Hi, I've got HC4 (and I'm using LE image for HC4) recently and I noticed ugly HDD squeak when I reboot HC4 or shut it down. It is like the HDD heads aren't parked properly before the power is cut to the HDD. has someone else noticed it either? it's fresh new NAS version of Seagate.
how can I fix that before I lose the drive to some failure? 
has someone else noticed it either?
I've never been at your home, so that answer is a simple no.
If this squeaky noise happens while the HC4 is connected or not, I'd start making backups of whatever you find important.
it's fresh new NAS version of Seagate
Such new versions can have software bloopers as well, although squeaky noises tend to point to hardware problems IMO.
I don't think you'll get dev support for this, because it's a rare issue, and you didn't named your NAS. We are usually pretty precise on this forum.
Search for an option to program a short suspend time from another OS (look at the Seagate download page). A suspend mode can stop rotation (spin-down), and no proper heads parking will be necessary.
this supposed to be fun?
Yes... and no, it's a simple observation. The chances of someone here having the exact same Seagate NAS device setup are rather slim. The parking of HDD heads is a hardware thing, and should only involve the HDD's own firmware. If "outside software" could make the parking of the heads of a HDD go bad in anyway, that would actually be a security/data risk and not only a major foolproof problem.
Have you googled for 'squeaky noises on parking hdd disks" already? Also, even fresh new HDDs can have problems. I got my disks at the store, so they wouldn't be "manhandled" by the transportation services of the likes of DHL and UPS.
I don't think you'll get dev support for this, because it's a rare issue, and you didn't named your NAS. We are usually pretty precise on this forum.
Search for an option to program a short suspend time from another OS (look at the Seagate download page). A suspend mode can stop rotation (spin-down), and no proper heads parking will be necessary.
Good suggestion. I'll try to search internet for any options to change those options of hard drives in Linux and will come back if I find out anything. if I don't find anything, I guess I'll have to accept the risk that the drives will fail one day.
And I use HC4 as my NAS. people buy regular NAS boxes to server as home NAS and additionally they use PLEX and other multimedia plugins to emulate HTPC. so I went cheaper way. I bought HC4 as my low cost home NAS and except that the source for DVB-T tuner streaming to home NW.
Yes... and no, it's a simple observation. The chances of someone here having the exact same Seagate NAS device setup are rather slim. The parking of HDD heads is a hardware thing, and should only involve the HDD's own firmware. If "outside software" could make the parking of the heads of a HDD go bad in anyway, that would actually be a security/data risk and not only a major foolproof problem.
Have you googled for 'squeaky noises on parking hdd disks" already? Also, even fresh new HDDs can have problems. I got my disks at the store, so they wouldn't be "manhandled" by the transportation services of the likes of DHL and UPS.
Sorry I was irritated, but it doesn't seem funny from my end to possibly lose my data if there might be a solution that could prevent it. I'm not Linux guy, I'm Windows guy. I know that Linux is heavily manually customizable in regards to HW. that's why I asked if some Linux expert here isn't aware of any option in Linux, something like "don't do anything unless you get confirmation from drive that it successfully parked its heads". that's all. I know I supposed to buy regular NAS to have kind of disaster proof solution to store personal data, but I chose cheaper HC4 option to have simple home NAS and combine it with KODI, to even save energy.
Linux does have tools that can influence when heads are parked, but only during a spindown. I don't think it can determine HOW the heads are moved/parked. For example, see here hdparm - ArchWiki
Again, the drives are inside a Seagate NAS. That NAS has its own OS that commands the internal drive(s), including a spindown. It's not LibreELEC doing that. LibreELEC is usually keeping a NAS awake because it checks on changes within movie or tv source folders.
The only other option would be that the current HDDs are incompatible with your NAS, but Seagate should be able to tell you that.
when I do this with HC4, there is this LE shutdown sequence, drive spins down, then suddenly spins up and then the power is cut or HC4 reboots and that's when that squeak sound appear.
The USB drive probably just get a short power-off, which creates the sound. Attach an external power supply. I don't think you can avoid that short power-off by software.
Odroid HC4 = "NAS" with user-provided (in this case Seagate) drives, the NAS is not something separate. HC4 has SATA/PCIe hardware and a good PSU so the drives are well powered and cannot be externally powered.
chewitt Thanks. I'm still thinking the Seagate drive get's a short power-off, but now I have no clue how to fix that.
It could still be a Linux thing... When I unmount & eject an external USB casing with a HDD, there is a type of "double" shutdown: suspend (=spindown) plus a subsequent power down (=spin up + instant spin down). There is no 'squeaky noise' though (with me it involves a WD hdd).
toml Do you have basic electronic skills? If yes, you could test my power-off theory by measuring. Debug logging is usually a good idea, but I don't think we get info about internal HDD state during reboot time.
It could still be a Linux thing... When I unmount & eject an external USB casing with a HDD, there is a type of "double" shutdown: suspend (=spindown) plus a subsequent power down (=spin up + instant spin down). There is no 'squeaky noise' though (with me it involves a WD hdd).
ok, so you see the 2nd "wake up" as well with your USB connected HDD when you unmount&eject drive. I'm prone to admit the root cause of that squeaky sound is that Seagate drive I bought. I'll try again with that old 2.5" drive I have (WD). I tried only once and it felt similar, but I may be wrong and it wasn't that bad as it was one rush attempt only.
if that double shutdown of the drive can be somehow avoided, it would be great, but I can live with it I guess. I anyway want it to run 24x7 as regular NAS, and I have power outages at home only rarely, like 3 times a year, so I guess I don't need to worry.
toml Do you have basic electronic skills? If yes, you could test my power-off theory by measuring. Debug logging is usually a good idea, but I don't think we get info about internal HDD state during reboot time.
ok, i'm not sure if I'm able to follow, but let's give it a try. what's your theory and how to measure it?
ok, i'm not sure if I'm able to follow, but let's give it a try. what's your theory and how to measure it?
Theory: HDD loses power supply on reboot for a very short time, which causes a HDD reboot and a strange noise.
Measurement to proof that theory: Find the power supply pins of the HDD by having a look at the data sheet. Remove some isolation of the connecting cable to get measure points at those power supply pins. Then connect a voltage measure instrument, and check the needle while rebooting. If the needle moves down, the theory has been proofed.
I'll have to admit: the way Linux does the suspend+shutdown of HDD drive(s) is not the prettiest.
