SATA-HDD @ SATA-Controller is shown as "SCSI removable disk"

Arnulf · 01-07-2024, 09:59 AM

A SATA-HDD connected to an onboard SATA-Controller is shown as "SCSI removable disk". How can it be toggled to "SCSI disk" (not "removable")?

Mainboard Asus P8H77-M PRO provides to SATA controllers. "Intel H77 Express" chipset integrated SATA controller provides two 6.0 GB/s ports (SATA6G_1 & SATA6G_2) and four 3.0 GB/s ports (SATA3G_1 … SATA3G_4). Marvell PCIe SATA Controller provides one eSATA 6.0 GB/s port and one SATA 6.0 GB/s port (SATA6G_E1).
Following drives are connected to SATA controllers:
Crucial CT500MX500SSD1 → SATA6G_1
Seagate ST2000VX008-2E3164 → SATA6G_2
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH24NSD5 → SATA3G_1
Seagate ST2000VX008-2E3164 → SATA6G_E1
Both SATA controllers are running in AHCI mode. Linux kernel is 6.1.70.

SATA related dmesg output:

Code:

[    0.202796] SCSI subsystem initialized
[    0.202803] libata version 3.00 loaded.
[    2.898056] ahci 0000:00:1f.2: version 3.0
[    2.898249] ahci 0000:00:1f.2: AHCI 0001.0300 32 slots 6 ports 6 Gbps 0x7 impl SATA mode
[    2.898265] ahci 0000:00:1f.2: flags: 64bit ncq led clo pio slum part ems apst 
[    2.917415] scsi host0: ahci
[    2.917510] scsi host1: ahci
[    2.917587] scsi host2: ahci
[    2.917670] scsi host3: ahci
[    2.917748] scsi host4: ahci
[    2.917814] scsi host5: ahci
[    2.917844] ata1: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m2048@0xf7f16000 port 0xf7f16100 irq 27
[    2.917857] ata2: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m2048@0xf7f16000 port 0xf7f16180 irq 27
[    2.917870] ata3: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m2048@0xf7f16000 port 0xf7f16200 irq 27
[    2.917881] ata4: DUMMY
[    2.917886] ata5: DUMMY
[    2.917891] ata6: DUMMY
[    2.918056] ahci 0000:04:00.0: AHCI 0001.0000 32 slots 2 ports 6 Gbps 0x3 impl SATA mode
[    2.918072] ahci 0000:04:00.0: flags: 64bit ncq sntf led only pmp fbs pio slum part sxs 
[    2.918228] scsi host6: ahci
[    2.918293] scsi host7: ahci
[    2.918323] ata7: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m512@0xf7c10000 port 0xf7c10100 irq 36
[    2.918336] ata8: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m512@0xf7c10000 port 0xf7c10180 irq 36
[    3.230051] ata2: SATA link up 6.0 Gbps (SStatus 133 SControl 300)
[    3.230075] ata7: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300)
[    3.230135] ata1: SATA link up 6.0 Gbps (SStatus 133 SControl 300)
[    3.230142] ata8: SATA link up 6.0 Gbps (SStatus 133 SControl 300)
[    3.230174] ata3: SATA link up 1.5 Gbps (SStatus 113 SControl 300)
[    3.231188] ata8.00: ATA-8: ST2000VX000-1CU164, CV22, max UDMA/133
[    3.231971] ata8.00: 3907029168 sectors, multi 0: LBA48 NCQ (depth 32), AA
[    3.233460] ata8.00: configured for UDMA/133
[    3.235713] ata1.00: supports DRM functions and may not be fully accessible
[    3.236514] ata1.00: ATA-10: CT500MX500SSD1, M3CR023, max UDMA/133
[    3.238767] ata3.00: ATAPI: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH24NSD5, LV00, max UDMA/133
[    3.239426] ata2.00: ATA-9: ST2000VX000-1ES164, CV26, max UDMA/133
[    3.240069] ata1.00: 976773168 sectors, multi 1: LBA48 NCQ (depth 32), AA
[    3.240697] ata2.00: 3907029168 sectors, multi 16: LBA48 NCQ (depth 32), AA
[    3.242793] ata3.00: configured for UDMA/133
[    3.245642] ata1.00: Features: Trust Dev-Sleep
[    3.246492] ata2.00: configured for UDMA/133
[    3.248730] ata1.00: supports DRM functions and may not be fully accessible
[    3.250383] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/133
[    3.251227] scsi 0:0:0:0: Direct-Access     ATA      CT500MX500SSD1   023  PQ: 0 ANSI: 5
[    3.252353] sd 0:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg0 type 0
[    3.252357] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 976773168 512-byte logical blocks: (500 GB/466 GiB)
[    3.253158] scsi 1:0:0:0: Direct-Access     ATA      ST2000VX000-1ES1 CV26 PQ: 0 ANSI: 5
[    3.253732] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 4096-byte physical blocks
[    3.254587] sd 1:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg1 type 0
[    3.254607] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] 3907029168 512-byte logical blocks: (2.00 TB/1.82 TiB)
[    3.254609] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] 4096-byte physical blocks
[    3.254620] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Write Protect is off
[    3.254622] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00
[    3.254635] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
[    3.254653] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Preferred minimum I/O size 4096 bytes
[    3.255173] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off
[    3.256689] scsi 2:0:0:0: CD-ROM            HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH24NSD5  LV00 PQ: 0 ANSI: 5
[    3.257222] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00
[    3.260781] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
[    3.261527] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Preferred minimum I/O size 4096 bytes
[    3.263486]  sda: sda1
[    3.264278] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI disk
[    3.302311]  sdb: sdb1
[    3.303138] sd 1:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI disk
[    3.353320] sr 2:0:0:0: [sr0] scsi3-mmc drive: 48x/12x writer dvd-ram cd/rw xa/form2 cdda tray
[    3.354092] cdrom: Uniform CD-ROM driver Revision: 3.20
[    3.390868] sr 2:0:0:0: Attached scsi CD-ROM sr0
[    3.390933] sr 2:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg2 type 5
[    3.391902] scsi 7:0:0:0: Direct-Access     ATA      ST2000VX000-1CU1 CV22 PQ: 0 ANSI: 5
[    3.392827] sd 7:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg3 type 0
[    3.392903] sd 7:0:0:0: [sdc] 3907029168 512-byte logical blocks: (2.00 TB/1.82 TiB)
[    3.394385] sd 7:0:0:0: [sdc] 4096-byte physical blocks
[    3.395185] sd 7:0:0:0: [sdc] Write Protect is off
[    3.395956] sd 7:0:0:0: [sdc] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00
[    3.396023] sd 7:0:0:0: [sdc] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
[    3.396877] sd 7:0:0:0: [sdc] Preferred minimum I/O size 4096 bytes
[    3.447743]  sdc: sdc1
[    3.448671] sd 7:0:0:0: [sdc] Attached SCSI removable disk

