4pin Molex PC Pwr Switch and Programmable??

Many are starting to use big ATA HDs as a backup medium. Many of these
backups will be done unattended at night. That leaves these backup only HDs
powered and spinning both before and after they need to be. This increases
their exposure to data loss.

I'm looking for a way to power and unpower a serial ATA HD under program
control.
Anyone have any good ideas about what might be already available or how to
do this?

"Ron Reaugh" <ron-reaugh@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:wtt7c.4454$tY6.129977@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> Many are starting to use big ATA HDs as a backup medium. Many of these
> backups will be done unattended at night. That leaves these backup only
HDs
> powered and spinning both before and after they need to be. This
increases
> their exposure to data loss.
>
> I'm looking for a way to power and unpower a serial ATA HD under program
> control.
> Anyone have any good ideas about what might be already available or how to
> do this?
>
>
Windows Power Settings.
It's easy to get to too.
Just guess how long the job is, then set the drives a few minuets longer.
This way they will all but shut down.
Kind of like the old saying in a way (The lights are on, but no one's
home.)
Almost no power gets to these drives when u use it.
@ least till you go and use them. Then they have to come back on, and
sometimes you have
to wait a little before they're ready to be used.
Denny. :-) Always with a smile, even if times are bad.

"Dennis E Strausser Jr" <dstrausser33@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:_vKdnSy2DuHTPcPdRVn-iQ@comcast.com...
> "Ron Reaugh" <ron-reaugh@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:wtt7c.4454$tY6.129977@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > Many are starting to use big ATA HDs as a backup medium. Many of these
> > backups will be done unattended at night. That leaves these backup only
> HDs
> > powered and spinning both before and after they need to be. This
> increases
> > their exposure to data loss.
> >
> > I'm looking for a way to power and unpower a serial ATA HD under program
> > control.
> > Anyone have any good ideas about what might be already available or how
to
> > do this?
> >
> >
> Windows Power Settings.
> It's easy to get to too.
> Just guess how long the job is, then set the drives a few minuets longer.
> This way they will all but shut down.
> Kind of like the old saying in a way (The lights are on, but no one's
> home.)
> Almost no power gets to these drives when u use it.
> @ least till you go and use them. Then they have to come back on, and
> sometimes you have
> to wait a little before they're ready to be used.
> Denny. :-) Always with a smile, even if times are bad.
>
>
The OP wants to shutdown just one drive and not all of them and do it under
program control (his own) and not Windows.

"Dennis E Strausser Jr" <dstrausser33@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:_vKdnSy2DuHTPcPdRVn-iQ@comcast.com...
> "Ron Reaugh" <ron-reaugh@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:wtt7c.4454$tY6.129977@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > Many are starting to use big ATA HDs as a backup medium. Many of these
> > backups will be done unattended at night. That leaves these backup only
> HDs
> > powered and spinning both before and after they need to be. This
> increases
> > their exposure to data loss.
> >
> > I'm looking for a way to power and unpower a serial ATA HD under program
> > control.
> > Anyone have any good ideas about what might be already available or how
to
> > do this?
> >
> >
> Windows Power Settings.
> It's easy to get to too.


Green functionality is not what I'm after. This is a security situation
where I want to be able to under program control make the HD available to
the system, do the backup and then make the HD unavailable('eject the
tape').

> Just guess how long the job is, then set the drives a few minuets longer.
> This way they will all but shut down.
> Kind of like the old saying in a way (The lights are on, but no one's
> home.)
> Almost no power gets to these drives when u use it.
> @ least till you go and use them. Then they have to come back on, and
> sometimes you have
> to wait a little before they're ready to be used.
> Denny. :-) Always with a smile, even if times are bad.
>
>

"Alien Zord" <rem.alienzord@dsl.pipex.com> wrote in message
news:c3m9i6$28pk8g$1@ID-172721.news.uni-berlin.de...
> "Dennis E Strausser Jr" <dstrausser33@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:_vKdnSy2DuHTPcPdRVn-iQ@comcast.com...
> > "Ron Reaugh" <ron-reaugh@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> > news:wtt7c.4454$tY6.129977@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > > Many are starting to use big ATA HDs as a backup medium. Many of
these
> > > backups will be done unattended at night. That leaves these backup
only
> > HDs
> > > powered and spinning both before and after they need to be. This
> > increases
> > > their exposure to data loss.
> > >
> > > I'm looking for a way to power and unpower a serial ATA HD under
program
> > > control.
> > > Anyone have any good ideas about what might be already available or
how
> to
> > > do this?
> > >
> > >
> > Windows Power Settings.
> > It's easy to get to too.
> > Just guess how long the job is, then set the drives a few minuets
longer.
> > This way they will all but shut down.
> > Kind of like the old saying in a way (The lights are on, but no one's
> > home.)
> > Almost no power gets to these drives when u use it.
> > @ least till you go and use them. Then they have to come back on, and
> > sometimes you have
> > to wait a little before they're ready to be used.
> > Denny. :-) Always with a smile, even if times are bad.
> >
> >
> The OP wants to shutdown just one drive and not all of them and do it
under
> program control (his own) and not Windows.

