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External USB-IDE HDD Enclosure Supported? [solved]


epretorious
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I have an extra 2.5" IDE HDD (i.e., a laptop hard disk) that I'd like to use as an external HDD and I found the Vantec Nexstar 3 USB 2.0 External 2.5" Hard Drive enclosure (model #NST-260U2) at a store near my home. Before I spent my hard-earned money to purchase this item, though, I'd like to know if this device is supported by Mandriva 2006.0. (I already google'd and I already searched the Linux USB database but did not find anything conclusive.)

 

Has anyone successfully used this device with Mandriva 2006.0?

Edited by epretorious
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Wow, strange it doesn't work - I have used lots of USB storage devices, since the 2.6 kernels it has not been a problem, and since Mdk 10.1 it's been rather smooth sailing.

 

I've used Cutie external cases with laptop sized drives, and other cases too, small and large...

 

I actually didn't know some devices didn't work properly.

Normally, when it says: needs no driver for WinXP, it is usb-storage compliant, and should work fine with Linux. Anything that does need drivers in WinXP may be problematic. What does the box of your case say?

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How's the HD jumper set? Put it as master, not cable select, and also get sure that things like "Plug & Pray OS" and "legacy USB" are disabled within system BIOS.

Thanks, Scarecrow.

 

* I confirmed that the HDD is configured as master.

* I disabled "legacy USB". (It was enabled prior.)

* My BIOS does not have a feature for "PNP".

 

The failure mode is different now that "legacy USB" is disabled- It's much quieter:

 

kernel: usb 1-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 6
kernel: usb 1-1: device descriptor read/8, error -110
kernel: usb 1-1: device descriptor read/8, error -110
kernel: usb 1-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 7
kernel: usb 1-1: device not accepting address 7, error -71
kernel: usb 1-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 8
kernel: usb 1-1: device descriptor read/64, error -71
kernel: usb 1-1: device descriptor read/64, error -71
kernel: usb 1-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 9
kernel: usb 1-1: device descriptor read/64, error -71
kernel: usb 1-1: device descriptor read/64, error -71
kernel: hub 1-0:1.0: over-current change on port 1
last message repeated 92 times

When "legacy USB" was enabled, the failure was much more verbose:

 

kernel: usb 1-1: USB disconnect, address 3  <-- disconnected USB mouse
hal.hotplug[19327]: DEVPATH is not set
kernel: usb 1-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 4
kernel: usb 1-1: device descriptor read/8, error -84
kernel: usb 1-1: device descriptor read/8, error -71
kernel: usb 1-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 5
kernel: usb 1-1: device descriptor read/64, error -71
kernel: usb 1-1: device descriptor read/64, error -71
kernel: usb 1-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 6
kernel: hub 1-0:1.0: over-current change on port 1
kernel: Initializing USB Mass Storage driver...
kernel: scsi0 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
kernel: usbcore: registered new driver usb-storage
kernel: USB Mass Storage support registered.
udev[12866]: run_program: exec of program failed
kernel:   Vendor: TOSHIBA   Model: MK4025GAS         Rev: KA10
kernel:   Type:   Direct-Access                      ANSI SCSI revision: 00
kernel: SCSI device sda: 78140160 512-byte hdwr sectors (40008 MB)
kernel: sda: assuming drive cache: write through
kernel: SCSI device sda: 78140160 512-byte hdwr sectors (40008 MB)
kernel: sda: assuming drive cache: write through
kernel:  /dev/scsi/host0/bus0/target0/lun0: p1 p2
kernel: Attached scsi disk sda at scsi0, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
pam_console.dev[12901]: Restoring console permissions for /dev/sda  /dev/discs/disc1/disc /dev/scsi/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/disc
pam_console.dev[12926]: Restoring console permissions for /dev/sda1  /dev/discs/disc1/part1 /dev/scsi/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/part1
pam_console.dev[12938]: Restoring console permissions for /dev/sda2  /dev/discs/disc1/part2 /dev/scsi/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/part2
kernel: hub 1-0:1.0: port 1 disabled by hub (EMI?), re-enabling...
kernel: hub 1-0:1.0: over-current change on port 1
kernel: usb 1-1: USB disconnect, address 6
kernel: usb 1-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 7
kernel: usb 1-1: can't set config #1, error -84
kernel: usb 1-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 8
kernel: usb 1-1: can't set config #1, error -71
kernel: usb 1-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 9
kernel: usb 1-1: device descriptor read/all, error -71
kernel: usb 1-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 10
kernel: scsi1 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
kernel: hub 1-0:1.0: over-current change on port 1
udev[13027]: run_program: exec of program failed
kernel:   Vendor: TOSHIBA   Model: MK4025GAS         Rev: KA10
kernel:   Type:   Direct-Access                      ANSI SCSI revision: 00
kernel: SCSI device sda: 78140160 512-byte hdwr sectors (40008 MB)
kernel: sda: assuming drive cache: write through
kernel: SCSI device sda: 78140160 512-byte hdwr sectors (40008 MB)
kernel: sda: assuming drive cache: write through
kernel:  /dev/scsi/host1/bus0/target0/lun0: p1 p2
kernel: Attached scsi disk sda at scsi1, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
pam_console.dev[13083]: Restoring console permissions for /dev/sda  /dev/discs/disc1/disc /dev/scsi/host1/bus0/target0/lun0/disc
pam_console.dev[13104]: Restoring console permissions for /dev/sda1  /dev/discs/disc1/part1 /dev/scsi/host1/bus0/target0/lun0/part1
pam_console.dev[13122]: Restoring console permissions for /dev/sda2  /dev/discs/disc1/part2 /dev/scsi/host1/bus0/target0/lun0/part2
kernel: usb 1-1: reset full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 10
kernel: usb 1-1: can't restore configuration #1 (error=-110)
kernel: scsi: Device offlined - not ready after error recovery: host 1 channel 0 id 0 lun 0
kernel: SCSI error : <1 0 0 0> return code = 0x50000
kernel: end_request: I/O error, dev sda, sector 63
kernel: Buffer I/O error on device sda1, logical block 0
kernel: scsi1 (0:0): rejecting I/O to offline device
kernel: Buffer I/O error on device sda1, logical block 1
kernel: Buffer I/O error on device sda1, logical block 2
kernel: Buffer I/O error on device sda1, logical block 3
kernel: Buffer I/O error on device sda1, logical block 4