Seemingly Marvell PCIe SATA controller handles both ports hot pluggable. This is annoying if an internal SATA HDD or SSD is connected to internal SATA6G_E1 port like in this case.

Patrick59 · 01-07-2024, 01:30 PM

Hi,

In your BIOS under Advanced Mode, in BLoc 3 page 18 of the manual, you can set a device as Hotplug or not.

hth,

Arnulf · 01-07-2024, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick59

In your BIOS under Advanced Mode, in BLoc 3 page 18 of the manual, you can set a device as Hotplug or not.

This option is only available for chipset integrated SATA controller (ports SATA6G_1 & SATA6G_2 & SATA3G_1 … SATA3G_4) and all these ports are set to "disabled".
A similar options isn't available for Marvell SATA Controller (ports ESATA 6G & SATA6G_E1).

UEFI provides only one place related to Marvell SATA controller:
Advanced →Onboard Device Configuration
"Marvell Storage Controller" can be toggled between "Disabled", "IDE Mode" and "AHCI Mode" and is set to "AHCI Mode" for full performance.
"Marvell Storage OPROM" can be toggled between "Enabled" and "Disabled". It is set to "Enabled". Setting this to "Disabled" doesn't make any difference. SATA HDD connected to SATA6G_E1 is detected as SCSI removable disk by the kernel in both cases.

mrmazda · 01-09-2024, 01:10 AM

You might want to do some tests before assuming there is any real world speed benefit to using the 6.0 GB/s controllers for the Seagates. A sample of tests here, with only the external drives marked as such:

Code:

# inxi -Dxx
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 1.82 TiB used: 662.92 GiB (35.6%)
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Seagate model: ST2000DM001-1ER164 size: 1.82 TiB
    speed: 3.0 Gb/s serial: Z4Z0F7MV
# hdparm -t /dev/sda
/dev/sda:
 Timing buffered disk reads: 582 MB in  3.01 seconds = 193.38 MB/sec

