NAS Disk Test - 3rd test extremely slow.

BaJohn wrote:
So when spindown is enabled the disk will spin down EVEN IF IN THE MIDDLE OF A DISK TEST. I am surprised.

Yes, that is the case (at least with the WDC red drives).

BaJohn wrote:
Perhaps a different question is required :? When spindown is enabled, under what circumstances would the disks NOT spindown?

My understanding is that the drives spin up on their own when they receive a disk-read command from the NAS. There might be other circumstances (and to some degree it might depend on the specific drive model). The NAS initiates the spindown, but the drive chooses when to spin-up.

BaJohn wrote:
In my case above, the order was spindown enabled, test started followed by spindown disabled. Presumably the test actually started when the spindown was disabled?

What matters of course is when the drive actually spins up/down (not the time that spindown is enabled/disabled). You should be able to see the actual spindown/spinup times in the log.

Netgear should probably disable spindown when the test is running.