[Elphel-support] the problems from the hdd (in short)

[Sebastian Pichelhofer]

On Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 16:44, Carlos Padial <palidoestudio2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> OK so do I understand this correctly that the new 4K block size of
>> newer harddisks is the problem:
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_sector ?
>
> dont know, but this you say remember me something readed about this
> digging in the list archive. But i dont fully understand if it was the
> same case. it was about using ext3... and my disk was formated as
> ext2... (i believe)
>
>> Since the embedded linux in the 353 camera is already several years
>> old it could well be the case that it has problems with 4K sectors.
>
>> Carlos, one idea: Could you prepare the HDD and the partition tables
>> on a PC and then see if the camera can talk to it nicely.
> i am afraid i dont have this kind of conexion for this, i will look
> for an adapter...
> what kind of hardware i need for this?

The SATA port on the camera is the very same connector as in any normal PC.
If you only have a laptop you can use any external HDD (eg. USB2) enclosure.

Regards Sebastian

>
>> I do think we should put a notice on the wiki about the 4K sector
>> problem once we have a full understanding, and probably recommend
>> customers to not use/or use with caution 4K HDDs for now.
>
> Yes, i think this shoud be done. But i have not full understanding of
> the problem yet.
>
> So there is no other way?
>
> Thanks oleg and sebastian for your support.
>
>> Regards Sebastian
>>
>> On Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 14:28, Carlos Padial <palidoestudio2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Thanks to oleg who kindly help me a lot yesterday, we have narrow down
>>> the problem to this one:
>>>
>>> # fdisk -l
>>>
>>> Note: sector size is 4096 (not 512)
>>>
>>> Disk /dev/hda: 120.0 GB, 120034123776 bytes
>>> 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 1824 cylinders
>>> Units = cylinders of 16065 * 4096 = 65802240 bytes
>>>
>>> Disk /dev/hda doesn't contain a valid partition table
>>>
>>> So i need to make a new partition table.
>>> I found about fix tables with cfdisk but seems its not installed
>>> With the -o option in fdisk the changes seems not  to be applied at all...
>>>
>>> someone knows how to proceed?
>>>
>>> best regards.
>>> --
>>> Carlos Padial
>>> surreal.asturnazari.es
>
>
>
> --
> Carlos Padial
> surreal.asturnazari.es