http://askubuntu.com/questions/352836/how-can-i-tell-linux-kernel-to-completely-ignore-a-disk-as-if-it-was-not-even-co
How to prevent
Two solutions here: one is fast to apply, although solves the problem only partially, the other one is the complete one but requires you to compile your own kernel.
The correct answer is a kernel patch.
Update 2 The patch is in the standard kernel for Ubuntu Trusty Thar 14.04; so now only the following addition to boot parameter is needed.
Once the patch is installed, adding
libata.force=2.00:disable
to the kernel boot parameters will hide the disk from the Linux kernel. Double check that the number is correct; searching for the device name can help:
(0)samsung-romano:~% dmesg | grep iSSD
[ 1.493279] ata2.00: ATA-8: SanDisk iSSD P4 8GB, SSD 9.14, max UDMA/133
[ 1.494236] scsi 1:0:0:0: Direct-Access ATA SanDisk iSSD P4 SSD PQ: 0 ANSI: 5
Workaround
echo 1 > /sys/block/sdb/device/delete
before suspend.
To make it permanent, add the following file in /etc/pm/sleep.d/ and make it executable:
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 204 Dec 6 16:03 99_delete_sdb
with content:
#!/bin/sh
# Delete the failing disk so that it will not block suspend
case "$1" in
suspend|hibernate)
if [ -d /sys/block/sdb ]; then
echo 1 > /sys/block/sdb/device/delete
fi
;;
esac
...and now the system suspends (and resume) correctly.