WD DC HC310 HDD 4k use & firmware update

[KonstantinG]

I have a pair of SATA 4kn/512e WD DC HC310 (HUS726T6TALE6L4) drives w/VKGNW40H firmware.

WD places some looking like new firmware VKGAW41G for that drives on support pages, but I find exactly no any documentation on that are these images and how they should be updated.

KB28738 - Vela and HE14 Software Download URL: https://support-en.westerndigital.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/28738

So, should I update firmware, and, how should I update firmware on them? What software can update firmware?

And my Xpenology DS918+ NAS DSM v6.2.3 list this drive as 512b sector one. How and with what tools should I change it to 4K?

[fzabkar]

I didn't find anything on WD's web site, but it appears that switching between 512e and 4Kn is accomplished via a new ATA command, SET SECTOR CONFIGURATION EXT (B2h).

This command is described on page 278 of the Ultrastar DC HC310 Product Manual:

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

It is also described on page 9 of Seagate's Exos 7E8 SATA Product Manual:
https://www.seagate.com/files/www-content/product-content/enterprise-hdd-fam/enterprise-capacity-3-5-hdd-10tb/_shared/docs/100840703h.pdf?pdhname=MAKARA

Seagate has a tool to perform this "FastFormat" sector size conversion:
https://www.seagate.com/au/en/support/software/seachest/
http://support.seagate.com/seachest/SeaChest_Combo_UserGuides.html

Perhaps Seagate's tool will work with your WD/HGST drive.

[fzabkar]

Also, see page 327 of the ATA standard:

http://t13.org/Documents/UploadedDocuments/docs2017/di529r18-ATAATAPI_Command_Set_-_4.pdf

[KonstantinG]

Seems that SeaChest toolset won't help.

Is there in wild any common free tools suitable for generic IT guy to send and receive custom brewed ATA commands to drive in some kind of human composable way?

Code:

root@ubuntu-18-04-4:/opt/SeaChestUtilities/Linux/Lin64# ./SeaChest_Format_152_12130_64 --device /dev/sg3 --showSupportedFormats
==========================================================================================
SeaChest_Format - Seagate drive utilities - NVMe Enabled
Copyright (c) 2014-2020 Seagate Technology LLC and/or its Affiliates, All Rights Reserved
SeaChest_Format Version: 1.5.2-1_21_30 X86_64
Build Date: Apr 13 2020
Today: Wed May 27 22:40:11 2020
==========================================================================================

/dev/sg3 - 726T6TALE6L4 - 152D20337A0C - ATA

Supported Logical Block Sizes and Protection Types:
---------------------------------------------------
  * - current device format
PI Key:
  Y - protection type supported at specified block size
  N - protection type not supported at specified block size
  ? - unable to determine support for protection type at specified block size
Relative performance key:
  N/A - relative performance not available.
  Best   
  Better 
  Good   
  Degraded
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Logical Block Size  PI-0  PI-1  PI-2  PI-3  Relative Performance  Metadata Size
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*               512     Y     N     N     N                   N/A            N/A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Code:

root@ubuntu-18-04-4:/opt/SeaChestUtilities/Linux/Lin64# ./openSeaChest_FormatUnit --device /dev/sg3 --showSupportedSectorSizes
==========================================================================================
openSeaChest_Format - openSeaChest drive utilities - NVMe Enabled
Copyright (c) 2014-2018 Seagate Technology LLC and/or its Affiliates, All Rights Reserved
openSeaChest_Format Version: 1.3.0-1_19_0 X86_64
Build Date: Jan 31 2019
Today: Wed May 27 22:45:55 2020
==========================================================================================

/dev/sg3 - 726T6TALE6L4 -          A0C - ATA
Device does not support changing sector size or does not report available sector sizes


[fzabkar]

You could try writing an ATA command script using HDDSuperTool.

[KonstantinG]

Thanks a lot!

Trying now to get it working at least with boxed scripts on Ubuntu 18.04.4. SeaChest at least shows drive info, HDDSuperTool (HDDSuperClone now) not showing anything yet on the same system.

[fzabkar]

Be aware that this drive is a native HGST model and does not support WD's old Vendor Specific Commands (VSCs). That may be why some of the HDDSuperTool/HDDSuperClone scripts don't work.

