On Fri, 31 Mar, Brian Schrock wrote: > > debianoak:/home/nbp# hdparm -tT /dev/hda > > > > /dev/hda: > > Timing cached reads: 1192 MB in 2.00 seconds = 595.20 MB/sec > > Timing buffered disk reads: 6 MB in 3.24 seconds = 1.85 MB/sec > > ** > > > > That looks reasonable to me - very fast from the cache and a lot slower > > when it has to be buffered (on the hard drive, presumably). But, what do I > > know!? > > > > That is not even close to reasonable. I have never seen buffered reads THAT > bad. > > Timing cached reads: 1316 MB in 2.09 seconds = 629.02 MB/sec > Timing buffered disk reads: 158 MB in 3.02 seconds = 52.25 MB/sec > > That is what I get when I run it on an HP d325. > > Do this too if you want some more information on your drives. > > hdparm -I /dev/hda >
Thanks, Brian for the reality check! I did what you suggested and the info below returned instantly. ******* debianoak:/home/nbp# hdparm -I /dev/hda /dev/hda: ATA device, with non-removable media Model Number: Maxtor 2F040L0 Serial Number: F1AS6MYE Firmware Revision: VAM51JJ0 Standards: Supported: 7 6 5 4 Likely used: 7 Configuration: Logical max current cylinders 16383 16383 heads 16 16 sectors/track 63 63 -- CHS current addressable sectors: 16514064 LBA user addressable sectors: 80293248 device size with M = 1024*1024: 39205 MBytes device size with M = 1000*1000: 41110 MBytes (41 GB) Capabilities: LBA, IORDY(can be disabled) Queue depth: 1 Standby timer values: spec'd by Standard, no device specific minimum R/W multiple sector transfer: Max = 16 Current = 0 Advanced power management level: unknown setting (0x0000) Recommended acoustic management value: 192, current value: 0 DMA: mdma0 mdma1 mdma2 udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 udma4 udma5 *udma6 Cycle time: min=120ns recommended=120ns PIO: pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4 Cycle time: no flow control=120ns IORDY flow control=120ns Commands/features: Enabled Supported: * NOP cmd * READ BUFFER cmd * WRITE BUFFER cmd * Host Protected Area feature set * Look-ahead * Write cache * Power Management feature set Security Mode feature set * SMART feature set * FLUSH CACHE EXT command * Mandatory FLUSH CACHE command * Device Configuration Overlay feature set Automatic Acoustic Management feature set SET MAX security extension Advanced Power Management feature set * DOWNLOAD MICROCODE cmd * SMART self-test * SMART error logging Security: Master password revision code = 65534 supported not enabled not locked not frozen not expired: security count not supported: enhanced erase HW reset results: CBLID- above Vih Device num = 0 determined by the jumper Checksum: correct ******* I repeated # hdparm -tT /dev/hda and the info came back (substantially as before) with 2 to 3 second delays after the command, after the name of the drive was returned and after the result for each timing. I think that very low value for timing buffered disk reads is a symptom of my problem with gconf. I'm having to knock off now for a few hours, but http://www.gnome.org/projects/gconf has given me some useful troubleshooting tips. Having said that, is there anything in what 'hdparm -I /dev/hda/' has returned that should cause concern? Yours, Nigel -- Nigel Pauli Network Manager St. John's School, Northwood -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]