Notice that in the when the "legacy USB" was enabled, the kernel did recognize the HDD and attempt to attach to it but there seems to be some problem with UDEV. Both scenarios, however, do have one thing in common: "over-current change on port 1".

 

FWIW: I would be quick to blame the IDE-USB interface except that this device works with Novel Linux Desktop 9 on the same hardware. :huh:

Edited by epretorious
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FWIW: I would be quick to blame the IDE-USB interface except that this device works with Novel Linux Desktop 9 on the same hardware.  :huh:

Actually, I have three nearly identical Dell Latitude CPx650 laptops: Two using NLD9 and one using Mandriva 2006.0. Only one of those NLD9 systems correctly recognizes/configures the IDE-USB interface. The other two systems, one using NLD9 and the other using Mandriva 2006.0, have similar failure modes. :dry:

 

FWIW: Both of the failing systems...

a. have the same over-current complaint in the logs,

b. have very verbose failures when "legacy USB" is enabled, and

b. fail to recognize the USB device when "legacy USB" has been disabled.

Edited by epretorious
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From the "Troubleshooting" chapter of the Vantec User Manual:

Q: Why does my NexStar 3 work with just one USB connector on some systems, but requires 2 on others?

A: USB specifications state that a USB port should provide 500mA of power. However, not all computers, specifically laptops, actually provide that full amount. As such, if your hard drive requires nearly 500mA (0.5A) of power, then some systems may require the use of the second USB connector for additional power.

 

Q: What are the spec's for the power adapter if I need one?

A: The power supply shoud be 5V, with a minimum of 1A, maximum of 2.2A.

Checking the specs for my Toshiba HDD, I found that the HDD consumes approx. 4.8W of power (i.e., 5V @ 0.95A).

 

Conclusion: The system's power-supply was the culprit.

 

Evidence: The HDD functions perfectly when used with a 5VDC power adapter.

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Judging from the logs, I see that there may be some additional problem here.

new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 6

Note full speed and uhci_hcd . It means that all the transfers to and from the device would be performed at USB 1.1 speed ( 12 Mbit/s). If you have the device connected to a port able to support USB2, make sure that ehci_hcd module is loaded - this would enable USB2 transfers.