BTW, I suspect (but I could be wrong !) that those firmware BIN files could be applied via hdparm's fwdownload option. However, do not be tempted to mix retail and OEM firmware (eg Dell or HP). Doing so may render your drive inoperable.

https://www.man7.org/linux/man-pages/man8/hdparm.8.html

[fzabkar]

Just FYI …

Analysis of WD/HGST firmware updates for Vela and He14 families (SATA and SAS):
http://www.hddoracle.com/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=2990

The firmware update modifies a small subset of the firmware modules in the ROM (PCB) and System Area (SA, on platters). It does not update all modules. That's why you must not mix OEM and retail firmware.

[fzabkar]

Try Niagara:

ftp://ftp.abacus.cz/distribuce/HGST/Niagara/Niagara%20-%20Change%20blocksize%20(512e%20-%204kn).pdf

http://files.hddguru.com/download/Software/HGST/

[KonstantinG]

Try Niagara:

ftp://ftp.abacus.cz/distribuce/HGST/Niagara/Niagara%20-%20Change%20blocksize%20(512e%20-%204kn).pdf

http://files.hddguru.com/download/Software/HGST/

Got Hugo HGST tool 6.4.1 there, then formatted drive to 4k block. Thanks for advice!

Firmware update still on the list, Hugo tool returned an error.

[cheeser]

Can this hugo utility be used on WD Red drives as well to set 512e to 4kn?

[KonstantinG]

Still searching for how to update firmware on that WD DC HC310 (HUS726T6TALE6L4) drives.

Code:

# lsscsi  -g
[2:0:0:0]    disk    ATA      WDC  WDS500G2B0A 00WD  /dev/sda   /dev/sg0
[2:0:1:0]    disk    ATA      HGST HUS726T6TAL W40H  /dev/sdb   /dev/sg1


Code:

# smartctl -i /dev/sg1
smartctl 7.1 2019-12-30 r5022 [x86_64-linux-5.4.0-100-generic] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-19, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Device Model:     HGST HUS726T6TALE6L4
Serial Number:    ********
LU WWN Device Id: 5 000cca 098d0d628
Firmware Version: VKGNW40H
User Capacity:    6,001,175,126,016 bytes [6.00 TB]
Sector Size:      4096 bytes logical/physical
Rotation Rate:    7200 rpm
Form Factor:      3.5 inches
Device is:        Not in smartctl database [for details use: -P showall]
ATA Version is:   ACS-2, ATA8-ACS T13/1699-D revision 4
SATA Version is:  SATA 3.2, 6.0 Gb/s (current: 6.0 Gb/s)
Local Time is:    Mon Apr 18 17:59:48 2022 UTC
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled


Code:

# sg_write_buffer -vvvvv -m 5 --in VKGAW41G.bin /dev/sg1

found sg_bsg_major=244
open /dev/sg1 with flags=0x802
tried to read 8388608 bytes from VKGAW41G.bin, got 2375680 bytes
will write 2375680 bytes
sending single write buffer, mode=0x5, mpsec=0, id=0, offset=0, len=2375680
    Write buffer cdb: 3b 05 00 00 00 00 24 40 00 00
    Write buffer parameter list (first 256 bytes):
24 40 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 28 0e 01 02  ff ff ff ff fe ff ff ff
48 47 53 54 2c 20 61 20  57 65 73 74 65 72 6e 20
44 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20  43 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20
49 43 33 35 4c 78 78 78  55 78 44 33 32 31 30 2d
30 20 4d 69 63 72 6f 63  6f 64 65 20 28 43 29 20
43 6f 70 79 72 69 67 68  74 20 57 65 73 74 65 72
6e 20 44 69 67 69 74 61  6c 20 43 6f 72 70 2e 20
32 30 31 32 2c 20 32 30  31 32 2d 32 30 31 33 2e
20 41 6c 6c 20 72 69 67  68 74 73 20 72 65 73 65
72 76 65 64 2e 20 20 55  53 20 47 6f 76 65 72 6e
6d 65 6e 74 20 55 73 65  72 73 20 52 65 73 74 72
69 63 74 65 64 20 52 69  67 68 74 73 20 2d 20 55
73 65 20 64 75 70 6c 69  63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66
6f 72 20 64 69 73 63 6c  6f 73 75 72 65 20 72 65
73 74 72 69 63 74 65 64  20 62 79 20 47 43 41 20
check_file_type: file descriptor is sg device
      duration=128 ms
Write buffer:
Fixed format, current; Sense key: Aborted Command
Additional sense: No additional sense information
Raw sense data (in hex), sb_len=18, embedded_len=18
        70 00 0b 00 00 00 00 0a  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
        00 00
Write buffer failed: Aborted command, type: sense key, other than protection related (asc=0x10)


