for /dev/sda5 N is 5 $ ls -alstr /dev/sd*Ġ brw-rw. The N is the last number in the name of the device.Į.g. List device files under /dev to see disk devices. Not sure why just csiss is suggested, maybe it is just the last item in the list when it is trying to automatically figure out type of device. => VALID ARGUMENTS ARE: ata, scsi, nvme, sat, usbcypress, usbjmicron, usbprolific, usbsunplus, sntjmicron, intelliprop,N, marvell, areca,N/E, 3ware,N, hpt,L/M/N, megaraid,N, aacraid,H,L,ID, cciss,N, auto, test <= dev/sda: Option -d cciss,N requires N to be a non-negative integer Please specify device type with the -d option.ĭOH DUH #2: root$ smartctl -i /dev/sda -d cciss,N # oops Somewhat misleading hint /dev/sda: requires option '-d cciss,N' Similar issue, smartctl fails to determine device type for HP Proliant G8 scsi hard disks on CentOS 7. Is there something that I'm missing or simply the device implements an archaic version of SMART without any counters (and hence almost useless)? It seems that just a few models of USB enclosures are officially supported by smartmontools. If I also add -T permissive the last line is replaced with: Error Counter logging not supportedĭevice does not support Self Test logging To continue, add one or more '-T permissive' options. > Terminate command early due to bad response to IEC mode pageĪ mandatory SMART command failed: exiting. ScsiModePageOffset: response length too short, resp_len=4 offset=4 bd_len=0 So I've tried every -d TYPE available in the help summary, and the best result is achieved with: #> smartctl -all -d scsi /dev/sde

Smartctl: please specify device type with the -d option. Smartctl answers: /dev/sde: Unknown USB bridge Being root, if I just write: #> smartctl -all /dev/sde I tried to use smartctl to see what SMART says about it, but I can't manage to make it work. I have a very old 2.5' IDE drive inside a USB enclosure that gives some buffer I/O error.

Usb to ide device