Code:

# inxi -Dxx
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 238.47 GiB used: 73.98 GiB (31.0%)
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Apacer model: APS-SL3N-256 size: 238.47 GiB
    speed: 3.0 Gb/s serial: SF05C32442WL
# hdparm -t /dev/sda
/dev/sda:
 Timing buffered disk reads: 756 MB in  3.00 seconds = 251.94 MB/sec

Code:

# inxi -Dxx
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 2.05 TiB used: 63.55 GiB (3.0%)
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Silicon Power model: SPCCSolidStateDisk
    size: 238.47 GiB speed: 6.0 Gb/s serial: SCRW20030706A15427
  ID-2: /dev/sdb vendor: Seagate model: ST2000DM006-2DM164 size: 1.82 TiB
    speed: 3.0 Gb/s serial: Z4Z7NKTD
# hdparm -t /dev/sda /dev/sdb
/dev/sda:
 Timing buffered disk reads: 1440 MB in  3.00 seconds = 479.57 MB/sec
/dev/sdb:   ### eSATA in Rosewill RX-358 U3C
 Timing buffered disk reads: 582 MB in  3.00 seconds = 193.88 MB/sec

Code:

# pinxi -Dxx
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 2.52 TiB used: 63.55 GiB (2.5%)
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Silicon Power model: SPCCSolidStateDisk
    size: 238.47 GiB speed: 6.0 Gb/s serial: SCRW20030706A15427
  ID-2: /dev/sdb vendor: Seagate model: ST2000DM006-2DM164 size: 1.82 TiB
    type: USB rev: 3.0 spd: 5 Gb/s lanes: 1 serial: Z4Z7NKTD
  ID-3: /dev/sdc vendor: TeamGroup model: T-FORCE 512GB size: 476.94 GiB
    type: USB rev: 3.1 spd: 5 Gb/s lanes: 1 serial: 112007230110635
# hdparm -t /dev/sda /dev/sdb /dev/sdc
/dev/sda:
 Timing buffered disk reads: 1436 MB in  3.00 seconds = 478.60 MB/sec
/dev/sdb:   ### USB eSATA in same Rosewill RX-358 U3C as above eSATA
 Timing buffered disk reads: 302 MB in  3.00 seconds = 100.58 MB/sec
/dev/sdc:   ### simple SATA connector to USB connector adapter cable 
 Timing buffered disk reads: 332 MB in  3.00 seconds = 110.62 MB/sec

Code:

# inxi -Dxx
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 2.75 TiB used: 49.09 GiB (1.7%)
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 vendor: Patriot model: M.2 P300 512GB size: 476.94 GiB
    speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 serial: P300EDCB22122800724 temp: 39.9 C
  ID-2: /dev/sda vendor: Seagate model: ST2000DM006-2DM164 size: 1.82 TiB
    speed: 6.0 Gb/s serial: Z4Z7NKTD
  ID-3: /dev/sdb vendor: TeamGroup model: T-FORCE 512GB size: 476.94 GiB
    speed: 6.0 Gb/s serial: 112007230110635
# hdparm -t /dev/nvme0n1 /dev/sda /dev/sdb
/dev/nvme0n1:
 Timing buffered disk reads: 3784 MB in  3.00 seconds = 1260.86 MB/sec
/dev/sda:
 Timing buffered disk reads: 592 MB in  3.01 seconds = 197.00 MB/sec
/dev/sdb:
 Timing buffered disk reads: 514 MB in  3.03 seconds = 169.84 MB/sec

My T-FORCE apparently needs a warranty replacement. I tested on SATA with it several times, and its results were erratic, no matter which of several SATA cables I tried,with 169 being the fastest.

If yours are like mine, you should be able to order the drives according to the desired enumeration pattern or the hotplug port reporting issue rather than on which speed ports to which they are connected.

Arnulf · 01-10-2024, 01:06 PM

Connecting the one SATA HDD, that is currently connected with the Marvell SATA controller, with a 3.0 GB/s port on the chipset integrated SATA controller instead is a workaround but not a solution.

mrmazda · 01-10-2024, 03:59 PM

I suppose a true solution could conceivably require an upgrade to a motherboard that has one disk controller handling all SATA ports. The dilemma differs little from attempting to use external disks connected via USB during boot, where device enumeration is typically at the whim of the BIOS, and why implementation of IDs in place of device names for fstab and boot configuration grew to overwhelm tradition.