Hard drive running too hot?

etcetera · 03-20-2006, 08:39 PM

My 6-year old Dual PII workstation has 2 fans, and one of them has failed. Then one of the SCSI hard drives has failed, probably as a consequence. Now I am seeing the following in /var/log/messages, what does it mean. Am I running too hot?

smartd[2223]: Device: /dev/sda, Temperature changed 12 Celsius to 39 Celsius since l
smartd[2223]: Device: /dev/sda, Temperature changed 5 Celsius to 44 Celsius since la
smartd[2223]: Device: /dev/sda, Temperature changed 3 Celsius to 47 Celsius since la
smartd[2223]: Device: /dev/sda, Temperature changed 3 Celsius to 50 Celsius since la
smartd[2223]: Device: /dev/sda, Temperature changed -2 Celsius to 48 Celsius since l

shaunw · 03-20-2006, 11:22 PM

Don't waste time thinking about this. You need to replace
the failed fan with one that works before you turn on your
machine again.
After that you can sort out the disk drive problems.

etcetera · 03-21-2006, 06:47 AM

You know, I have been running with that failed fan for months. It's the one that draws air in, the "out" fan still works. I plan to replace the box within a few weeks, it should probably make it. Should I take the case off to provide for more cooling?

Emerson · 03-21-2006, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etcetera

You know, I have been running with that failed fan for months. ... Should I take the case off to provide for more cooling?

Yes, this is how it usually happens. Insufficient cooling kills HDD's slowly but surely. There has to be some airflow around SCSI disks. Opening the case is not enough.

johnMG · 03-21-2006, 11:12 AM

> Should I take the case off to provide for more cooling?

No. That will give you *less* cooling. With the case closed, air is forced past the hot components -- it's channeled through the case. If you open the case, you ruin this channel and unless a fan is blowing directly on a component, you're back to passive cooling.

Like shaunw said, get your bad fan replaced first. I'd suggest you also consider a hard disk fan too.

etcetera · 03-21-2006, 04:21 PM

who sells a nice machine with lots of fans?