Patent ID: 8495256

Claim:
A method, comprising: sending a data request from a host bus adapter logic processor to a hard disk drive; setting a standard time out period for receiving a reply from the hard disk drive; sensing vibration in the hard disk drive; sending a vibration alert signal from the hard disk drive to the host bus adapter logic processor in response to the sensed vibration exceeding a predetermined amount of vibration; in response to receiving the vibration alert signal from the hard disk drive, the host bus adapter logic processor establishing an extended time out period for receiving the reply, wherein the host bus adapter logic processor receives the vibration alert signal and establishes the extended time out period prior to expiration of the standard time out period; and writing meta data to the hard disk drive in response to exceeding either the standard time out period without receiving a vibration alert signal or the extended time out period after receiving a vibration alert signal, wherein the meta data indicates that the hard disk drive has failed and prevents the host bus adapter logic processor from using the failed hard disk drive.