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Thanks, Chalex. Now that things are working correctly, this is what I see in my log files when I connect the enclosure:

 

Dec  1 14:20:00 localhost kernel: usb 1-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 11
Dec  1 14:20:00 localhost kernel: scsi2 : SCSI emulation for USB Mass Storage devices
Dec  1 14:20:00 localhost udev[11859]: run_program: exec of program failed
Dec  1 14:20:05 localhost kernel:   Vendor: TOSHIBA   Model: MK4025GAS         Rev: KA10
Dec  1 14:20:05 localhost kernel:   Type:   Direct-Access                      ANSI SCSI revision: 00
Dec  1 14:20:05 localhost kernel: SCSI device sda: 78140160 512-byte hdwr sectors (40008 MB)
Dec  1 14:20:05 localhost kernel: sda: assuming drive cache: write through
Dec  1 14:20:05 localhost kernel: SCSI device sda: 78140160 512-byte hdwr sectors (40008 MB)
Dec  1 14:20:05 localhost kernel: sda: assuming drive cache: write through
Dec  1 14:20:06 localhost kernel:  /dev/scsi/host2/bus0/target0/lun0: p1
Dec  1 14:20:06 localhost kernel: Attached scsi disk sda at scsi2, channel 0, id 0, lun 0
Dec  1 14:20:06 localhost pam_console.dev[11891]: Restoring console permissions for /dev/sda  /dev/discs/disc1/disc /dev/scsi/host2/bus0/target0/lun0/disc
Dec  1 14:20:07 localhost pam_console.dev[11910]: Restoring console permissions for /dev/sda1  /dev/discs/disc1/part1 /dev/scsi/host2/bus0/target0/lun0/part1

The following modules are loaded:

 

Module                  Size  Used by
nfs                   223880  1
lockd                  58536  2 nfs
nfs_acl                 2752  1 nfs
sunrpc                128004  4 nfs,lockd,nfs_acl
usb_storage            82020  0
vfat                   10592  0
fat                    45980  1 vfat
speedstep_lib           3364  0
freq_table              3460  0
md5                     3584  1
ipv6                  234016  8
snd_seq_dummy           2532  0
snd_seq_oss            31136  0
snd_seq_midi_event      5696  1 snd_seq_oss
snd_seq                46960  5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_seq_device          6828  3 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq
snd_pcm_oss            48960  0
snd_mixer_oss          16896  1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_maestro3           22020  1
snd_ac97_codec         83900  1 snd_maestro3
snd_pcm                79784  3 snd_pcm_oss,snd_maestro3,snd_ac97_codec
snd_timer              20548  2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
snd_page_alloc          8392  1 snd_pcm
snd                    46116  11 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_seq_device,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_maestro3,snd_ac
97_codec,snd_pcm,snd_timer
soundcore               7008  1 snd
parport_pc             32612  1
lp                     10024  0
parport                31976  2 parport_pc,lp
af_packet              16392  0
floppy                 55444  0
pcnet_cs               16660  1
8390                    8000  1 pcnet_cs
pcmcia                 20648  5 pcnet_cs
yenta_socket           20328  3
rsrc_nonstatic         11200  1 yenta_socket
pcmcia_core            43300  4 pcnet_cs,pcmcia,yenta_socket,rsrc_nonstatic
ide_cd                 37988  0
loop                   14504  0
intel_agp              20636  1
agpgart                29032  1 intel_agp
nvram                   7400  0
i8k                     5968  0
usbmouse                4160  0
usbhid                 44544  0
tsdev                   5984  0
uhci_hcd               29136  0
usbcore               108348  5 usb_storage,usbmouse,usbhid,uhci_hcd
evdev                   7648  0
ext3                  124744  3
jbd                    48568  1 ext3
sd_mod                 16112  0
ahci                    8772  0
ata_piix                7108  0
libata                 41956  2 ahci,ata_piix
scsi_mod              120808  4 usb_storage,sd_mod,ahci,libata

I don't see anything about ehci anywhere. Could it just be that my laptop (a Dell Latitude CPxJ650 - circa 2003) isn't USB 2.0 compliant?

 

ADDENDUM: The only specifications that I was able to locate - epinions.com - report that the Latitude CPx J USB controller is USB 1.1-compliant.

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Thanks, Chalex. Now that things are working correctly, this is what I see in my log files when I connect the enclosure:

 

I don't see anything about ehci anywhere. Could it just be that my laptop (a Dell Latitude CPxJ650 - circa 2003) isn't USB 2.0 compliant?

It may be. Try to load the "ehci_hcd" module forcefully ( issue "modprobe ehci_hcd" as root ), and see what happens. If the controller is detected, good. If the controller is not detected, your enclosure would work slooooooowly :-( .

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