External 920 SAS - Power Off / Turn Off OK?

[Tim Poulter]

Hi,

I tried to find an answer for this but could not

We have an HP Ultrium 920 SAS External drive plugged into a Smart Array Controller P212 on a Proliant DL380 and was wondering if it is ok to turn off the drive when not it use.

The reason why I ask is the client wanted the drive external from the server so he does not have to go down stairs to change the tape but the drive is really noise and he does not like it.

[Curtis_Ballard]

While it isn't recommended that shoud work fine in a Windows system and I have done it quite a bit with the P212.  Detection of the drive when it is turned on is quite slow with the P212 but it has always shown up eventually.