12. smartd config

Generally you will not need to modify the smartd.conf file.  Here I modified the file to monitor a drive that doesn't work by default with this version of the tools.


The /etc/smartd.conf file is pretty simple, and very well documented.  Here is a working config file.

# /etc/smartd.conf
# Configuration file for smartd. Use "man smartd.conf" for more information.

# Home page is: http://smartmontools.sourceforge.net

# $Id: smartd.conf,v 1.39 2004/09/14 16:57:49 ballen4705 Exp $

# smartd will re-read the configuration file if it receives a HUP
# signal

# The file gives a list of devices to monitor using smartd, with one
# device per line. Text after a hash (#) is ignored, and you may use
# spaces and tabs for white space. You may use '\' to continue lines.

# You can usually identify which hard disks are on your system by
# looking in /proc/ide and in /proc/scsi.

# The word DEVICESCAN will cause any remaining lines in this
# configuration file to be ignored: it tells smartd to scan for all
# ATA and SCSI devices.  DEVICESCAN may be followed by any of the
# Directives listed below, which will be applied to all devices that
# are found.  Most users should comment out DEVICESCAN and explicitly
# list the devices that they wish to monitor.
#DEVICESCAN -m root -M exec /usr/share/smartmontools/smartd-runner
/dev/sda -d ata -a -o on -S on -s (S/../.././02|L/../../6/03) -m root -M exec /usr/share/s
martmontools/smartd-runner

# First (primary) ATA/IDE hard disk.  Monitor all attributes, enable
# automatic online data collection, automatic Attribute autosave, and
# start a short self-test every day between 2-3am, and a long self test
# Saturdays between 3-4am.
#/dev/hda -a -o on -S on -s (S/../.././02|L/../../6/03)

# Monitor SMART status, ATA Error Log, Self-test log, and track
# changes in all attributes except for attribute 194
#/dev/hdb -H -l error -l selftest -t -I 194 

# A very silent check.  Only report SMART health status if it fails
# But send an email in this case
#/dev/hdc -H -m admin@example.com

# First two SCSI disks.  This will monitor everything that smartd can
# monitor.  Start extended self-tests Wednesdays between 6-7pm and
# Sundays between 1-2 am
#/dev/sda -d scsi -s L/../../3/18
#/dev/sdb -d scsi -s L/../../7/01

# Monitor 4 ATA disks connected to a 3ware 6/7/8000 controller which uses
# the 3w-xxxx driver. Start long self-tests Sundays between 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 
# and 4-5 am.
# Note: one can also use the /dev/twe0 character device interface.
#/dev/sdc -d 3ware,0 -a -s L/../../7/01
#/dev/sdc -d 3ware,1 -a -s L/../../7/02
#/dev/sdc -d 3ware,2 -a -s L/../../7/03
#/dev/sdc -d 3ware,3 -a -s L/../../7/04

# Monitor 2 ATA disks connected to a 3ware 9000 controller which uses
# the 3w-9xxx driver. Start long self-tests Tuesdays between 1-2 and 3-4 am
#/dev/twa0 -d 3ware,0 -a -s L/../../2/01
#/dev/twa0 -d 3ware,1 -a -s L/../../2/03

# HERE IS A LIST OF DIRECTIVES FOR THIS CONFIGURATION FILE.
# PLEASE SEE THE smartd.conf MAN PAGE FOR DETAILS
#
#   -d TYPE Set the device type: ata, scsi, marvell, removable, 3ware,N
#   -T TYPE set the tolerance to one of: normal, permissive
#   -o VAL  Enable/disable automatic offline tests (on/off)
#   -S VAL  Enable/disable attribute autosave (on/off)
#   -n MODE No check. MODE is one of: never, sleep, standby, idle
#   -H      Monitor SMART Health Status, report if failed
#   -l TYPE Monitor SMART log.  Type is one of: error, selftest
#   -f      Monitor for failure of any 'Usage' Attributes
#   -m ADD  Send warning email to ADD for -H, -l error, -l selftest, and -f
#   -M TYPE Modify email warning behavior (see man page)
#   -s REGE Start self-test when type/date matches regular expression (see man page)
#   -p      Report changes in 'Prefailure' Normalized Attributes
#   -u      Report changes in 'Usage' Normalized Attributes
#   -t      Equivalent to -p and -u Directives
#   -r ID   Also report Raw values of Attribute ID with -p, -u or -t
#   -R ID   Track changes in Attribute ID Raw value with -p, -u or -t
#   -i ID   Ignore Attribute ID for -f Directive
#   -I ID   Ignore Attribute ID for -p, -u or -t Directive
#   -C ID   Report if Current Pending Sector count non-zero
#   -U ID   Report if Offline Uncorrectable count non-zero
#   -v N,ST Modifies labeling of Attribute N (see man page)
#   -a      Default: equivalent to -H -f -t -l error -l selftest -C 197 -U 198
#   -F TYPE Use firmware bug workaround. Type is one of: none, samsung
#   -P TYPE Drive-specific presets: use, ignore, show, showall
#    #      Comment: text after a hash sign is ignored
#    \      Line continuation character
# Attribute ID is a decimal integer 1 <= ID <= 255
# except for -C and -U, where ID = 0 turns them off.
# All but -d, -m and -M Directives are only implemented for ATA devices
#
# If the test string DEVICESCAN is the first uncommented text
# then smartd will scan for devices /dev/hd[a-l] and /dev/sd[a-z]
# DEVICESCAN may be followed by any desired Directives.

These are the lines that changed from the default config.


#DEVICESCAN -m root -M exec /usr/share/smartmontools/smartd-runner
/dev/sda -d ata -a -o on -S on -s (S/../.././02|L/../../6/03) -m root -M exec /usr/share/smartmontools/smartd-runner

I uncommented the DEVICESCAN directive, because it did not work in this instance.  And added a line for the drive I want to monitor.  The format of the lines are device to monitor, options for monitoring.  The options are listed at the bottom of the config file.   The '-d ata' force smartd/smartctl to treat the drive as a ata.  The '-a' options tells smartd/smartctl to monitor all options.  The '-o on -S on' turns on smart monitoring on the drive, and turn on the collection of stats accross reboots.  The '-s (S/../.././02|L/../../6/03)' setups up times to do the testing (I believe).  The '-m root' tells smartd to email root.  And the '-M exec...' will execute a script to manage the running of the smartd/smartctl process.