Question for experts on 4Kn

[solaray]

Hi everyone.

is it possible to identify a 4K disk from the label ?

https://www.westerndigital.com/products ... ku=0B35946

the datasheet shows two model numbers for the 6TB SATA disk, SE or TCG but there is not specific part number for 4K or 512e.

this is a WD webshop link which allows one to select 4K or 512e however no other retailers have this option available so I don't know what am I trying to purchase

[fzabkar]

https://documents.westerndigital.com/content/dam/doc-library/en_us/assets/public/western-digital/product/data-center-drives/ultrastar-dc-hc300-series/data-sheet-ultrastar-dc-hc310.pdf

[solaray]

https://documents.westerndigital.com/content/dam/doc-library/en_us/assets/public/western-digital/product/data-center-drives/ultrastar-dc-hc300-series/data-sheet-ultrastar-dc-hc310.pdf

this datasheet is useless because it doesn't show the part # number

this applies to the other datasheet, there is no model number for the pure 4Kn disks
https://documents.westerndigital.com/co ... series.pdf

I found out an older datasheet and this time I can see the 4Kn disks model number
https://documents.westerndigital.com/co ... le-pin.pdf

maybe this indicates WD is no longer manufacturing 4K disks in that size so the product description on the website is absolutely BS because they are mostly 512e disks.

[fzabkar]

read the datasheet again

[solaray]

read the datasheet again

I have to read nothing.
if you have the model number of the 4Kn disks send it to me.

[fzabkar]

read the datasheet again

I have to read nothing.
if you have the model number of the 4Kn disks send it to me.

the model numbers are in the datasheet

[crashpcberlin]

read the datasheet again

I have to read nothing.
if you have the model number of the 4Kn disks send it to me.

What a friendly and nice dude you are.

[fzabkar]

read the datasheet again

I have to read nothing.
if you have the model number of the 4Kn disks send it to me.

Either you're too lazy, or incapable of understanding English.

This is your model number: HUS726TxTALE6yz

xT = Capacity of this model (6T = 6TB, 4T = 4TB)

E6⁹ = Interface (512e SATA 6Gb/s)

⁹ 512e models can be converted to 4Kn format and vice versa.

y = Power Disable Pin 3 status

0 = Power Disable Pin 3 support

L = Legacy Pin 3 config – No Power Disable Support

z = Data Security Mode

1 = SED**: Self Encrypting Drive. TCG-Enterprise and Sanitize Crypto Scramble / Erase.

4 = Base (SE)**: No Encryption. Sanitize Overwrite only.

5 = SED-FIPS: SED w/ certification (SAS only).

** ATA Security Feature Set comes standard on SATA

[solaray]

512e models can be converted to 4Kn format and vice versa.

how do you convert it without hacking the drive firmware ?

I did not mention it but it's gonna be used on a legacy system without GPT format support.

[solaray]

This is your model number: HUS726TxTALE6yz

I posted above an older datasheet link and the 4Kn drives model number ends with N6 not E6.

[fzabkar]

This is your model number: HUS726TxTALE6yz

I posted above an older datasheet link and the 4Kn drives model number ends with N6 not E6.

So? Times have changed.

Hint: Read about "fast format".

[mr44er]

on linux:

Code:

sg_format -vv --format --size=512 --fmtpinfo=0 /dev/sg$

or

Code:

sg_format -vv --format --size=4096 --fmtpinfo=0 /dev/sg$

on freebsd (same commands with sg_format as above) or with native camcontrol:

Code:

camcontrol cmd da$ -v -c "15 10 0 0 v:i1 0" 12 -o 12 "0 0 0 8 0 0:i3 0 v:i3" 512
camcontrol format da$ -v

or

Code:

camcontrol cmd da$ -v -c "15 10 0 0 v:i1 0" 12 -o 12 "0 0 0 8 0 0:i3 0 v:i3" 4096
camcontrol format da$ -v

This is full/long/slow/low level format (I prefer that) and also wipes out type2-protection if it exists (you likely don't want that). There are commands for fast format/conversion, but I had 512e-disks on hand that just won't work with AF/4k-sectors.
If the disk shows an "AF"-Logo, that means advanced format and 4k format is guaranteed.

Edit:
http://talesinit.blogspot.com/2015/11/f ... n-huh.html

[fzabkar]

If the disk shows an "AF"-Logo, that means advanced format and 4k format is guaranteed.l

Prior to the introduction of FastFormat, HDD manufacturers made separate 512e and 4Kn SATA models. Both carried the AF logo. Nowadays AF drives can be instantly reformatted as one or the other.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Advanced_Format#Advanced_Format_hard_disk_drives

If your SATA HDD supports multiple logical sector sizes and the optional ATA command SET SECTOR CONFIGURATION EXT (e.g. Seagate drives advertising FastFormat support), you can use hdparm to change between the supported logical sector sizes.

This is Seagate's whitepaper on the subject:

https://www.seagate.com/files/www-content/product-content/enterprise-performance-savvio-fam/enterprise-performance-15k-hdd/_cross-product/_shared/doc/seagate-fast-format-white-paper-04tp699-1-1701us.pdf