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[Enhancement] Override HDD settings #141

@hbokh

Description

@hbokh

Summary

Add support for user-configurable drive settings — specifically ATA_IDLE_SECONDS — via the .env file, allowing per-device tuning without modifying core configuration files.

Motivation

The Seagate ST3000DM001 is a drive model with a well-documented hardware defect: repeated head parking cycles cause physical deformation of the read/write head assembly. When the drive subsequently powers up or wakes from hibernation, the deformed head drags across the platters, causing irreversible data loss.

This drive is commonly found in Apple Time Capsule "tower" units.

"When the Time Capsule is turned on again or wakes up from hibernation, the data disks of the Seagate hard drive are destroyed because the deformed read-write unit drags onto it."

Extending the idle timeout keeps the drive spinning longer, reducing the frequency of head park/unpark cycles and significantly lowering the risk of this failure mode being triggered.

Proposed Change

Allow drive-related settings such as ATA_IDLE_SECONDS and ATA_STANDBY (disable standby) to be set or overridden via the .env file, for example:

TC_ATA_IDLE_SECONDS=0
TC_ATA_STANDBY=0

Impact

  • Low risk — opt-in configuration, no change in default behaviour
  • High value — enables users with known-defective hardware to protect their data with a simple config change

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