====== Ubuntu - Hardware - hdparm ======

**hdparm** is a command-line utility to set and view ATA and SATA hard disk drive hardware parameters. 

----

===== Show identification and feature info =====

<code bash>
sudo hdparm -I /dev/sdX
</code>

----

===== Benchmarking drives =====

<WRAP important>
**WARNING:** Be sure that no other programs are stressing the drive at the time of testing!
</WRAP>

<code bash>
sudo hdparm -tT /dev/sdX
</code>

----

===== Get current settings =====

<code bash>
sudo hdparm -d /dev/sdX
</code>

<WRAP info>
**NOTE:**  This is not consistent.

  * for some features the current values can be found in the common info,
  * for other features hdparm must be called with the right parameters, but without any value, like **-d**.

</WRAP>

----

===== Set features =====

Set features by putting the value directly behind the parameter (without space).

Example, to enable the DMA mode:

<code bash>
sudo hdparm -d1 /dev/sdX
</code>

<WRAP important>
**WARNING:**  Changing the default values can harm the drive or freeze the system.
</WRAP>

----

The following tables introduces the most common parameters. 

For a complete list see the hdparm man page.

^Parameter^Description^
|-B|Set the Advanced Power Management feature. The value 1 saves the most energy, the value 255 disables the feature. The values in-between are corresponding steps. Values of 127 and below allow the spin-down of the drive.|
|:::|Warning - Aggressive power management can wear the drive because of often spin-downs.|
|-d|Set the DMA feature for IDE and PATA drives. The value 1 enables the feature, 0 disables the feature.|
|-E|Set CD / DVD drive speed. Lower speeds can reduces the running noise.|
|-M|Set the Automatic Acoustic Management feature. The values 0 disables the feature, 128 sets the most quiet mode, 254 is the fastest mode.|
|-S|Set the standby (spin-down after idling) timeout. The value 0 disables the feature, the values from 1 to 240 specifies time steps of 5 seconds, 241 to 251 time steps of 30 minutes.|


----