Right, for security reasons.

Ron Reaugh wrote:
> Many are starting to use big ATA HDs as a backup medium. Many of
> these backups will be done unattended at night. That leaves these
> backup only HDs powered and spinning both before and after they need
> to be. This increases their exposure to data loss.

You're probably more likely to lose data through drive death by spinning
down then spinning up a hard disk than leaving it on for 24 hours ...

> I'm looking for a way to power and unpower a serial ATA HD under
> program control.
> Anyone have any good ideas about what might be already available or
> how to do this?

It shouldn't be too hard to do. You'll just need a two FETs, a ATX->SATA
power cable, a free parallel port and probably some accessory bits and
pieces. Take the power cable and make the +5 and +12 wires run through the
FETs. Then take any output pin from the parallel port and run it to both of
the FETs. You'll probably want a capacitor in there to stop noise on the
port from affecting your drives. Then, to power on the drives, write to the
parallel port and set your desired bit "hi". To power them off, write 0 to
the bit. There's probably some circuits out there for controlling fans
through a parallel port. Similar circuits would work for the hard drives
(though make sure you get big enough FETs: drives can consume in excess of
40W spinning up).

--
Michael Brown
www.emboss.co.nz : OOS/RSI software and more
Add michael@ to emboss.co.nz - My inbox is always open

"Michael Brown" <see@signature.below> wrote in message
news:LmJ7c.13394$rw6.249765@news.xtra.co.nz...
> Ron Reaugh wrote:
> > Many are starting to use big ATA HDs as a backup medium. Many of
> > these backups will be done unattended at night. That leaves these
> > backup only HDs powered and spinning both before and after they need
> > to be. This increases their exposure to data loss.
>
> You're probably more likely to lose data through drive death by spinning
> down then spinning up a hard disk than leaving it on for 24 hours ...

No, their power cycle ratings are in the 10Ks. These drives will be
powered up and down once every two days or so. Folks with their drive
spindown times too short are the ones at risk of such increased failure
rates.

The threats during the extra/excess powered period are a HW killing power
glitch and software threats. Keep the backup media offline except when
needed is my goal.

> > I'm looking for a way to power and unpower a serial ATA HD under
> > program control.
> > Anyone have any good ideas about what might be already available or
> > how to do this?
>
> It shouldn't be too hard to do. You'll just need a two FETs, a ATX->SATA
> power cable, a free parallel port and probably some accessory bits and
> pieces. Take the power cable and make the +5 and +12 wires run through the
> FETs. Then take any output pin from the parallel port and run it to both
of
> the FETs. You'll probably want a capacitor in there to stop noise on the
> port from affecting your drives. Then, to power on the drives, write to
the
> parallel port and set your desired bit "hi". To power them off, write 0 to
> the bit. There's probably some circuits out there for controlling fans
> through a parallel port. Similar circuits would work for the hard drives
> (though make sure you get big enough FETs: drives can consume in excess of
> 40W spinning up).

Right, I was guessing that someone already such a gadget for a 4 pin Molex
PC power cable. Just trying to find it.

Ron Reaugh wrote:

> "Michael Brown" <see@signature.below> wrote in message
> news:LmJ7c.13394$rw6.249765@news.xtra.co.nz...
>
>>Ron Reaugh wrote:
>>
>>>Many are starting to use big ATA HDs as a backup medium. Many of
>>>these backups will be done unattended at night. That leaves these
>>>backup only HDs powered and spinning both before and after they need
>>>to be. This increases their exposure to data loss.
>>
>>You're probably more likely to lose data through drive death by spinning
>>down then spinning up a hard disk than leaving it on for 24 hours ...
>
>
> No, their power cycle ratings are in the 10Ks. These drives will be
> powered up and down once every two days or so. Folks with their drive
> spindown times too short are the ones at risk of such increased failure
> rates.
>
> The threats during the extra/excess powered period are a HW killing power
> glitch and software threats. Keep the backup media offline except when
> needed is my goal.
>
>
>>>I'm looking for a way to power and unpower a serial ATA HD under
>>>program control.
>>>Anyone have any good ideas about what might be already available or
>>>how to do this?
>>
>>It shouldn't be too hard to do. You'll just need a two FETs, a ATX->SATA
>>power cable, a free parallel port and probably some accessory bits and
>>pieces. Take the power cable and make the +5 and +12 wires run through the
>>FETs. Then take any output pin from the parallel port and run it to both
>
> of
>
>>the FETs. You'll probably want a capacitor in there to stop noise on the
>>port from affecting your drives. Then, to power on the drives, write to
>
> the
>
>>parallel port and set your desired bit "hi". To power them off, write 0 to
>>the bit. There's probably some circuits out there for controlling fans
>>through a parallel port. Similar circuits would work for the hard drives
>>(though make sure you get big enough FETs: drives can consume in excess of
>>40W spinning up).
>
>
> Right, I was guessing that someone already such a gadget for a 4 pin Molex
> PC power cable. Just trying to find it.

