[lug] External USB 3.0 SATA docks

Maxwell Spangler maxlists at maxwellspangler.com
Wed Nov 21 22:12:38 MST 2012


I successfully got an inexpensive USB 3.0 storage solution working with
Linux.

I'm using the StarTech.com USB 3.0 to SATA dock with Fedora 16/17
(kernel 3.6.6 or so).

Today I connected the dock to an HP laptop with USB 3.0 and used an old
Seagate 7200.10 250G SATA drive.  Copying large ISO files I was able to
achieve approximately 88-93 MB/s.  This is about 3 times faster than my
typical USB 2.0 speeds.  Palimpsest benchmarks this older, slower drive
at between 63MB/s min and 98 MB/s max, so 93 MB/s is great: near eSATA
speeds minus a little bit for USB overhead.

Palimpsest benchmarks a 2009 era Hitachi 2TB SATA drive at 63 MB/s min,
123 MB/s max, 101 MB/s average using this USB 3.0 dock.

I left the laptop copying about 125G of ISOs to the drive repeatedly
today and no errors were reported.  No unexpected disconnects or other
problems.  Really happy with this so far and expecting to buy another
one or two for other sites.  Hope this information helps someone looking
for a Linux compatible solution.

The StarTech.com dock:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0033AF5WW/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01

The Syba 2 port USB 3.0 PCI card:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007PPYXNS/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00

Both use ASMEDIA chips so I'm expecting compatibility in the long term.

On Sun, 2012-11-18 at 14:16 -0700, Maxwell Spangler wrote:

