Ominous smartd messages ....

[David Christensen]

On 08/02/2016 08:41 PM, William A. Mahaffey III wrote:
> ... 8 1 TB HDD's in a ZFS unmirrored pool. ...
> Aug  1 23:09:59 devbox smartd[835]: Device: /dev/ada5, 8 Currently
> unreadable (pending) sectors
> Aug  1 23:39:59 devbox smartd[835]: Device: /dev/ada5, 8 Currently
> unreadable (pending) sectors
> Aug  2 00:09:59 devbox smartd[835]: Device: /dev/ada5, 8 Currently
> unreadable (pending) sectors
> Aug  2 00:39:59 devbox smartd[835]: Device: /dev/ada5, 8 Currently
> unreadable (pending) sectors
> Aug  2 01:09:59 devbox smartd[835]: Device: /dev/ada5, 8 Currently
> unreadable (pending) sectors
> Aug  2 01:39:58 devbox smartd[835]: Device: /dev/ada5, 8 Currently
> unreadable (pending) sectors
> Aug  2 02:09:59 devbox smartd[835]: Device: /dev/ada5, 8 Currently
> unreadable (pending) sectors
> Aug  2 02:39:59 devbox smartd[835]: Device: /dev/ada5, 8 Currently
> unreadable (pending) sectors
> Aug  2 03:09:59 devbox smartd[835]: Device: /dev/ada5, 8 Currently
> unreadable (pending) sectors
> Aug  2 03:39:58 devbox smartd[835]: Device: /dev/ada5, 8 Currently
> unreadable (pending) sectors
> ... The
> HDD's were brand new 2.5" SATA3 7200 RPM HGST's, which I have had good
> luck with in other builds (I have about 25 in service, all purchased new
> from NewEgg for each build). Case is well ventilated, drives are cool,
> etc. ...
> My question is: Are these messages benign, or am I in the market for
> more hardware ? *ANY* more questions, please ask. TIA & have a good one.

HBA's can fail.


Cables can fail; usually, it's the connection/ connector.  Re-seating
cables can fix problems.  Connections should feel solid.  If not,
install a new cable and recycle the old one.


I assume there is some utility on BSD to read and pretty-print the
smartd information (?).


I would download the HGST Windows Drive Fitness Test (WinDFT) and use it
to test all the drives.  Ideally, by removing your BSD system drive,
installing a Windows system drive, installing WinDFT, and running WinDFT
before, during, and after you mess with the hardware.


David