could not start process unable to create io-slave:read-only file system [SOLVED]

[caudata]

I'm running Kubuntu 6.10 off of an external USB harddrive and get this error- could not start process unable to create io-slave: read-only file system, but only after my computer sits idle. The error affects the entire system and I have to reboot to start using it again. My permissions are correct so I have no idea what gives. Could it possibly be this only happens if my USB harddrive spins down, and there is some sort of problem with it starting back up? If anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate it thank you.

[jankushka]

Re: could not start process unable to create io-slave: read-only file system

usually that means: file system full.

should that be the case, try cleaning some stuff.
easiest thing is:

sudo apt-get clean

then clean /var/log, then...

other than this...i wouldn't know...

[SheeEttin]

Re: could not start process unable to create io-slave: read-only file system

Hm... an external USB hard drive.

I think you might have something with the drive spinning down. See if there's an option somewhere to turn it off.

[penguin.ch]

Re: could not start process unable to create io-slave: read-only file system

I'm running Kubuntu 6.10 off of an external USB harddrive

Oh, oh ...

Could it possibly be this only happens if my USB harddrive spins down

If this were the case, keeping the disk busy should help keeping the system operating (- surely not a real solution, but maybe a useful workaround), corresponding approximately to:

USER # touch ~/.kde/Autostart/abm.sh && chmod +x ~/.kde/Autostart/abm.sh

#!/bin/bash

DUMMY=~/.kde/Autostart/dummy

while true 
do
 if [ -e "$DUMMY" ]
 then
  rm $DUMMY >/dev/null 2>&1
 else
  touch $DUMMY >/dev/null 2>&1
 fi
 sleep 90
done

[caudata]

RE: could not start process unable to create io-slave:read-only file system

Thanks everyone that posted. The script didn't work. Looks like this is a known spin down problem with Linux and the Seagate freeagent USB harddrives. I'll have to see what else I can find out about the problem.

[caudata]

could not start process unable to create io-slave:read-only file system [SOLVED]

Here is how you solve the spin down problem with the seagate freeagent USB harddrives under linux. The first thing is you need sdparm installed, it's just like hdparm except for scsi devices. Then you issue these commands as root (my device is /dev/sdf yours may be something else):

1. sdparm -al /dev/sdf
(this tells you your current settings)
2. sdparm --clear STANBY -6 /dev/sdf
(that changes your settings)
3. sdparm -al /dev/sdf
(just for looking at what you changed)
No scripting necessary and works like a charm.