> I need an external dock that will let me plug in a SATA drive to
> achieve high performance for large (>500GB+) file transfers, then
> switch to another drive, and so on. 
> 
> I've attempted this by briding the internal SATA port to an external
> connector and connecting that to an Antec MX-1 external USB2/eSATA
> enclosure.  It works mostly, but it's never been 100% comfortable.
> When I've used external USB 2.0 docks they've worked well for drives
> that come and go, but their speed is now a limitation.
> 
> Below is my recent attempt to solve this solution.  If you have
> suggestions on working eSATA or USB 3.0 setups, please comment!
> 
> I bought a Thermaltake USB 3.0 5G Duet.  It's a two drive external USB
> 3.0 SATA dock.  Sounds wonderful.  Connected to an inexpensive 1x PCIe
> 2 port USB 3.0 card.
> 
> In real life, this is what I experience:
> 
> * With one drive installed, Linux sees the drive and it works.
> Initially.
> 
> * The drive will disappear periodically - I presume this might be a
> power savings related feature.   This causes Linux to lose then
> rediscover the drive completely as though I had unplugged it.
> 
> * With two drives installed, Linux gets confused.  Palimpsest (Disk
> Utility) complains that it has two paths to each drive but
> multi-pathing is not configured.
> 
> * Palimpsest thinks the bad sector errors being reported on drive A
> also apply to drive B.
> 
> * I've concluded that the two-drives on one USB 3.0 connection does
> not work.  This might be related to a JMicron USB to SATA bridge chip
> in the 5GDuet which has issues or with Linux support for this kind of
> setup.
> 
> * This may be JMicron port multiplier issue related.
> 
> Plenty of googling yesterday and today suggests that there may be
> issues with the JMicron chips and that periodic disconnections, even
> during large file transfers, is a common problem with several USB 3.0
> implementations.  I haven't figured out what the cause is an using an
> Amedia PCIe card connected to a JMicron chip based device is one
> possibility.  I'm tired and giving up at this point.
> 
> Here's an example of the disconnect, re-connect that happens:
> 
> 
> Nov 18 13:50:26 elite kernel: [ 5444.756836] usb 9-2: Device not responding to set address.
> Nov 18 13:50:26 elite kernel: [ 5445.283746] usb 9-2: Device not responding to set address.
> Nov 18 13:50:26 elite kernel: [ 5445.484129] usb 9-2: device not accepting address 10, error -71
> Nov 18 13:50:26 elite kernel: [ 5445.535138] usb 9-2: USB disconnect, device number 10
> Nov 18 13:50:26 elite kernel: [ 5445.535169] sd 15:0:0:0: Device offlined - not ready after error recovery
> Nov 18 13:50:26 elite kernel: [ 5445.541814] xhci_hcd 0000:04:00.0: xHCI xhci_drop_endpoint called with disabled ep ffff8802c11be780
> Nov 18 13:50:26 elite kernel: [ 5445.541824] xhci_hcd 0000:04:00.0: xHCI xhci_drop_endpoint called with disabled ep ffff8802c11be7c0
> Nov 18 13:50:26 elite kernel: [ 5445.555973] Buffer I/O error on device sdm1, logical block 1289
> Nov 18 13:50:26 elite kernel: [ 5445.555976] lost page write due to I/O error on sdm1
> Nov 18 13:50:26 elite kernel: [ 5445.555978] JBD2: Error -5 detected when updating journal superblock for sdm1-8.
> Nov 18 13:50:31 elite kernel: [ 5450.513639] usb 9-2: new SuperSpeed USB device number 11 using xhci_hcd
> Nov 18 13:50:31 elite kernel: [ 5450.524597] usb 9-2: Parent hub missing LPM exit latency info.  Power management will be impacted.
> Nov 18 13:50:31 elite kernel: [ 5450.525498] usb 9-2: New USB device found, idVendor=152d, idProduct=0551
> Nov 18 13:50:31 elite kernel: [ 5450.525505] usb 9-2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=5
> Nov 18 13:50:31 elite kernel: [ 5450.525512] usb 9-2: Product: USB to ATA/ATAPI Bridge
> Nov 18 13:50:31 elite kernel: [ 5450.525517] usb 9-2: Manufacturer: JMicron
> Nov 18 13:50:31 elite kernel: [ 5450.525522] usb 9-2: SerialNumber: 1130A5BBFFFF
> Nov 18 13:50:31 elite kernel: [ 5450.527863] scsi16 : usb-storage 9-2:1.0
> Nov 18 13:50:31 elite mtp-probe: checking bus 9, device 11: "/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:09.0/0000:04:00.0/usb9/9-2"
> Nov 18 13:50:31 elite mtp-probe: bus: 9, device: 11 was not an MTP device
> Nov 18 13:50:32 elite kernel: [ 5451.531056] scsi 16:0:0:0: Direct-Access     Hitachi  HDS722020ALA330       PQ: 0 ANSI: 2 CCS
> Nov 18 13:50:32 elite kernel: [ 5451.533323] sd 16:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg12 type 0
> Nov 18 13:50:32 elite kernel: [ 5451.533386] sd 16:0:0:0: [sdm] 3907029168 512-byte logical blocks: (2.00 TB/1.81 TiB)
> Nov 18 13:50:32 elite kernel: [ 5451.533945] sd 16:0:0:0: [sdm] Write Protect is off
> Nov 18 13:50:32 elite kernel: [ 5451.534515] sd 16:0:0:0: [sdm] No Caching mode page present
> Nov 18 13:50:32 elite kernel: [ 5451.534521] sd 16:0:0:0: [sdm] Assuming drive cache: write through
> Nov 18 13:50:32 elite kernel: [ 5451.537946] sd 16:0:0:0: [sdm] No Caching mode page present
> Nov 18 13:50:32 elite kernel: [ 5451.537956] sd 16:0:0:0: [sdm] Assuming drive cache: write through
> Nov 18 13:50:32 elite kernel: [ 5451.583173]  sdm: sdm1
> Nov 18 13:50:32 elite kernel: [ 5451.585131] sd 16:0:0:0: [sdm] No Caching mode page present
> Nov 18 13:50:32 elite kernel: [ 5451.585142] sd 16:0:0:0: [sdm] Assuming drive cache: write through
> Nov 18 13:50:32 elite kernel: [ 5451.585148] sd 16:0:0:0: [sdm] Attached SCSI disk
> Nov 18 13:50:34 elite kernel: [ 5452.670692] EXT4-fs (sdm1): mounting ext3 file system using the ext4 subsystem
> Nov 18 13:50:34 elite kernel: [ 5452.727090] EXT4-fs (sdm1): warning: maximal mount count reached, running e2fsck is recommended
> Nov 18 13:50:34 elite kernel: [ 5452.729140] EXT4-fs (sdm1): recovery complete
