[systemd-devel] [usb-storage] Re: Amazon Kindle disconnect after Synchronize Cache

[Alan Stern]

On Tue, Mar 16, 2021 at 06:26:30AM +0100, Matthias Schwarzott wrote:
> I implemented solution 3b. This is the pullrequest for udev (systemd
> repository):
> 
> 	https://github.com/systemd/systemd/pull/19002
> 
> Now Lennart asks if udev is the best place for such hacks/work-arounds?
> 
> Well, I implemented it as suggested by Alan (see above). This was the
> simplest of the considered alternatives. Different quirks in kernel has been
> considered, but are more effort to be implemented.

Lennart probably isn't aware how the usb-storage driver works.  It does 
not create commands on its own; it merely sends the commands that it 
gets from higher SCSI layers.

It may be possible to modify the SCSI core, to make it send a TEST UNIT 
READY command immediately following any SYNCHRONIZE CACHE to a Kindle.

However, there may be an easier solution.  usb-storage does indeed send 
a command of its own, REQUEST SENSE, to get error data when a command 
fails.  The patch below will make it do the same thing whenever it sends 
a SYNCHRONIZE CACHE to a Kindle, failure or not.

The only question is whether the Kindle will regard REQUEST SENSE as a 
sufficient indication that it shouldn't do an eject.  The only way to 
find out is by testing the patch.

Alan Stern



Index: usb-devel/drivers/usb/storage/transport.c
===================================================================
--- usb-devel.orig/drivers/usb/storage/transport.c
+++ usb-devel/drivers/usb/storage/transport.c
@@ -656,6 +656,13 @@ void usb_stor_invoke_transport(struct sc
 		need_auto_sense = 1;
 	}
 
+	/* Some devices (Kindle) require another command after SYNC CACHE */
+	if (us->fflags & US_FL_CHECK_AFTER_SYNC &&
+			srb->cmnd[0] == SYNCHRONIZE_CACHE) {
+		usb_stor_dbg(us, "-- sense after SYNC CACHE\n");
+		need_auto_sense = 1;
+	}
+
 	/*
 	 * If we have a failure, we're going to do a REQUEST_SENSE 
 	 * automatically.  Note that we differentiate between a command
Index: usb-devel/drivers/usb/storage/unusual_devs.h
===================================================================
--- usb-devel.orig/drivers/usb/storage/unusual_devs.h
+++ usb-devel/drivers/usb/storage/unusual_devs.h
@@ -2212,6 +2212,18 @@ UNUSUAL_DEV( 0x1908, 0x3335, 0x0200, 0x0
 		US_FL_NO_READ_DISC_INFO ),
 
 /*
+ * Reported by Matthias Schwarzott <zzam at gentoo.org>
+ * The Amazon Kindle treats SYNCHRONIZE CACHE as an indication that
+ * the host may be finished with it, and automatically ejects its
+ * media unless it receives another command within one second.
+ */
+UNUSUAL_DEV( 0x1949, 0x0004, 0x0000, 0x9999,
+		"Amazon",
+		"Kindle",
+		USB_SC_DEVICE, USB_PR_DEVICE, NULL,
+		US_FL_CHECK_AFTER_SYNC ),
+
+/*
  * Reported by Oliver Neukum <oneukum at suse.com>
  * This device morphes spontaneously into another device if the access
  * pattern of Windows isn't followed. Thus writable media would be dirty
Index: usb-devel/include/linux/usb_usual.h
===================================================================
--- usb-devel.orig/include/linux/usb_usual.h
+++ usb-devel/include/linux/usb_usual.h
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@
 		/* lies about caching, so always sync */	\
 	US_FLAG(NO_SAME, 0x40000000)				\
 		/* Cannot handle WRITE_SAME */			\
+	US_FLAG(CHECK_AFTER_SYNC, 0x80000000)			\
+		/* Check sense after SYNCHRONIZE_CACHE */	\
 
 #define US_FLAG(name, value)	US_FL_##name = value ,
 enum { US_DO_ALL_FLAGS };