Boot error with Scsi Enclosure Services - Ubuntu 12.04

[Joao Carlos Franco]

Scsi Enclosure Services driver for WD MyPassport Essential USB 3.0
ata_id[821]: HDIO_GET_IDENTITY failed for '/dev/sdb': Invalid argument

I have an USB 3.0 external Western Digital MyPassport Essential 500GB drive that uses SES (Scsi Enclosure Services) firmware.
I have it partioned with 2 NTFS and 7 EXT4 partitions for storage and for Linux Ubuntu and Mint.
When I use it with Windows 7 (for external storage) I do not have Smartware installed on my Windows 7 internal disk, only the SES driver as recommended to avoid a popup windows asking for the driver.
When I use it with Ubuntu 12.04 Precise (/ on /dev/sdb7, /home on /dev/sdb8) I have the following message on boot:

ata_id[821]: HDIO_GET_IDENTITY failed for '/dev/sdb': Invalid argument

Same message with LinuxMint 13 Maya (/ on /dev/sdb6) when ending session or quit.

The problem has been identified and submitted upstream on ArchLinux (see https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/27060).
Thank you
                                        Joao Franco

[Joao Carlos Franco (joaomfranco)]

The message
ata_id[821]: HDIO_GET_IDENTITY failed for '/dev/sdb': Invalid argument
shows also when I boot from external disk with
- another notebook: Asus A6Tc
- a different disk: WD Passport
- a different LinuxMint 12 Lisa
So it is an old problem not yet solved.
Based on https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/27060 I did on LinuxMint 12:
cat /lib/udev/rules.d/60-persistent-storage.rules
and attached this file
The relevant lines of the file seem to be the 3 lines after
# Run ata_id on non-removable USB Mass Storage (SATA/PATA disks in enclosures)
I think ata_id must be patched but I am not an expert.

[Phillip Susi (psusi)]

Please attach your /var/log/syslog

[Joao Carlos Franco (joaomfranco)]

Phillip
I am very happy that you are going to take care of this old bug.
1-The message is not in /var/log/syslog but in
   /var/log/boot.log of which I attach a copy
2-It slows down the boot process
3-It does not show if grub in MBR is the one installed in the system
4-It shows if grub in MBR is of one of the other linuxes in same external
disk (i.e. Mint 12.04)
5-There is no bug in Manjaro Linux (base Archlinux)
6-The bug occurs also with another Western Digital( 'Passport'),
    which I use as storage only (not to boot in this notebook)
7-The bug shows also in a different notebook (Asus A6TC)
8-Should I update the bug report with this information?
Best regards
                          João Franco

2013/10/11 Phillip Susi <email address hidden>

> Please attach your /var/log/syslog
>
>
> ** Changed in: util-linux (Ubuntu)
> Status: New => Incomplete
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1035018
>
> Title:
> Boot error with Scsi Enclosure Services - Ubuntu 12.04
>
> Status in “util-linux” package in Ubuntu:
> Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
> Scsi Enclosure Services driver for WD MyPassport Essential USB 3.0
> ata_id[821]: HDIO_GET_IDENTITY failed for '/dev/sdb': Invalid argument
>
> I have an USB 3.0 external Western Digital MyPassport Essential 500GB
> drive that uses SES (Scsi Enclosure Services) firmware.
> I have it partioned with 2 NTFS and 7 EXT4 partitions for storage and
> for Linux Ubuntu and Mint.
> When I use it with Windows 7 (for external storage) I do not have
> Smartware installed on my Windows 7 internal disk, only the SES driver as
> recommended to avoid a popup windows asking for the driver.
> When I use it with Ubuntu 12.04 Precise (/ on /dev/sdb7, /home on
> /dev/sdb8) I have the following message on boot:
>
> ata_id[821]: HDIO_GET_IDENTITY failed for '/dev/sdb': Invalid argument
>
> Same message with LinuxMint 13 Maya (/ on /dev/sdb6) when ending
> session or quit.
>
> The problem has been identified and submitted upstream on ArchLinux (see
> https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/27060).
> Thank you
> Joao Franco
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/util-linux/+bug/1035018/+subscriptions
>

[Phillip Susi (psusi)]

I actually need to see syslog, or kern.log. Also can you try sudo hdparm -i /dev/sdb?

[Joao Carlos Franco (joaomfranco)]

Phillip
I attach the output of hdparm comand, syslog and kern.log
Is it possible that when booting with the system grub, the external disk is
seen as a fixed disk and when booting the current system with the grub from
another system, the external disk is seen as a removable usb disk?
Best regards
                      João Franco

[Phillip Susi (psusi)]

I see now, it seems to me that rule is wrong because usbstorage does not support that ioctl.

[Joao Carlos Franco (joaomfranco)]

Phillip
Do you have any news about this bug?
           João Franco

[Phillip Susi (psusi)]

Nope.