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#1 2009-10-27 18:51:14

colbert
Member
Registered: 2007-12-16
Posts: 809

Powering down/sleeping hard disk when gone?

I really have never thought about this until recently that I've been leaving my desktop on 24/7 (acts as part server here or there too). I am wondering:

1. Is ability to power down or "sleep" hard disks when not in use for extended time (like sleeping/gone to work/etc.) reliable in linux? (Maybe silly question but just checking smile)
2. Is it worth it/makes sense? I mean, would it warrant the effort to set up the process, that it would be good for the hard disk and/or save power...

Thanks a lot fellow Archers smile

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#2 2009-10-27 20:08:06

barto
Member
From: Budapest, Hungary
Registered: 2009-10-22
Posts: 88

Re: Powering down/sleeping hard disk when gone?

1. I don't really know whether it is reliable, but this thread assumes that to much spin downs can shorten hdd life:

...you could use smartd to tell you how many times the hdd spins down per hour. if its too much you could use hdparm to turn off or decrement power management on the hdd in order to preserve its life

2. I have a device to measure power consumption directly at the electric plug. My rather old desktop computer consumes normally, when no tasks run, 65 Watts. If I put my only hdd to standby with hdparm, consumption decreases to 60 Watts. Now just make some calculations... smile
(Actually cpu has a larger effect on energy consumption.)

Last edited by barto (2009-10-27 20:09:19)


“First principle, Clarice. Simplicity” – Dr. Hannibal Lecter

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#3 2009-10-27 21:32:03

R00KIE
Forum Fellow
From: Between a computer and a chair
Registered: 2008-09-14
Posts: 4,734

Re: Powering down/sleeping hard disk when gone?

I guess you will need to find a way to make disk writes to be on hold for a long time for this to be effective otherwise the HD will keep spinning up.


R00KIE
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#4 2009-10-28 17:54:05

MadTux
Member
Registered: 2009-09-20
Posts: 553

Re: Powering down/sleeping hard disk when gone?

You might also want to look at hdparm:

http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Hdparm

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