External HDD latency

[etaleb]

Folks - I'm using a script with LaunchControl but still having latency issues while accessing files on my external HDD. I have the script set to run every 58s assuming the WD HDD is timing out every 1 minute and I know the script is running as it's writing to a .keepSpinning file every 58s. With the script running, this is the behavior I notice

1) Simulation 1 - constantly use files in the HDD and when I open them, they open instantly
2) Simulation 2 - don't open anything on the HDD for a full minute and when I go to open a file, it. takes 3-4 seconds to open if it's a small file like a PDF. If it's a 200mb video file, then it takes 7-8 seconds

How do I troubleshoot this? Is it possible my HDD is going idle even sooner? Thanks


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>Label</key>
<string>local.keepDriveAwake</string>
<key>ProgramArguments</key>
<array>
<string>/usr/local/bin/fdautil</string>
<string>exec</string>
<string>/bin/ls</string>
<string>/Volumes/Ext18TBHDD</string>
</array>
<key>RunAtLoad</key>
<true/>
<key>StartInterval</key>
<integer>60</integer>
</dict>
</plist>

 

[rpmurray]

<key>StartInterval</key>
<integer>60</integer>

I thought you said it runs every 58 seconds?