Ben's notes

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Test hard drive for defects, find bad blocks

smartctl

Start the smartctl long test:

# smartctl -t long /dev/sdb
smartctl 6.2 2013-07-26 r3841 [x86_64-linux-3.10.0-229.11.1.el7.x86_64] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-13, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org

=== START OF OFFLINE IMMEDIATE AND SELF-TEST SECTION ===
Sending command: "Execute SMART Extended self-test routine immediately in off-line mode".
Drive command "Execute SMART Extended self-test routine immediately in off-line mode" successful.
Testing has begun.
Please wait 384 minutes for test to complete.
Test will complete after Mon Sep  7 14:01:01 2015

Use smartctl -X to abort test.

Show health (after test):

# smartctl -H /dev/sdb

# smartctl -l selftest /dev/sdb
# smartctl -a /dev/sdb

badblocks

Start screen, badblocks is a long running process. Using it on one of my 2TB disks took 6 days. You can speed it up with the -b and -c option.

Non-destructive search for bad blocks:

# badblocks -nsv /dev/sdb
Checking for bad blocks in non-destructive read-write mode
From block 0 to 1953514583
Checking for bad blocks (non-destructive read-write test)
Testing with random pattern:   0.00% done, 0:21 elapsed. (0/0/0 errors)

Table of Contents

Test hard drive for defects, find bad blocks

smartctl

badblocks