> Nov 18 13:50:34 elite kernel: [ 5452.729468] EXT4-fs (sdm1): mounted filesystem with ordered data mode. Opts: (null)
> 
> 
> Here's what happens when you plug in a second drive:
> 
> 
> Nov 18 14:12:30 elite kernel: [ 6767.415218] usb 9-2: USB disconnect, device number 11
> Nov 18 14:12:30 elite kernel: [ 6767.440369] Buffer I/O error on device sdm1, logical block 1289
> Nov 18 14:12:30 elite kernel: [ 6767.440372] lost page write due to I/O error on sdm1
> Nov 18 14:12:30 elite kernel: [ 6767.440374] JBD2: Error -5 detected when updating journal superblock for sdm1-8.
> Nov 18 14:12:46 elite kernel: [ 6783.817427] usb 9-2: new SuperSpeed USB device number 12 using xhci_hcd
> Nov 18 14:12:46 elite kernel: [ 6783.828447] usb 9-2: Parent hub missing LPM exit latency info.  Power management will be impacted.
> Nov 18 14:12:46 elite kernel: [ 6783.829355] usb 9-2: New USB device found, idVendor=152d, idProduct=0551
> Nov 18 14:12:46 elite kernel: [ 6783.829364] usb 9-2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=5
> Nov 18 14:12:46 elite kernel: [ 6783.829371] usb 9-2: Product: USB to ATA/ATAPI Bridge
> Nov 18 14:12:46 elite kernel: [ 6783.829376] usb 9-2: Manufacturer: JMicron
> Nov 18 14:12:46 elite kernel: [ 6783.829381] usb 9-2: SerialNumber: 1130A5BBFFFF
> Nov 18 14:12:46 elite kernel: [ 6783.831528] scsi17 : usb-storage 9-2:1.0
> Nov 18 14:12:46 elite mtp-probe: checking bus 9, device 12: "/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:09.0/0000:04:00.0/usb9/9-2"
> Nov 18 14:12:46 elite mtp-probe: bus: 9, device: 12 was not an MTP device
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.835750] scsi 17:0:0:0: Direct-Access     ST325031 0AS                   PQ: 0 ANSI: 2 CCS
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.836096] scsi 17:0:0:1: Direct-Access     Hitachi  HDS722020ALA330       PQ: 0 ANSI: 2 CCS
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.837335] sd 17:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg12 type 0
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.837782] sd 17:0:0:0: [sdm] 488397168 512-byte logical blocks: (250 GB/232 GiB)
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.838017] sd 17:0:0:1: Attached scsi generic sg13 type 0
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.838328] sd 17:0:0:0: [sdm] Write Protect is off
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.838910] sd 17:0:0:0: [sdm] No Caching mode page present
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.838917] sd 17:0:0:0: [sdm] Assuming drive cache: write through
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.839195] sd 17:0:0:1: [sdn] 3907029168 512-byte logical blocks: (2.00 TB/1.81 TiB)
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.839976] sd 17:0:0:1: [sdn] Write Protect is off
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.840595] sd 17:0:0:1: [sdn] No Caching mode page present
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.840602] sd 17:0:0:1: [sdn] Assuming drive cache: write through
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.845515] sd 17:0:0:0: [sdm] No Caching mode page present
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.845524] sd 17:0:0:0: [sdm] Assuming drive cache: write through
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.873282]  sdm:
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.874379] sd 17:0:0:1: [sdn] No Caching mode page present
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.874390] sd 17:0:0:1: [sdn] Assuming drive cache: write through
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.911480]  sdn: sdn1
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.912974] sd 17:0:0:0: [sdm] No Caching mode page present
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.912978] sd 17:0:0:0: [sdm] Assuming drive cache: write through
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.912980] sd 17:0:0:0: [sdm] Attached SCSI disk
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.916514] sd 17:0:0:1: [sdn] No Caching mode page present
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.916516] sd 17:0:0:1: [sdn] Assuming drive cache: write through
> Nov 18 14:12:47 elite kernel: [ 6784.916518] sd 17:0:0:1: [sdn] Attached SCSI disk
> Nov 18 14:12:48 elite kernel: [ 6785.559809] EXT4-fs (sdn1): mounting ext3 file system using the ext4 subsystem
> Nov 18 14:12:48 elite kernel: [ 6785.605695] EXT4-fs (sdn1): warning: maximal mount count reached, running e2fsck is recommended
> Nov 18 14:12:48 elite kernel: [ 6785.607761] EXT4-fs (sdn1): recovery complete
> Nov 18 14:12:48 elite kernel: [ 6785.608086] EXT4-fs (sdn1): mounted filesystem with ordered data mode. Opts: (null)
> Nov 18 14:12:48 elite kernel: [ 6785.721896] Buffer I/O error on device sdl1, logical block 1289
> Nov 18 14:12:48 elite kernel: [ 6785.721900] lost page write due to I/O error on sdl1
> Nov 18 14:12:48 elite kernel: [ 6785.721902] JBD2: Error -5 detected when updating journal superblock for sdl1-8.
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Maxwell Spangler
> ========================================================================
> Linux System Administration / Virtualization / Development / Computing
> Services
> Photography / Graphics Design / Writing
> Fort Collins, Colorado
> http://www.maxwellspangler.com
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> 
> 
> 
> 

-- 
Maxwell Spangler
========================================================================
Linux System Administration / Virtualization / Development / Computing
Services
Photography / Graphics Design / Writing
Fort Collins, Colorado
http://www.maxwellspangler.com
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