ZFS raidz and 4k sector disks

[Simun Mikecin]

----- Original Message ----
> From: Alexey Tarasov <me at lexasoft.ru>
> To: Ivan Voras <ivoras at freebsd.org>; freebsd-fs at freebsd.org
> Sent: Sun, March 28, 2010 3:03:38 PM
> Subject: Re: ZFS raidz and 4k sector disks
> 
> According to mailing lists, these drives can't be configured to present 4k 
> sectors to OS.
Emulation jumper only changes first LBA number to 1 to made 
> WinXP start first partition from 64 sector (63+1).
May be fresh firmware 
> update can solve this problem.


I don't think they will ever come with a firmware update like that because WD has major operating systems (like Windows 7) covered.
It could be solved by asking the drive what is the size of a sector (such ATA call exists: see http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/library/WhitePapers/ENG/2579-771430.pdf) and set the sector size of the device (/dev/[a]da*) as needed . That would be a permanent solution for ZFS, UFS, swap or any other consumer of this device.