Code:

# hdparm --fwdownload-mode3 VKGAW41G.bin --yes-i-know-what-i-am-doing --please-destroy-my-drive /dev/sdb 2>&1 | tee log.VKGAW41G.bin.hdparm.txt
fwdownload: xfer_mode=3 min=8 max=8 size=4096

/dev/sdb:

FAILED: Input/output error


[KonstantinG]

... and found that the https://forums.servethehome.com/index.php?threads/updating-the-hgst-hdd-ssd-firmware.22381/ routine failing with published on WD firmware VKGAW41G perfectly succeeds with VKGNW984 firmware downloaded from hddguru.

Code:

root@ubuntu-test:/home/ubuntu/ # smartctl -i /dev/sg2
smartctl 7.1 2019-12-30 r5022 [x86_64-linux-5.4.0-107-generic] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-19, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Device Model:     HGST HUS726T6TALE6L4
Serial Number:    *******
LU WWN Device Id: 5 000cca 098d118fe
Firmware Version: VKGNW40H
User Capacity:    6,001,175,126,016 bytes [6.00 TB]
Sector Size:      4096 bytes logical/physical
Rotation Rate:    7200 rpm
Form Factor:      3.5 inches
Device is:        Not in smartctl database [for details use: -P showall]
ATA Version is:   ACS-2, ATA8-ACS T13/1699-D revision 4
SATA Version is:  SATA 3.2, 6.0 Gb/s (current: 6.0 Gb/s)
Local Time is:    Tue Apr 19 21:05:43 2022 UTC
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled

root@ubuntu-test:/home/ubuntu/ # sg_write_buffer -vvvvv -m 5 --in VKGNW984.bin /dev/sg2
found sg_bsg_major=244
open /dev/sg2 with flags=0x802
tried to read 8388608 bytes from VKGNW984.bin, got 2424832 bytes
will write 2424832 bytes
sending single write buffer, mode=0x5, mpsec=0, id=0, offset=0, len=2424832
    Write buffer cdb: 3b 05 00 00 00 00 25 00 00 00
    Write buffer parameter list (first 256 bytes):
25 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 28 0e 01 02  ff ff ff ff fe ff ff ff
48 47 53 54 2c 20 61 20  57 65 73 74 65 72 6e 20
44 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20  43 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20
49 43 33 35 4c 78 78 78  55 78 44 33 32 31 30 2d
30 20 4d 69 63 72 6f 63  6f 64 65 20 28 43 29 20
43 6f 70 79 72 69 67 68  74 20 57 65 73 74 65 72
6e 20 44 69 67 69 74 61  6c 20 43 6f 72 70 2e 20
32 30 31 32 2c 20 32 30  31 32 2d 32 30 31 33 2e
20 41 6c 6c 20 72 69 67  68 74 73 20 72 65 73 65
72 76 65 64 2e 20 20 55  53 20 47 6f 76 65 72 6e
6d 65 6e 74 20 55 73 65  72 73 20 52 65 73 74 72
69 63 74 65 64 20 52 69  67 68 74 73 20 2d 20 55
73 65 20 64 75 70 6c 69  63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66
6f 72 20 64 69 73 63 6c  6f 73 75 72 65 20 72 65
73 74 72 69 63 74 65 64  20 62 79 20 47 43 41 20
check_file_type: file descriptor is sg device
      duration=16952 ms

# smartctl -i /dev/sg2
smartctl 7.1 2019-12-30 r5022 [x86_64-linux-5.4.0-107-generic] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-19, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Device Model:     HGST HUS726T6TALE6L4
Serial Number:    *********
LU WWN Device Id: 5 000cca 098d118fe
Firmware Version: VKGNW984
User Capacity:    6,001,175,126,016 bytes [6.00 TB]
Sector Size:      4096 bytes logical/physical
Rotation Rate:    7200 rpm
Form Factor:      3.5 inches
Device is:        Not in smartctl database [for details use: -P showall]
ATA Version is:   ACS-2, ATA8-ACS T13/1699-D revision 4
SATA Version is:  SATA 3.2, 6.0 Gb/s (current: 6.0 Gb/s)
Local Time is:    Tue Apr 19 21:06:50 2022 UTC
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled