---
title: Diagnosis of a failing disk
description: This page explains how to diagnose a failing disk
tags: dedibox diagnosis failing-disk
dates:
validation: 2025-08-11
posted: 2021-11-02
---
import Requirements from '@macros/iam/requirements.mdx'
`Smartmontools` is a set of tools that controls and monitors a disk using the **SMART** standard (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology System).
It consists of two parts:
* `smartd`, a daemon that allows you to periodically check your hard drives
* `smartctl`, a command line tool to view the status of the hard disk
The tool supports the vast majority of modern hard drives.
- A Dedibox account logged into the [console](https://console.online.net)
- A [Dedibox dedicated server](https://www.scaleway.com/en/dedibox/)
## How to check a server with no RAID controller
1. Log into your server using SSH.
2. Run the following command from the root account (or precede it with `sudo`):
```
smartctl -a /dev/sdx
```
The identifier `sdx` refers to your hard disk. Make sure that you replace `x` with `a`, `b` , `c`, etc. depending on the disk you want to test.
## How to check a Dell multi-disk server
### Dell PERC H200 controller
On these servers, the physical disks are referred to as `sg*` devices.
1. Log into your server using SSH.
2. Run the following commands:
```
smartctl -a -T permissive /dev/sg0
smartctl -a -T permissive /dev/sg1
smartctl -a -T permissive /dev/sg2
```
As the devices can be positioned a little further away, do not hesitate to test up to `sg5` if you do not have conclusive results.
### Dell PERC controller (H310, H700, H710, H730-P, LSI9361)
Two possibilities exist for this type of controller:
* `megaclisas-status` and
* `megacli`
The first one displays the status of the RAID volume, whilst the second one displays the SMART status of the disks.
1. Log into your server using SSH.
2. Update the APT package lists cache, and install the required packages:
```
apt update
apt install megaclisas-status megacli
```
3. Run the following command to display the status of the RAID volume:
```
megaclisas-status
```
4. Run the following little script to retrieve the SMART values of your disks:
```
DEVICE=/dev/sda
for i in $(megacli -pdlist -a0 | grep Id | cut -d":" -f2); do
echo "============================== $i =============================="
smartctl -s on -a -d megaraid,${i} ${DEVICE} -T permissive
done
```
## How to check an HP multi-disk server (P410, P420, P222)
1. Log into your server using SSH.
2. Run the following command to display the status of the RAID:
```
ssacli ctrl all show config
```
An output similar to the following example displays:
```
Smart Array P410 in Slot 1 (sn: PACCRID111003N3)
array A (SATA, Unused Space: 0 MB)
logicaldrive 1 (1.8 TB, RAID 1, OK)
physicaldrive 1I:1:1 (port 1I:box 1:bay 1, SATA, 2 TB, OK)
physicaldrive 1I:1:2 (port 1I:box 1:bay 2, SATA, 2 TB, OK)
```
3. Run the following command to display the SMART values of the disks:
```
smartctl -a -d cciss,0 /dev/sg0
```
then run:
```
smartctl -a -d cciss,1 /dev/sg0
```
## How to use SMARTD to monitor your disks
`smartd` allows you to monitor your disks and to be alerted (depending on the configuration) by email in case of failure.
There is no guarantee as to the result of SMARTD and the time remaining before the disk fails completely.
However, we strongly encourage you to back up and request a replacement rapidly.
### How to configure SMARTD
Below, you will find an example of a single-disk server installed on a Debian-like machine.
The following commands are to be executed as `root` or via `sudo`.
1. Log into your server using SSH.
2. Enable basic SMART options:
```
smartctl -s on -o on -S on /dev/sda
```
3. Check that the disk is healthy:
```
smartctl -H /dev/sda
```
4. Edit the file `/etc/smartd.conf`, to set up automated tests:
* Start by commenting out the following line:
```
DEVICESCAN -d removable -n standby -m root -M exec /usr/share/smartmontools/smartd-runner
```
* Then add a line similar to the following example:
```
/dev/sda -a -d sat -o on -S on -s (S/../.././01|L/../1/03) -m root -M exec /usr/share/smartmontools/smartd-runner
```
The example above allows you to test your hard disk as follows:
* A short test (S) every day at 1am (01)
* A long test (L), every Monday (1) at 3am (03)
5. Activate the daemon by uncommenting the line `start_smartd=yes` in the file `/etc/default/smartmontools`.
6. Start the daemon by running the following command:
```
service smartmontools start
```
If a problem is detected, it will send a default mail to root (-m root).
You can redirect the mails sent to the `root` user to your personal mailbox or send this mail directly to another address.
### How to run tests manually
To run SMART tests manually, use the following commands:
* `smartctl -t short /dev/sda` to run a **short** test on your disk
* `smartctl -t long /dev/sda` to run a **long** test on your disk
Once the tests are completed, you can check the results with the following command:
```
smartctl -l selftest /dev/sda
```
## How to report disk failures
If you notice any errors when running a SMART diagnosis on your disk, open a [support ticket](/account/how-to/open-a-support-ticket/) and ask for the disk to be replaced, indicating the serial number with the result of the `smartctl` command:
```
=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Device Model: SAMSUNG HD103UJ
Serial Number: S13PJ1KQ513170 <----------------------- Serial Number
Firmware Version: 1AA01113
User Capacity: 1 000 204 886 016 bytes
Device is: In smartctl database [for details use: -P show]
ATA Version is: 8
ATA Standard is: ATA-8-ACS revision 3b
Local Time is: Fri Oct 29 11:20:27 2010 CEST
```
## Retrieve disk position
When you create a support ticket to replace a defective disk, you must also provide the **physical location** of the disk.
Use the following command to retrieve the position of all disks, and copy/paste the result into your support ticket:
You do not need to perform this step if the machine is equipped with an **NVMe** disk.
Command result to be returned to support for software RAIDs only.
```
lsblk --paths --sort HCTL --output hctl,name,size,model,rev,serial,tran,phy-sec --bytes | grep -v loop0
```
For RAID controller P410, P420, P222
```
ssacli ctrl all show config
```
## Offers incompatible with disk replacement
Some Dedibox machines are hosted on blade servers, where a single blade may host multiple customers.
In these environments, replacing or disconnecting disks would affect other customers, making disk replacement unavailable.
If your server appears on the list and its storage status is indeed `FAILED`, open a [support ticket](/account/how-to/open-a-support-ticket/).
| Offers incompatible with disk replacement |
|-----------------------------|
| Start-2-S-SSD |
| Start-2-XS-SATA |
| Start-2-S-SATA |
| Start-3-S-SSD |
| Start-1-M-SATA |
| Start-1-M-SSD |
| Start-2-M-SATA |
| Start-2-M-SSD |
| Start-2-L |
| Start-3-L |
| Pro-6-XS |
For more information on Smartmontools, refer to the [official documentation](https://www.smartmontools.org/wiki/TocDoc).
The example below shows SMART data for the HDD storage type:
```
=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family: Seagate Constellation ES.3
Device Model: ST1000NM0033-9ZM173
Serial Number: Z1W2P3WL
LU WWN Device Id: 5 000c50 0790721c5
Add. Product Id: DELL(tm)
Firmware Version: GA0A
User Capacity: 1 000 204 886 016 bytes [1,00 TB]
Sector Size: 512 bytes logical/physical
Rotation Rate: 7200 rpm
Form Factor: 3.5 inches
Device is: In smartctl database [for details use: -P show]
ATA Version is: ACS-2 (minor revision not indicated)
SATA Version is: SATA 3.0, 3.0 Gb/s (current: 3.0 Gb/s)
Local Time is: Wed Jan 22 11:26:49 2025 CET
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled
=== START OF READ SMART DATA SECTION ===
SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: PASSED
General SMART Values:
Offline data collection status: (0x82) Offline data collection activity
was completed without error.
Auto Offline Data Collection: Enabled.
Self-test execution status: ( 0) The previous self-test routine completed
without error or no self-test has ever
been run.
Total time to complete Offline
data collection: ( 90) seconds.
Offline data collection
capabilities: (0x7b) SMART execute Offline immediate.
Auto Offline data collection on/off support.
Suspend Offline collection upon new
command.
Offline surface scan supported.
Self-test supported.
Conveyance Self-test supported.
Selective Self-test supported.
SMART capabilities: (0x0003) Saves SMART data before entering
power-saving mode.
Supports SMART auto save timer.
Error logging capability: (0x01) Error logging supported.
General Purpose Logging supported.
Short self-test routine
recommended polling time: ( 2) minutes.
Extended self-test routine
recommended polling time: ( 115) minutes.
Conveyance self-test routine
recommended polling time: ( 3) minutes.
SCT capabilities: (0x50bd) SCT Status supported.
SCT Error Recovery Control supported.
SCT Feature Control supported.
SCT Data Table supported.
SMART Attributes Data Structure revision number: 10
Vendor Specific SMART Attributes with Thresholds:
ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME FLAG VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE UPDATED WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
1 Raw_Read_Error_Rate 0x010f 079 063 044 Pre-fail Always - 90441339
3 Spin_Up_Time 0x0103 096 095 000 Pre-fail Always - 0
4 Start_Stop_Count 0x0032 100 100 020 Old_age Always - 26
5 Reallocated_Sector_Ct 0x0133 100 100 010 Pre-fail Always - 0
7 Seek_Error_Rate 0x000f 093 060 030 Pre-fail Always - 2198492836
9 Power_On_Hours 0x0032 094 011 000 Old_age Always - 5442
10 Spin_Retry_Count 0x0013 100 100 097 Pre-fail Always - 0
12 Power_Cycle_Count 0x0032 100 100 020 Old_age Always - 18
184 End-to-End_Error 0x0032 100 100 099 Old_age Always - 0
187 Reported_Uncorrect 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 0
188 Command_Timeout 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 1
189 High_Fly_Writes 0x003a 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 0
190 Airflow_Temperature_Cel 0x0022 071 061 045 Old_age Always - 29 (Min/Max 27/34)
191 G-Sense_Error_Rate 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 0
192 Power-Off_Retract_Count 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 9
193 Load_Cycle_Count 0x0032 094 094 000 Old_age Always - 12859
194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0022 029 040 000 Old_age Always - 29 (0 22 0 0 0)
195 Hardware_ECC_Recovered 0x001a 046 015 000 Old_age Always - 90441339
196 Reallocated_Event_Count 0x0032 000 000 000 Old_age Always - 65535
197 Current_Pending_Sector 0x0012 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 0
198 Offline_Uncorrectable 0x0010 100 100 000 Old_age Offline - 0
199 UDMA_CRC_Error_Count 0x003e 200 200 000 Old_age Always - 0
240 Head_Flying_Hours 0x0000 100 253 000 Old_age Offline - 62209 (42 197 0)
241 Total_LBAs_Written 0x0000 100 253 000 Old_age Offline - 75618145300
242 Total_LBAs_Read 0x0000 100 253 000 Old_age Offline - 528734761477
SMART Error Log Version: 1
No Errors Logged
```
If `total_uncorrected_errors` or `errors_corrected_by_rereads_rewrites` is > 0, the disk is out of order.
The example below shows SMART data for the SSD storage type:
```
=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family: Crucial/Micron MX1/2/300, M5/600, 1100 Client SSDs
Device Model: Micron_1100_MTFDDAK512TBN
Serial Number: 1709160C2354
LU WWN Device Id: 5 00a075 1160c2354
Firmware Version: M0MU031
User Capacity: 512 110 190 592 bytes [512 GB]
Sector Size: 512 bytes logical/physical
Rotation Rate: Solid State Device
Form Factor: 2.5 inches
Device is: In smartctl database [for details use: -P show]
ATA Version is: ACS-3 T13/2161-D revision 5
SATA Version is: SATA 3.2, 6.0 Gb/s (current: 6.0 Gb/s)
Local Time is: Wed Jan 22 11:24:34 2025 CET
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled
=== START OF READ SMART DATA SECTION ===
SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: PASSED
General SMART Values:
Offline data collection status: (0x03) Offline data collection activity
is in progress.
Auto Offline Data Collection: Disabled.
Self-test execution status: ( 0) The previous self-test routine completed
without error or no self-test has ever
been run.
Total time to complete Offline
data collection: ( 913) seconds.
Offline data collection
capabilities: (0x7b) SMART execute Offline immediate.
Auto Offline data collection on/off support.
Suspend Offline collection upon new
command.
Offline surface scan supported.
Self-test supported.
Conveyance Self-test supported.
Selective Self-test supported.
SMART capabilities: (0x0003) Saves SMART data before entering
power-saving mode.
Supports SMART auto save timer.
Error logging capability: (0x01) Error logging supported.
General Purpose Logging supported.
Short self-test routine
recommended polling time: ( 2) minutes.
Extended self-test routine
recommended polling time: ( 7) minutes.
Conveyance self-test routine
recommended polling time: ( 3) minutes.
SCT capabilities: (0x0035) SCT Status supported.
SCT Feature Control supported.
SCT Data Table supported.
