this post was submitted on 21 Jun 2023
14 points (100.0% liked)

Linux

1263 readers
56 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

Rules

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
AgreeableLandscape@lemmy.ml
nooter692@lemmy.ml
MarcellusDrum@lemmy.ml
cypherpunks@lemmy.ml
cyclohexane@lemmy.ml
d3Xt3r@lemmy.nz
14
How can I make a HDD shut down automatically if it is not being used? (lemmy.one)
submitted 2 years ago by Xirup@lemmy.one to c/linux@lemmy.ml
17 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I recently installed Windows in dual boot with Linux (on two different SSDs) and I noticed that Windows automatically "shuts down" or stops the HDD if it is not being used.

I have a HDD (WD) connected by SATA cable where I usually keep my games. The HDD is not always in use but it is always constantly running and honestly the noise it makes is quite noticeable. I'm sure I don't have any program in the background using it constantly.

I have already tried to solve this problem using hdparm and hd-idle and although in theory they work I still hear the noise from the HDD.

top 13 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Unimeron@feddit.de 5 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Checkout smartctl. You can either force shutdown immediately or after some idle time. Command is something like this:

smartctl -n -s standby,VALUE /dev/sda with value either "now" or something between 0 and 255. From the manpage:

Values from 1 to 240 specify timeouts from 5 seconds to 20 minutes in 5 second increments. Values from 241 to 251 specify timeouts from 30 minutes to 330 minutes in 30 minute increments. Value 252 specifies 21 minutes. Value 253 specifies a vendor specific time between 8 and 12 hours. Value 255 specifies 21 minutes and 15 seconds.

[–] Revan343@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Value 252 specifies 21 minutes.

That's interestingly specific. Any idea why?

[–] pressanykeynow@iusearchlinux.fyi 3 points 2 years ago

252 * 5 sec = 1260 sec or 21 min. I wonder what 254 does...

[–] jared@uninspired.dev 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)
[–] Xirup@lemmy.one 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I tried it and it does not seem to work unfortunately, at this point I think my HDD does not support the function to enter standby, although in Windows it does.

[–] Unimeron@feddit.de 1 points 2 years ago

Did reformat the drive recently to ext4? there's a background process running that's doing deferred stuff which keeps the drive busy. try to unmount the drive to ensure it's idle.

[–] ripreddit@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Hdparm has 2 -(Yy) flags that should work for you

[–] Xirup@lemmy.one 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

In fact I tried it and it did work, and I could create a script that does it automatically, the only problem is that how can I make the script detect that there are no processes that depend on the HDD?

[–] ripreddit@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 years ago

If that's your goal I would set the apm on the disk so it spins down quickly when not active.

hdparm -B 50 -S 30 /dev/disk

[–] Riktastic@laguna.chat 2 points 2 years ago

A HDD shouldn't make so much noise. I have a NAS with 4 drives, it produces almost no noise. I think that you have to check the SMART values of your drive. Just to make sure that your drive is not dying.

[–] elmicha@feddit.de 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Maybe you can unmount the HDD, then no process can access it and hd-idle could work.

[–] Xirup@lemmy.one 1 points 2 years ago

I tried it and it didn't work... Thanks for the idea actually, I hadn't thought about it.

[–] d3Xt3r@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago

If your only concern is noise (and not saving power), then the easiest solution is to just sound-proof your case - install some foam pads or something to dampen the noise. Check out https://www.quietpc.com/acousticmaterials to get an idea of what's out there and what you can use, but even simple random foam that you'd get in parcels would work to start off with.

load more comments
view more: next ›