On Tuesday 22 September 2009, Mark Knecht wrote:

> What's with Linux support of external drives? Is it just not reliable
> enough to depend on? This was not a drive failure but just a bunch of
> sense code message problems and everything quit. I probably could have
> spent time removing drivers, etc, and then restarting it but I just
> rebooted and everything came back.
>
> I used to use this drive for weeks at a time on one of my Windows
> boxes. No problems at that time so I have no strong reason to suspect
> the drive when this is the second drive issue in a few days wit this
> system.
>
> I wonder how I determine if it's a drive problem or a kernel/driver
> problem?

I wonder if you have a memory problem with that box?  I don't know what errors 
you've been getting in the logs, but it is a thought when the common 
denominator is the box.  Have you tried running memtest86+ overnight to see 
what gives?

Another reason might be the physical location.  If the drives in question are 
submitted to physical vibration (e.g. next to a door; staircase, etc) then 
the failures could be due to mechanical reasons.

HTH.
-- 
Regards,
Mick