Disk might not be spun down properly. Update shutdown utility

adityavpratap · 09-09-2007, 01:17 AM

Hi!
I am getting the following error message while shutdown since I upgraded to kernel 2.6.22 on my Debian etch install -

Quote:

DISK MIGHT NOT BE SPUN DOWN PROPERLY. UPDATE SHUTDOWN UTILITY
For more info, visit http://linux-ata.org/shutdown.html

Can anyone suggest a way out? I visited that site but debian specific instructions are not available.

AlucardZero · 09-09-2007, 07:20 AM

Edit /etc/init.d/halt, find the hddown="-h" and
change it to hddown="".

adityavpratap · 09-14-2007, 07:53 AM

Ok, that works! Thanks a lot friend!

Kirmonkey · 10-12-2007, 01:08 PM

How do you know that! (in amazed tone)

AlucardZero · 10-12-2007, 02:03 PM

I had the same problem and Googled it.

justaguynpc · 10-12-2007, 07:17 PM

I had been meaning to get around to that issue, thanx for reminding me

Cheers

esaym · 10-16-2007, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlucardZero

Edit /etc/init.d/halt, find the hddown="-h" and
change it to hddown="".

I have 2 hddown entries:

Code:

	# Don't shut down drives if we're using RAID.
	hddown="-h"
	if grep -qs '^md.*active' /proc/mdstat
	then
		hddown=""
	fi

Should I just change the top one then?

AlucardZero · 10-16-2007, 03:54 PM

yes, that is correct.

reverse · 10-17-2007, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justaguynpc

I had been meaning to get around to that issue, thanx for reminding me

Cheers

Double thanks.

esaym · 10-17-2007, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlucardZero

yes, that is correct.

Yea that's what I did. I think it fixed the problem. Something flashes on the screen in place of the previous error when the computer is halting. It displays a split second before the computer shuts off so I can't read it. I don't think it is an error though.

Coyote34 · 11-07-2007, 06:43 AM

Hi!

Have the same problem and I have fixed using the explanation above. But I newbie at linux and I would like to know if I have to reinstall my linux again? Did that problem damage my computer?

Thanks,

COYOTE34

Telemachos · 11-07-2007, 06:58 AM

You should not have to reinstall. Even if the problem goes on without being fixed, it would most likely only damage your hardware after hundreds of bad shutdowns. Also, if your particular hardware really minded, then you would most likely know. What I mean is that people who reported significant problems with this could hear a loud thunk as the hard-drive spun down, then up, then down again a little too quickly. If you are really concerned and you don't especially need a 2.6.22 kernel, then you could downgrade your kernel to 2.6.21 or 2.6.18 (which didn't have this problem).

ultr · 11-13-2007, 12:36 PM

Hello,

Can you tell me more about the problem with shutdown? I'm getting the warning before power-off, but I cannot hear _any_ parking sound. However on other forums I have found reports, that the bug causes the drive to do parking twice very quickly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlucardZero

Edit /etc/init.d/halt, find the hddown="-h" and
change it to hddown="".

What does this line do? I would just like to know what am I doing

I googled a bit, and couldn't find a clear answer.

I am using Debian testing (Lenny). Should I update my `shutdown`?

To sum up, I just want to know if anything may happen to my drive. It's a new 250GB disk, and I have quite important data on it.

Regards,

Piotr Dąbrowski

Telemachos · 11-13-2007, 07:11 PM

As I said above, if you are very nervous, then the easiest complete fix is to downgrade your kernel (say to 2.6.18-5 from Etch). I'm not an expert on the issue, but here's my rough understanding: the kernel (as of 2.6.22) issues a shutdown sequence and the operating system also initiates a shutdown sequence (as it always used to). The two overlapping sequences get f&*$%ed up (that's the technical term), and the system can (1) get told (by one side) to spindown, (2) get a command (from the other side) that causes it to spin up again and then (3) get a final command to shut down entirely (and quickly?!?). The result is a hard change in direction that can cause a noticeable clunk on some drives. You do that enough times and your drive is f&*$%ed. However, a few people on a kernel irc channel said that "enough times" means in the hundreds.

For me, it's not worth the worry, so I left the kernel on both my boxes at 2.6.21 (the last version before the trouble started for me).

Removing the "-h" from that file manually would seem to remove the Debian system calling for "halt" - that's certainly what the -h flag does in, eg, "shutdown -h now". Perhaps that fixes the conflicting messages and the problem. Again, I don't know enough to trust it, so I stuck with an earlier kernel.

Schalken · 11-14-2007, 01:58 AM

I am also having this problem on my Debian Testing (Lenny) installation. I have made the change to /etc/init.d/halt and am about to see if it works.

I hope the Debain guys can figure out how to fix this in the current default install of Lenny.

Edit: The edit to /etc/init.d/halt seems to have done the trick