Re: How to test a hard disk?
On Sat, 1 Nov 2003, Mihalis I. Tsoukalos wrote:
..
> I have an old hard disk that I want to check.
> What can I do?
>
> Which log files should I check for error messages?
> (I only have ssh access to the machine, no console).
> I look at /var/log/messages and /var/log/syslog. Is it enough?
what are oyu checking for ???
if you want to know if the disk is dying, by the time you
notice its dying ... its too late ..
- backup your data daily elsewhere
- you should turn on S.M.A.R.T ( in the bios ) and in the
kernel so it can help watch your disk status for you
- if the bios doesnt support SMART .. oh well...
if you want to know fi the disk is gonna work in your new system
- unplug the disk and try it in the new system ...
( simplest 2 minute test )
if you want to know if there are any new badblocks because
the disk/system is flaky
- run badblocks
if you want to run faster w/ the drive ..
- turn on dma mode, and fiddle with the various parameters
" hdparm -d1 -c3 -u1 -m16 -X69" and combinations there of
( know what each does and that any of those options
( could erase your data on the disk
if you want to check your inodes..
- jsut run e2fsck or its equivalent for your fs
if you want to know what your disk performance is like,
you'd need something to compare against
- run infinite kernel compiles on both disks ( one a time )
or infinite
"ls -laR /usr | md5sum" > /tmp/ls.md5.lst
lots of ways to "test the disk" ...
including sticking a scope on the wires to the disk
and looking at its waveforms :-)
or get a disk diagnostics apps
c ya
alvin
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