SMART Attributes Data Structure revision number: 16
Vendor Specific SMART Attributes with Thresholds:
ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME FLAG VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE UPDATED WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
1 Raw_Read_Error_Rate 0x002f 100 100 000 Pre-fail Always - 11
5 Reallocate_NAND_Blk_Cnt 0x0032 100 100 010 Old_age Always - 10
9 Power_On_Hours 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 63309
12 Power_Cycle_Count 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 12
171 Program_Fail_Count 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 1
172 Erase_Fail_Count 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 0
173 Ave_Block-Erase_Count 0x0032 060 060 000 Old_age Always - 610
174 Unexpect_Power_Loss_Ct 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 6
183 SATA_Interfac_Downshift 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 0
184 Error_Correction_Count 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 0
187 Reported_Uncorrect 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 0
194 Temperature_Celsius 0x0022 068 047 000 Old_age Always - 32 (Min/Max 24/53)
196 Reallocated_Event_Count 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 10
197 Current_Pending_Sector 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 0
198 Offline_Uncorrectable 0x0030 100 100 000 Old_age Offline - 0
199 UDMA_CRC_Error_Count 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 0
202 Percent_Lifetime_Used 0x0030 060 060 001 Old_age Offline - 40
206 Write_Error_Rate 0x000e 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 1
246 Total_Host_Sector_Write 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 72065906327
247 Host_Program_Page_Count 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 2254963742
248 Bckgnd_Program_Page_Cnt 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 15919135484
180 Unused_Reserve_NAND_Blk 0x0033 000 000 000 Pre-fail Always - 2459
210 Success_RAIN_Recov_Cnt 0x0032 100 100 000 Old_age Always - 44
SMART Error Log Version: 1
No Errors Logged
```
If the `RAW_VALUE` column for `Reallocated_Sector_Ct` or ` Runtime_Bad_Block` or `Current_Pending_Sector` is > 5, the disk can already be considered as unhealthy. If it is > 20, the disk is out of order.
The example below shows SMART data for the NVMe storage type:
```
=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Number: SKHynix_HFS512GEJ9X164N
Serial Number: 4YC8N008713108B48
Firmware Version: 51770C30
PCI Vendor/Subsystem ID: 0x1c5c
IEEE OUI Identifier: 0xace42e
Controller ID: 1
NVMe Version: 1.4
Number of Namespaces: 1
Namespace 1 Size/Capacity: 512,110,190,592 [512 GB]
Namespace 1 Formatted LBA Size: 512
Namespace 1 IEEE EUI-64: ace42e 003abd04e2
Local Time is: Wed Jan 22 11:21:05 2025 CET
Firmware Updates (0x16): 3 Slots, no Reset required
Optional Admin Commands (0x0017): Security Format Frmw_DL Self_Test
Optional NVM Commands (0x005f): Comp Wr_Unc DS_Mngmt Wr_Zero Sav/Sel_Feat Timestmp
Log Page Attributes (0x1e): Cmd_Eff_Lg Ext_Get_Lg Telmtry_Lg Pers_Ev_Lg
Maximum Data Transfer Size: 64 Pages
Warning Comp. Temp. Threshold: 86 Celsius
Critical Comp. Temp. Threshold: 87 Celsius
Supported Power States
St Op Max Active Idle RL RT WL WT Ent_Lat Ex_Lat
0 + 4.5000W - - 0 0 0 0 100 100
1 + 3.0000W - - 1 1 1 1 200 200
2 + 0.6000W - - 2 2 2 2 400 400
3 - 0.0150W - - 3 3 3 3 2000 2000
4 - 0.0030W - - 4 4 4 4 5000 10000
Supported LBA Sizes (NSID 0x1)
Id Fmt Data Metadt Rel_Perf
0 + 512 0 0
=== START OF SMART DATA SECTION ===
SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: PASSED
SMART/Health Information (NVMe Log 0x02)
Critical Warning: 0x00
Temperature: 42 Celsius
Available Spare: 100%
Available Spare Threshold: 10%
Percentage Used: 1%
Data Units Read: 5,718,407 [2.92 TB]
Data Units Written: 9,717,865 [4.97 TB]
Host Read Commands: 43,061,485
Host Write Commands: 142,156,172
Controller Busy Time: 5,906
Power Cycles: 1,315
Power On Hours: 2,261
Unsafe Shutdowns: 56
Media and Data Integrity Errors: 0
Error Information Log Entries: 0
Warning Comp. Temperature Time: 0
Critical Comp. Temperature Time: 0
Temperature Sensor 1: 44 Celsius
Temperature Sensor 2: 42 Celsius
Error Information (NVMe Log 0x01, 16 of 256 entries)
No Errors Logged
Read Self-test Log failed: Invalid Field in Command (0x002)
```
If you encounter **Health status: Failed** or **Failing Now**, the disk is considered out of order. Make sure that you have backups, then open a [support ticket](/account/how-to/open-a-support-ticket/) and ask for the disk to be replaced, indicating the serial number with the result of the `smartctl` command.