[ILUG] Hot swap drive?

[Steven Satelle (Service Desk)]

Conor Daly wrote:
>  One option is a USB based external disk which might be a bit
> slow at 
> the actual data transfer bit. 

I have one of those, a 20gig usb 1.1 disk, I find that if I'm doing a large
data transfer to it the disk will 'lock' after a while, the pc will stop
transferring data to it but the disk will just continue to spin, and I've
left it overnight. I'd hope a usb 2.0 drive would be better (btw this
happens in either linux or windows so its not a linux problem, the
controller just gets 'overwhelmed' on large[1] data transfers

> The other option is a removable hard
> disk (see "Mobile Rack for Hard drive" in:
>
http://www.marx-computers.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=Storage&car
t_id=
> ).  The question is:
> 
> Can I, while up and running, plug in the disk, do 'mount /dev/hdXX
> /mnt/point', rsync (or whatever), 'umount /mnt/point', unplug the
> disk? 
> 
> Or do I have to power off for the plug / unplug stages?
> 
> In other words, does 'hot swap' mean "you can plug / unplug a mounted
> drive 
> and all will be fine" or does it mean "you can plug / unplug a drive
> so long 
> as it's not mounted at the time"?
> 

I've no experience with these, I'm sure that 'older and wiser' heads will
answer this one. But I'd think that you'd need to umount it or data will
still be in the buffers, maybe a sync would do?

[1] over 5 gig or there abouts





-- 




DISCLAIMER:  The information contained in this email and in any attachments
is confidential and is designated solely for the attention and use of the
intended recipient(s).  If you are not the intended recipient(s) of this
email you must not use, disclose, copy, distribute or retain this message,
the attachment(s) or any part thereof.  If you believe that you have
received this email in error please notify us immediately at the address set
out below.  Please also delete all copies of this email and any
attachment(s) from your computer system.

  Unless expressly stated this email is not intended to create any
contractual relationship.  If this email is not sent in the course of the
senders employment or fulfilment of his/her duties to Aer Rianta, Aer Rianta
accepts no liability whatsoever for the content of this message or any
attachment(s). 

 infosec at aer-rianta.ie

  Aer Rianta, Head Office, Dublin Airport