Bug 185341

Summary:	app-laptop/pbbuttonsd-0.8.1 has unsuitable hdparm defaults
Product:	Gentoo Linux	Reporter:	Ulrich Müller <ulm>
Component:	Current packages	Assignee:	PPC Porters <ppc>
Status:	RESOLVED FIXED
Severity:	normal
Priority:	High
Version:	unspecified
Hardware:	x86
OS:	Linux
Whiteboard:
Package list:		Runtime testing required:	---

Description Ulrich Müller gentoo-dev

2007-07-14 19:37:21 UTC

app-laptop/pbbuttonsd-0.8.1 installs a file /etc/power/pmcs-config containing the following default initialisation parameters:

   performance_HDOptions="-p"
   custom_HDOptions="-p"
   powersave_HDOptions="-p"

These are used by /etc/power/scripts.d/hdsetup and passed as argument to hdparm. The hdparm man page says for option "-p":

"Attempt to reprogram the IDE interface chipset for the specified PIO mode, or attempt to auto-tune for the 'best' PIO mode supported by the drive. This feature is supported in the kernel for only a few 'known' chipsets, and even then the support is iffy at best. Some IDE chipsets are unable to alter the PIO mode for a single drive, in which case this flag may cause the PIO mode for *both* drives to be set. Many IDE chipsets support either fewer or more than the standard six (0 to 5) PIO modes, so the exact speed setting that is actually  implemented will vary by chipset/driver sophistication. *Use*with*extreme*caution!* This feature includes zero protection for the unwary, and an  unsuccessful outcome may result in *severe*filesystem*corruption!*"

For the Intel PIIX/ICH driver in kernel 2.6.22, the effect of "hdparm -p" is that DMA for the device is disabled.

In short, "-p" is an unsuitable and dangerous default and should be replaced by the empty string. Users who want to tune their HD performance can still change the pcms-config file or specify their options in /etc/conf.d/hdparm.

Comment 1 Joe Jezak (RETIRED) gentoo-dev

2007-07-19 01:39:12 UTC

Okay, I reported this upstream and added a patch to portage.  Thanks.