I successfully changed the drive format to EXT3 from NTFS and have used CRON (kcron) to schedule backups. Basically after a few hours of writing, the EXT3 drive on /dev/sdb1 (/media/usbdisk2) reverts to RO mode and I need to umount it chmod it and run /sbin/e2fsck -f /dev/sdb1 to get it to write again for a few hours, but this does not fix the problem

I have made changes in fstab it was originally :
/dev/sdb1 /media/usbdisk2 ext3 defaults 0 0

I changed it most recently to:




dev/sdb1 /media/usbdisk2 ext3 defaults,noatime,nodirat
ime 0 0

in case journaling was causing the problem. It didn't work.

Any ideas of what might be casing the disk to revert to RO constantly??

Here is some output:

[nmrsu@BH080508 /]$ /sbin/lsusb
Bus 008 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 006 Device 003: ID 03f0:0024 Hewlett-Packard
Bus 006 Device 002: ID 046d:c018 Logitech, Inc.
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 002 Device 009: ID 0bc2:3001 Seagate RSS LLC
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000



Here is the pertinent portin of the dmesg command (lengthy):

Device sr0 not ready.
usb 2-4: new high speed USB device using address 4
Initializing USB Mass Storage driver...
scsi6 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
Vendor: Seagate Model: FreeAgent Rev: 102D
Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
SCSI device sdb: 1953525168 512-byte hdwr sectors (1000205 MB)
sdb: assuming drive cache: write through
SCSI device sdb: 1953525168 512-byte hdwr sectors (1000205 MB)
sdb: assuming drive cache: write through
sdb: sdb1
Attached scsi disk sdb at scsi6, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
USB Mass Storage device found at 4
usbcore: registered new driver usb-storage
USB Mass Storage support registered.
Device sr0 not ready.
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 63
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 0
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 1
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 2
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 3
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 4
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 5
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 6
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 7
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 8
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 9
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 10
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 11
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 12
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 13
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 14
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 15
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 16
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 17
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 18
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 19
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 20
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 21
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 22
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 23
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 24
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 25
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 26
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 27
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 28
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 29
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 30
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 31
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 32
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 33
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 34
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 35
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 36
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 37
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 38
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 39
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 40
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 41
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 42
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 43
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 44
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 45
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 46
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 47
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 48
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 49
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 50
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 51
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 52
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 53
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 54
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 55
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 56
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 57
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 58
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 59
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 60
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 61
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 62
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 63
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 63
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 0
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 1
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 2
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 3
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 63
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 0
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 1
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 2
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 3
Device sr0 not ready.
Device sr0 not ready.
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 63
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 0
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 71
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 4
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 5
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 6
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 7
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 8
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 9
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 10
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 11
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 12
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 13
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 14
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 15
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 16
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 17
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 18
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 19
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 20
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 21
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 22
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 23
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 24
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 25
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 26
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 27
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 28
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 29
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 30
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 31
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 32
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 33
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 34
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 35
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 36
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 37
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 38
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 39
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 40
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 41
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 42
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 43
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 44
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 45
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 46
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 47
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 48
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 49
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 50
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 51
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 52
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 53
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 54
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 55
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 56
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 57
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 58
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 59
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 60
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 61
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 62
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 63
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 63
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 0
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 1
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 2
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 3
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
Device sr0 not ready.
usb 2-4: USB disconnect, address 4
usb 2-3: new high speed USB device using address 5
scsi7 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
Vendor: Seagate Model: FreeAgent Rev: 102D
Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
sdb: Spinning up disk....ready
SCSI device sdb: 1953525168 512-byte hdwr sectors (1000205 MB)
sdb: assuming drive cache: write through
SCSI device sdb: 1953525168 512-byte hdwr sectors (1000205 MB)
sdb: assuming drive cache: write through
sdb: sdb1
Attached scsi disk sdb at scsi7, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