I'm not so sure a 'standard' IDE port will tolerate a drive connected to it
with zero power applied, not to mention making the drive known to the
system when it powers up out of the blue. I'd think that, as a minimum,
you'd need a hot swap tray.

"David Maynard" <dNOTmayn@ev1.net> wrote in message
news:105v2kvenen6o53@corp.supernews.com...
> Ron Reaugh wrote:
>
> > "Michael Brown" <see@signature.below> wrote in message
> > news:LmJ7c.13394$rw6.249765@news.xtra.co.nz...
> >
> >>Ron Reaugh wrote:
> >>
> >>>Many are starting to use big ATA HDs as a backup medium. Many of
> >>>these backups will be done unattended at night. That leaves these
> >>>backup only HDs powered and spinning both before and after they need
> >>>to be. This increases their exposure to data loss.
> >>
> >>You're probably more likely to lose data through drive death by spinning
> >>down then spinning up a hard disk than leaving it on for 24 hours ...
> >
> >
> > No, their power cycle ratings are in the 10Ks. These drives will be
> > powered up and down once every two days or so. Folks with their drive
> > spindown times too short are the ones at risk of such increased failure
> > rates.
> >
> > The threats during the extra/excess powered period are a HW killing
power
> > glitch and software threats. Keep the backup media offline except when
> > needed is my goal.
> >
> >
> >>>I'm looking for a way to power and unpower a serial ATA HD under
> >>>program control.
> >>>Anyone have any good ideas about what might be already available or
> >>>how to do this?
> >>
> >>It shouldn't be too hard to do. You'll just need a two FETs, a ATX->SATA
> >>power cable, a free parallel port and probably some accessory bits and
> >>pieces. Take the power cable and make the +5 and +12 wires run through
the
> >>FETs. Then take any output pin from the parallel port and run it to both
> >
> > of
> >
> >>the FETs. You'll probably want a capacitor in there to stop noise on the
> >>port from affecting your drives. Then, to power on the drives, write to
> >
> > the
> >
> >>parallel port and set your desired bit "hi". To power them off, write 0
to
> >>the bit. There's probably some circuits out there for controlling fans
> >>through a parallel port. Similar circuits would work for the hard drives
> >>(though make sure you get big enough FETs: drives can consume in excess
of
> >>40W spinning up).
> >
> >
> > Right, I was guessing that someone already such a gadget for a 4 pin
Molex
> > PC power cable. Just trying to find it.
>
> I'm not so sure a 'standard' IDE port will tolerate a drive connected to
it
> with zero power applied, not to mention making the drive known to the
> system when it powers up out of the blue. I'd think that, as a minimum,
> you'd need a hot swap tray.

I'm talkin SATA and it will be in a tray but I still want to enable/disable
the power under program control which will not cause any problems. Just how
to easily?

Ron Reaugh wrote:
> "Michael Brown" <see@signature.below> wrote in message
>> Ron Reaugh wrote:
>
>>> Many are starting to use big ATA HDs as a backup medium. Many
>>> of these backups will be done unattended at night. That leaves
>>> these backup only HDs powered and spinning both before and after
>>> they need to be. This increases their exposure to data loss.
>>
>> You're probably more likely to lose data through drive death by
>> spinning down then spinning up a hard disk than leaving it on for
>> 24 hours ...
>
> No, their power cycle ratings are in the 10Ks. These drives will
> be powered up and down once every two days or so. Folks with
> their drive spindown times too short are the ones at risk of such
> increased failure rates.
>
> The threats during the extra/excess powered period are a HW
> killing power glitch and software threats. Keep the backup media
> offline except when needed is my goal.
>
>>> I'm looking for a way to power and unpower a serial ATA HD under
>>> program control. Anyone have any good ideas about what might
>>> be already available or how to do this?
>>
>> It shouldn't be too hard to do. You'll just need a two FETs, a
>> ATX->SATA power cable, a free parallel port and probably some
>> accessory bits and pieces. Take the power cable and make the +5
>> and +12 wires run through the FETs. Then take any output pin
>> from the parallel port and run it to both of the FETs. You'll
>> probably want a capacitor in there to stop noise on the port
>> from affecting your drives. Then, to power on the drives, write
>> to the parallel port and set your desired bit "hi". To power
>> them off, write 0 to the bit. There's probably some circuits
>> out there for controlling fans through a parallel port. Similar
>> circuits would work for the hard drives (though make sure you
>> get big enough FETs: drives can consume in excess of 40W
>> spinning up).
>
> Right, I was guessing that someone already such a gadget for a
> 4 pin Molex PC power cable. Just trying to find it.

Since my drives already spin down after a preset idle period, with
no special wiring, there must be some mechanism available to
control this. What is it? Is something hidden in the ATA drive
specification, for example.

I can set the period from 3 min to 5 hrs, or never, with the
existing power control software. This effectively keeps my backup
drive always off, and requires a short delay (2 or 3 secs.) for
access.

--
Chuck F (cbfalconer@yahoo.com) (cbfalconer@worldnet.att.net)
Available for consulting/temporary embedded and systems.
<http://cbfalconer.home.att.net> USE worldnet address!