Operation Manual

10.3 HDD S.M.A.R.T
S.M.A.R.T: “Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology”
S.M.A.R.T HDD can analysis head, disc, motor, circuit operation, history and default security values via monitor
instruction in HDD and surveillance software in host. Alarm will be sent to user automatically when the value is
outside the scope of the security situation.
Detection parameters of Seagate HDD for example are divided into seven: ID detection code, Attribute
Description, Threshold, Attribute Value, Worst, Date, and Status.
1、ID detection code
ID detection code is not the only; manufacturer can use different ID code or increase or decrease its quantity
according to the detected parameter’s quantity.
For example: the ID detection code of WEASTERN DIGITAL’s product is “04”, parameter is Start/Stop Count,
but the parameter of same code in Fujitsu’s product is “Number of times the spindle motor is activated”.
2、Attribute Description
Attribute Description: name of detection item. Manufacturer can increase or decrease。As ATA standard update
constantly, sometimes different models in same brand maybe different ,but must ensure major test items specified
in S.M.A.R.T .(although different manufacturers have specific naming convention ,the essence of monitoring is
the same.)
1 Read Error Rate
2 Spin up Time
4 Start/Stop Count
5 Relocated Sector Count
7 Seek Error Rate
9 Power-on Hours Count
10 Spin up Retry Count
194 Power temperatures
195 ECC on the Fly count
197 Current Pending Sector Count
198 Disconnection beyond repair
199 CRC cyclic redundancy check
200 Write Error Count
Note: Different manufacturers and different models have different attribute description , the user has no need
to know exact meaning ,attribute detection values enough for them.
3、Threshold
It is specified by manufacturer calculated through a specific formula. If there is a attribute value lower than
the threshold, which means HDD become unreliable and data stored is very easy to lose. Composition and size of
reliable attribute values is different for different HDD. It should be noted that, ATA standard only provides some
SMART parameters; it does not provide a specific value. "Threshold" value is determined by manufacturers based
on products’ features. Thus, results tested by manufacturer provided detection software is very different from
testing software under Windows (such as AIDA32)
4、Attribute Value
Attribute value is the maximum normal value; the general range is from 1 to 253. Typically, the maximum