Smartctl Open Device Dev Sda Failed Dell Or Megaraid Controller Please Try Adding 39d Megaraid N 39 Extra Quality Now
Troubleshooting "smartctl open device dev sda failed dell or megaraid controller" Error: A Comprehensive Guide
Are you encountering the frustrating "smartctl open device dev sda failed dell or megaraid controller" error while trying to monitor your disk's health using smartctl? This article aims to provide a detailed explanation of the issue, its causes, and most importantly, a step-by-step guide on how to resolve it, especially when using a Dell or MegaRAID controller.
Understanding smartctl and Its Importance
smartctl (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) is a utility used to monitor and control hard drives and solid-state drives (SSDs) that support the SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) standard. It provides valuable information about a disk's health, performance, and potential issues, allowing users to take proactive measures to prevent data loss and system crashes.
The Error: "smartctl open device dev sda failed dell or megaraid controller"
When you run the command smartctl --all /dev/sda (or similar) and encounter the error "smartctl open device dev sda failed dell or megaraid controller," it typically indicates that smartctl is unable to access the disk directly due to the presence of a RAID controller, specifically a Dell or MegaRAID controller. This controller abstracts the physical disks, making it challenging for smartctl to communicate with the disk directly.
Causes of the Error
The primary cause of this error is the way the MegaRAID controller manages disks. When a disk is part of a RAID array, the MegaRAID controller presents a virtual disk to the operating system, hiding the individual physical disks. As a result, smartctl cannot access the physical disk's SMART data directly.
Solution: Adding "-d megaraid,N" Option
To resolve this issue, you need to specify the correct device type using the -d option, which allows you to specify the disk type and number. For MegaRAID controllers, the correct syntax is:
smartctl -d megaraid,N --all /dev/sda
Here, N represents the disk number within the MegaRAID controller.
Finding the Correct Disk Number (N)
To find the correct disk number, you can use the following command:
megacli -pdlist -a0
This command will list all physical disks attached to the MegaRAID controller. Look for the disk you want to monitor and note its PD (Physical Disk) number.
Examples and Command Usage
Assuming you want to monitor a disk with a PD number of 2, the smartctl command would be:
smartctl -d megaraid,2 --all /dev/sda
This command tells smartctl to use the MegaRAID controller and access disk number 2.
Additional Tips and Considerations
- Make sure you have the latest version of smartctl installed on your system.
- Ensure that the MegaRAID controller is properly configured and recognized by the operating system.
- If you're using a Dell system, you may need to use the
percclicommand instead ofmegaclito manage the MegaRAID controller.
Detailed Steps for Dell Systems
For Dell systems, you can use the perccli command to find the disk number: Troubleshooting "smartctl open device dev sda failed dell
- Install the
perccliutility on your Dell system. - Run the command
perccli /c0 /eall /Qto list all physical disks. - Note the disk number (e.g.,
PD:2) you want to monitor. - Use the smartctl command with the
-d megaraid,Noption:
smartctl -d megaraid,2 --all /dev/sda
MegaRAID Controller Configuration and smartctl
To ensure seamless integration between the MegaRAID controller and smartctl, follow these best practices:
- Configure the MegaRAID controller to present the disks in a way that allows smartctl to access them.
- Ensure that the controller's firmware is up-to-date.
- Use the correct disk numbering and device type when running smartctl.
Conclusion
The "smartctl open device dev sda failed dell or megaraid controller" error can be frustrating, but it can be resolved by adding the -d megaraid,N option to the smartctl command. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to successfully monitor your disk's health using smartctl, even when using a Dell or MegaRAID controller. Remember to replace N with the correct disk number within the MegaRAID controller.
Additional Resources
- smartctl man page: https://linux.die.net/man/8/smartctl
- MegaRAID documentation: https://www.broadcom.com/support/megaraid
- