The SD1A update doesn't solve the problem, RMAing the drives doesn't solve the problem. The latest I got from Seagate TS was that you can't use the AS drives in RAID 5 or RAID 10 (even on a workstation) because that is "Enterprise" RAID.
Since Seagate says NOTHING about not using the drives in RAID in their docs, or on this site, that's a bit of a problem. If it was emblazoned on the drive packaging and in the specs, then they might have a leg to stand on, but the whole point of Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disk is to use inexpensive disks. It's not like a WS or home server are beating these drives to death with heavy IO.
Regardless, I have had over a 50% failure rate of 7200.11 drives, and I keep RMAing them. The latest was when 2 failed simultaneously out of the RAID 5EE on my (home, supports 3 users) server, destroying my data. I've finally been able to get a hold of some helpful folk in RMA who agree to send me 7200.12 drives when I send in failed 7200.11s. Frankly, that should be the policy in general. I can't believe that anyone except Jabil Circuit and UPS are making money on the endless round-tripping of these bricks.
There used to be a hard drive company called Miniscribe that went bankrupt, and at the end was shipping bricks in the boxes. Honestly, it would be preferable to get an ACTUAL brick, than a drive that turns into one once it has my data on it.
The 7200.11 series are complete garbage, and should be recalled. The growing hue and cry is a PR disaster for Seagate, and is being handled in exactly the wrong way: deny, cover up, stonewall, blame the users; instead of the correct way: come clean, get the junk out of circulation, take a one time financial hit, and move on; as opposed to losing the key influencers and decision makers in IT, and thus ultimately your entire customer base.
Seagate needs to come clean and fix this.
Message Edited by ByrneIT on 12-11-2009 07:10 PM
