Hi,
You can also use LVM to solve the problem:
x64etch:~# hdparm -i /dev/sdc
/dev/sdc:
Model=WDC WD20EARS-00S8B1, FwRev=80.00A80, SerialNo=WD-WCAVY2798944
Config={ HardSect NotMFM HdSw>15uSec SpinMotCtl Fixed DTR>5Mbs FmtGapReq }
RawCHS=16383/16/63, TrkSize=0, SectSize=0, ECCbytes=50
BuffType=unknown, BuffSize=unknown, MaxMultSect=16, MultSect=16
CurCHS=16383/16/63, CurSects=16514064, LBA=yes, LBAsects=3907027055
IORDY=on/off, tPIO={min:120,w/IORDY:120}, tDMA={min:120,rec:120}
PIO modes: pio0 pio3 pio4
DMA modes: mdma0 mdma1 mdma2
UDMA modes: udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 udma4 udma5 *udma6
AdvancedPM=no WriteCache=enabled
Drive conforms to: Unspecified: ATA/ATAPI-1,2,3,4,5,6,7
1/ delete all partition
x64etch:~# fdisk /dev/sdc
Delete all partition
w
2/ Install lvm (i use debian)
x64etch:~# apt-get install lvm2 dmsetup mdadm
3/ spend a little time to read the man page
x64etch:~# man pvcreate
…
If the 2nd SCSI disk is a 4KB sector drive that compensates for windows partitioning (sector 7 is the lowest aligned logical block, the 4KB sectors start at LBA -1, and consequently sector 63 is
aligned on a 4KB boundary) manually account for this when initializing for use by LVM:
pvcreate --dataalignmentoffset 7s /dev/sdb
…
4/ Prepare the disk
x64etch:~# pvcreate --dataalignmentoffset 7s /dev/sdc
Physical volume “/dev/sdc” successfully created
5/ Create a volume group
x64etch:~# vgcreate wd2tsata /dev/sdc
Volume group “wd2tsata” successfully created
6/ and the end create the logical volume
x64etch:~# lvcreate --name vm_storage --size 300G wd2tsata
Logical volume “vm_storage” created
7/ Format your logical volume
x64etch:~# mkfs.ext4 /dev/wd2tsata/vm_storage
You can change the size has you want. I use the disk on samba file server, and i transfert 4.4 G on it by network share in 45 seconds. I update later the post if i found a problem during the time of used.
have fun.
Source:
http://www.howtoforge.com/linux_lvm
http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/library/WhitePapers/FRA/2579-771430.pdf
http://www.mentby.com/mike-snitzer-2/data-alignment.html
Stams