Explanation of Ubuntu Hard Drive Wear and Tear

Wed, 10/24/2007 - 05:25
Linux-Hero.com

A recent bug report for Ubuntu Linux has confirmed that both the Feisty and Gutsy versions of Ubuntu cause some unnecessary wear and tear on a hard drive.http://www.linux-hero.com/rant/explanation-ubuntu-hard-drive-wear-and-tear

I'm running edgy on one machine and feisty on another. I have not noticed this problem.

I've yet to update to gutsy.

Anyone here encountered the problem?

Here's the fix, as root or with sudo:

hdparm -B 255 /dev/sda (of course use your own proper /dev disk name)

This should work on most modern hard drives.

Also, it's only a problem in "laptop mode" as discussed in the follow up article. (http://www.linux-hero.com/rant/ubuntu-hard-drive-explosions)

Great article - and one of the reasons I love linux. No FUD. If you have enough patience to dig (or digg) a little someone will give you the facts. With the facts, you make up your own mind about what's best for you.