Hi, I hope I have the correct forum, and apologize in advance if I don't !!! I have installed OpenSuse 10.0 (64bit) and things seem to be working ok. However, I have the following query vis the external usb-2 connection. I have 2 identical 200GB Seagate drives - one connected internally (/dev/hda) and another externally (for backup/rsync). When I do a hdparm on /dev/hda it works normally: rentsch-asia:/var/log # hdparm /dev/hda /dev/hda: multcount = 16 (on) IO_support = 1 (32-bit) unmaskirq = 1 (on) using_dma = 1 (on) keepsettings = 0 (off) readonly = 0 (off) readahead = 256 (on) geometry = 24321/255/63, sectors = 390721968, start = 0 However if I do the same command on the exact same drive but connected via usb2 I get this: rentsch-asia:/var/log # hdparm /dev/sda /dev/sda: HDIO_GET_32BIT failed: Invalid argument HDIO_GET_UNMASKINTR failed: Invalid argument HDIO_GET_DMA failed: Invalid argument HDIO_GET_KEEPSETTINGS failed: Invalid argument readonly = 0 (off) readahead = 256 (on) geometry = 24321/255/63, sectors = 390721967, start = 0 Any idea how to get the correct params so I can set them to my requirement?? Thanks and rgds.