=================== IDE warm-plug HOWTO =================== To warm-plug devices on a port 'idex':: # echo -n "1" > /sys/class/ide_port/idex/delete_devices unplug old device(s) and plug new device(s):: # echo -n "1" > /sys/class/ide_port/idex/scan done NOTE: please make sure that partitions are unmounted and that there are no other active references to devices before doing "delete_devices" step, also do not attempt "scan" step on devices currently in use -- otherwise results may be unpredictable and lead to data loss if you're unlucky