USB Mass Storage device found at 5
Device sr0 not ready.
usb 2-3: USB disconnect, address 5
Device sr0 not ready.
usb 2-4: new high speed USB device using address 6
scsi8 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
Vendor: Seagate Model: FreeAgent Rev: 102D
Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
sdb: Spinning up disk....ready
SCSI device sdb: 1953525168 512-byte hdwr sectors (1000205 MB)
sdb: assuming drive cache: write through
SCSI device sdb: 1953525168 512-byte hdwr sectors (1000205 MB)
sdb: assuming drive cache: write through
sdb: sdb1
Attached scsi disk sdb at scsi8, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
USB Mass Storage device found at 6
kjournald starting. Commit interval 5 seconds
EXT3 FS on sdb1, internal journal
EXT3-fs: mounted filesystem with ordered data mode.
Device sr0 not ready.
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 12927
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 12943
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 1610
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
Aborting journal on device sdb1.
ext3_abort called.
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1): ext3_journal_start_sb: Detected aborted journal
Remounting filesystem read-only
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 8751
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 1086
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 12855
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1): ext3_readdir: directory #11 contains a hole at offset 0
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 12863
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1): ext3_readdir: directory #11 contains a hole at offset 4096
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 12871
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1): ext3_readdir: directory #11 contains a hole at offset 8192
usb 2-4: USB disconnect, address 6
scsi8 (0:0): rejecting I/O to dead device
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 1604
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
usb 2-4: new high speed USB device using address 7
scsi9 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
Vendor: Seagate Model: FreeAgent Rev: 102D
Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
sdb: Spinning up disk....ready
SCSI device sdb: 1953525168 512-byte hdwr sectors (1000205 MB)
sdb: assuming drive cache: write through
SCSI device sdb: 1953525168 512-byte hdwr sectors (1000205 MB)
sdb: assuming drive cache: write through
sdb: sdb1
Attached scsi disk sdb at scsi9, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
USB Mass Storage device found at 7
Device sr0 not ready.
kjournald starting. Commit interval 5 seconds
EXT3 FS on sdb1, internal journal
EXT3-fs: recovery complete.
EXT3-fs: mounted filesystem with ordered data mode.
Device sr0 not ready.
Device sr0 not ready.
Device sr0 not ready.
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 13095
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 13111
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 1631
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
Aborting journal on device sdb1.
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 8751
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 1086
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
Device sr0 not ready.
ext3_abort called.
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1): ext3_journal_start_sb: Detected aborted journal
Remounting filesystem read-only
Device sr0 not ready.
usb 2-4: USB disconnect, address 7
scsi9 (0:0): rejecting I/O to dead device
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 1604
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
usb 2-4: new high speed USB device using address 8
scsi10 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
Vendor: Seagate Model: FreeAgent Rev: 102D
Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
sdb: Spinning up disk....ready
SCSI device sdb: 1953525168 512-byte hdwr sectors (1000205 MB)
sdb: assuming drive cache: write through
SCSI device sdb: 1953525168 512-byte hdwr sectors (1000205 MB)
sdb: assuming drive cache: write through
sdb: sdb1
Attached scsi disk sdb at scsi10, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
USB Mass Storage device found at 8
kjournald starting. Commit interval 5 seconds
EXT3 FS on sdb1, internal journal
EXT3-fs: recovery complete.
EXT3-fs: mounted filesystem with ordered data mode.
Device sr0 not ready.
Device sr0 not ready.
Device sr0 not ready.
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 20767
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 20783
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 2590
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
Aborting journal on device sdb1.
ext3_abort called.
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1): ext3_journal_start_sb: Detected aborted journal
Remounting filesystem read-only
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 180287
kjournald starting. Commit interval 5 seconds
EXT3 FS on sdb1, internal journal
EXT3-fs: mounted filesystem with ordered data mode.
Device sr0 not ready.
usb 2-4: USB disconnect, address 8
scsi10 (0:0): rejecting I/O to dead device
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 1604
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
scsi10 (0:0): rejecting I/O to dead device
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 1604
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
scsi10 (0:0): rejecting I/O to dead device
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 1604
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
scsi10 (0:0): rejecting I/O to dead device
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 0
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
usb 2-4: new high speed USB device using address 9
scsi11 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
Vendor: Seagate Model: FreeAgent Rev: 102D
Type: Direct-Access ANSI SCSI revision: 02
SCSI device sdb: 1953525168 512-byte hdwr sectors (1000205 MB)
sdb: assuming drive cache: write through
SCSI device sdb: 1953525168 512-byte hdwr sectors (1000205 MB)
sdb: assuming drive cache: write through
sdb: sdb1
Attached scsi disk sdb at scsi11, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
USB Mass Storage device found at 9
Device sr0 not ready.
kjournald starting. Commit interval 5 seconds
EXT3 FS on sdb1, internal journal
EXT3-fs: recovery complete.
EXT3-fs: mounted filesystem with ordered data mode.
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 146800703
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1): read_block_bitmap: Cannot read block bitmap - block_group = 560, block_bitmap = 18350080
Aborting journal on device sdb1.
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 12895
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 1604
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 63
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 0
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1) in ext3_reserve_inode_write: Journal has aborted
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1) in ext3_reserve_inode_write: Journal has aborted
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1) in ext3_orphan_del: Journal has aborted
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1) in ext3_truncate: Journal has aborted
ext3_abort called.
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1): ext3_journal_start_sb: Detected aborted journal
Remounting filesystem read-only
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1) in start_transaction: Journal has aborted
Device sr0 not ready.
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 98375
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 98463
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 98463
Device sr0 not ready.
kjournald starting. Commit interval 5 seconds
EXT3-fs warning (device sdb1): ext3_clear_journal_err: Filesystem error recorded from previous mount: IO failure
EXT3-fs warning (device sdb1): ext3_clear_journal_err: Marking fs in need of filesystem check.
EXT3-fs warning: mounting fs with errors, running e2fsck is recommended
EXT3 FS on sdb1, internal journal
EXT3-fs: recovery complete.
EXT3-fs: mounted filesystem with ordered data mode.
kjournald starting. Commit interval 5 seconds
EXT3-fs warning: mounting fs with errors, running e2fsck is recommended
EXT3 FS on sdb1, internal journal
EXT3-fs: mounted filesystem with ordered data mode.
Device sr0 not ready.
Device sr0 not ready.
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 12847
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1): ext3_readdir: directory #2 contains a hole at offset 0
Aborting journal on device sdb1.
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 12895
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 1604
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 63
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 0
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
ext3_abort called.
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1): ext3_journal_start_sb: Detected aborted journal
Remounting filesystem read-only
kjournald starting. Commit interval 5 seconds
EXT3-fs warning (device sdb1): ext3_clear_journal_err: Filesystem error recorded from previous mount: IO failure
EXT3-fs warning (device sdb1): ext3_clear_journal_err: Marking fs in need of filesystem check.
EXT3-fs warning: mounting fs with errors, running e2fsck is recommended
EXT3 FS on sdb1, internal journal
EXT3-fs: recovery complete.
EXT3-fs: mounted filesystem with ordered data mode.
kjournald starting. Commit interval 5 seconds
EXT3-fs warning: mounting fs with errors, running e2fsck is recommended
EXT3 FS on sdb1, internal journal
EXT3-fs: mounted filesystem with ordered data mode.
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 43823
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 43839
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 5472
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
Aborting journal on device sdb1.
ext3_abort called.
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1): ext3_journal_start_sb: Detected aborted journal
Remounting filesystem read-only
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 8751
Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 1086
lost page write due to I/O error on sdb1
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 146817119
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1): ext3_find_entry: reading directory #9175046 offset0

Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 146817119
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1): ext3_find_entry: reading directory #9175046 offset0

Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 146817119
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1): ext3_find_entry: reading directory #9175046 offset0

Device sr0 not ready.
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 98791
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 98791
Device sdb not ready.
end_request: I/O error, dev sdb, sector 146948159
EXT3-fs error (device sdb1): ext3_find_entry: reading directory #9175041 offset0

Device sr0 not ready.
kjournald starting. Commit interval 5 seconds
EXT3 FS on sdb1, internal journal
EXT3-fs: mounted filesystem with ordered data mode.
Device sr0 not ready.



Thanks for any help!!

Hi,

it seems to disconnect from USB bus. There are various reasons for this behavior.

Are there power supplies for all external devices? USB does only deliver 500mA,so disk devices mostly requires extra power supplies.Are you using an USB hub without power supply?
Check all cables, i had sometimes problems when USB cables and power cables lay together. Are there any more USB devices on the same bus?

This could be caused by the known power saving mode issue.


http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.../12/09/0651200
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Worka...nt-73528.shtml

Thank you!

Yes, there is an external power supply for the external HD... I believe the mouse or keyboard may be on the same bus, but I'm not sure.

Michael, thank you, this is the problem, but I cannot seem to get this to work.

I'm basically trying http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.../12/09/0651200

and when I give

sudo /sbin/hdparm -a /dev/sdb1

I can generate a list of options -Z is an option to turn off the seagate usb timer function, but when I give the command

sudo /sbin/hdparm -Z /dev/sdb1

it says turning off seagate timer etc... error Invalid Argument.

Any ideas what I'm goofing up here. Same in root as a regular user.

Thanks

You are using the wrong utility i.e. hdparm vs sdparm and
you are specifying a partition and not the drive device.

/sbin/sdparm -a /dev/sdb

yes, I thought this was the problem... we had to change the disk emulation from hda to sda (we got the wrong image disk)... now we don't have an sdparm command, we have an hdparm command that as you said will not work with the s drives. Any idea on how to get sdparm running, or change hdparm to sdparm. There is no sdparm on our system, I checked by whereis sdparm and find / sdparm.

Thanks, I know this is a pain!

You need to use your package manager to install sdparm before you can use it.
If you had told us your distro, you'd receive better advice.

red hat enterprise

.
You don't say which version. So it's a bit like you answering "Windows". Errrrr '98 or Vista?
Anyway, your package manager is yum. So you can use it, or the GUI to install sdparm.

its version 4 and thanks