would have been a
> very powerful and expensive machine, but not unattainable for
> those who could afford it, nor strange.

 Again, this does not seem to follow the subject.

> All in all, though, I believe that Linux is easier on and kinder
> to old hardware; and for serious professional use of classic
> machines, folks should consider using Linux to prolong the
> productivity of such hardware -- and they should preferably
> begin with the most basic of distributions, such as your
> BasicLinux, with no less than the minimum hardware requirements
> you've mentioned.

 "...serious professional use of classic machines..."
Seems oxymoronic to me.  :-|


> Jerry... on a 486 DX2-50MHz with 8MB RAM in BasicLinux 1.7
> and Midnight Commander at the lab of Classic Systems, Ltd.

 Not on it, but I do run an 80486dx33 as my firewall and route.
;-)
Chuck
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