running HDPARM

Aeon · 07-31-2003, 08:21 PM

Well, after reading a bunch of stuff on the internet about how running hdparm and enabling DMA is supposed to boost Speed, I would really like to enable it. However, everytime I go to /bin/ and double click on hdparm I get the error that it does not exist.

Forgive my utter newbishness, but any help would be greatly appreciated

Tinkster · 07-31-2003, 08:27 PM

well .. hdparm is a command-line tool :}

I suggest openening a console and tackling
it from there ;) ... oh, and you'll have to
su -
to become root.

Cheers,
Tink

tangle · 07-31-2003, 08:29 PM

Open a terminal (command line) and type /bin/hdparm --h to get a list of options.

Aeon · 07-31-2003, 08:44 PM

I tried opening Konsole, and when I type su -
I am prompted for my password. However, whatever I type it doesn't appear at all. It works fine when I have to input su - though...

Aeon · 07-31-2003, 08:58 PM

Oops. My bad. I actually put in the wrong password...

tangle · 07-31-2003, 08:59 PM

It doesn't show the key strokes when logging in.

Aeon · 07-31-2003, 09:09 PM

Yeah, thanx I figured that out later after reading some posts

Ok, so after running benchmarks I discovered:
setting multicount to 16
multcount = 16 (on)
Timing buffer-cache reads: 128 MB in 4.51 seconds = 28.38 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 64 MB in 16.72 seconds = 3.83 MB/sec

I tried setting DMA to on, as I discovered it was off, but I got the message
HDIO_SET_DMA failed: Operating not permitted.

I really appreciate all your help