3

I've just set up CentOS 7 on a server with NVMe drives, and was suprised not to be able to run smartctl on them:

# smartctl -a /dev/nvme0 /dev/nvme0: Unable to detect device type Please specify device type with the -d option. # smartctl -a /dev/nvme0 -d nvme /dev/nvme0: Unknown device type 'nvme'

Then I noticed that CentOS ships with Smartmontools version 6.2, whereas Smartmontools supports NVMe starting from version 6.5.

How can I upgrade Smartmontools to version 6.5 on CentOS 7?

Their download page only offers Smartmontools 6.2 for CentOS 7.

Ideally, I don't want to compile from source, I would prefer a RPM, or better, a third-party repo that would include the latest Smartmontools, to get regular updates.

Alternative

I'm also open to suggestions if you know another tool, preferably included in CentOS 7, that could allow me to get SMART info from an NVMe drive.

Improve this question
1
  • I make my own debs to support the latest FreeRadius...always an alternative making your own packages if need be. Commented May 5, 2017 at 11:31

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
6

OK, I found 2 alternatives.

Getting a precompiled binary that works on CentOS 7

Even though their packages page only offers Smartmontools 6.2 for CentOS 7, their SVN builds page offers binaries that do work on CentOS.

The proper archive has a .linux suffix, for example I chose:

smartmontools-6.6-0-20170503-r4430.linux-x86_64.tar.gz

This archive contains a smartctl binary that works like a charm.

Using the nvme command-line tool

CentOS 7 ships with an nvme command (the yum package is named nvme-cli).

It can list the NVMe drives:

# nvme list

And can read SMART info:

# nvme smart-log /dev/nvme0

And additional SMART info (not sure why it's split):

# nvme smart-log-add /dev/nvme0
Improve this answer
2
  • 2
    For some reason, my systems require adding intel to the last command: nvme intel smart-log-add /dev/nvme0. Commented May 4, 2018 at 20:21
  • @Brian That's because intel is an extension, provided by a plugin. Check nvme help command. nvme smart-log-add is not intended for every disk, it is vendor-specific. For example, for my Hynix it doesn't work. Commented Dec 27, 2021 at 16:27

You must log in to answer this question.

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.