In itself well but at Load Cycle Count / IDLE3 problem

As such, the perfect plate for a NAS: fast (for 5900 rpm), quiet, economical, reliable. Unfortunately, many of 3TB models and all models of 4TB WD RED series have a firmware bug, which ensures that the 24/7 operation of the panels in certain circumstances after 2-3 years give up the ghost. The problem is the so-called IDLE3 timer which parks the heads in a special landing zone on the plates, after a certain inactivity time. In the SMART data of this Parking is counted and counted as Parameter 193 (Load Cycle Count, LCC). This timer is set in these disks to 8 seconds, which leads under typical NAS operating systems, that are constantly parked in IDLE3 and right back ... On average I had with my WD40EFRX about 600 cycles per day, ie after 2 , 5 years would be specified 600,000 Cycles achieved whereby a defect of the disk most likely is. As the drives have 3 year warranty, which would presumably just in the guarantee, but the hassles associated with the replacement of the panel remains the same.

There are remedies Fortunately. You can optionally set the program WDIDLE3.EXE (WD itself) or with the Linux tool idle3 tools IDLE3 the timer to a higher value, or completely disable. I've even used the Linux version, because I had a Linux computer with free SATA port on hand, I also read somewhere that the WDIDLE3.EXE program requires that the disk in the BIOS as IDE (ATAPI instead) set is what I did not want to change. Since the deactivation with idle3 tools is with me and the rest LCC stays where it was. A slightly higher energy consumption I take into account, the bottom line is this is certainly better than a broken plate on the environment.

Very annoying is that fact because the WD RED series of WD is indeed specifically touted as a plate for use in NAS systems and this timer as simply must not be set at such low times. In a desktop application or do not run 24/7 in NAS systems, the service life is cut not quite as quickly, the board then just go after the 3 year warranty WD broken and so is off the hook ...

Speaking of desktop applications: as a desktop drive, the WD RED not recommended, because the error handling for the RAID application is designed: in any read errors are a server disk on faster because the RAID system then take care of the error handling should and should possibly read the sector from another disk. A desktop board is in read errors stubborn attempt to rescue the sector yet, which may take too long for a hard drive in the composite NAS.

So after disabling or elevate the IDLE3 timer is the perfect board for NAS systems. Without Fix the plate is unfortunately a slow death to die. Since WD here really screwed up, there's only three instead of five stars, which no one should hold that this step trusts itself (instructions There are plenty on the net, just search times after idle3 tools or wdidle3 on Youtube even someone who WDIDLE3 variant recorded as a movie).

EDIT 31/01/2014:

I have a few days ago made a support request to WD to the problem, which was first answered so that you can use the tool at your own risk WDIDLE3.EXE this to adjust the IDLE3 Timer (at your own risk, as well WDIDLE3.EXE is not approved for the WD RED plates). Now I was even submitted a WD for WD RED plates officially shared tool that is available for Linux and Windows. It's called "WD Red SMART Load / Unload utility" (wd5741) and can be downloaded from this WD Support page:

[...]

I myself have not tried it, because I already had success with the Linux idle3 tools, but perhaps it will help one or the other to him who reads this review.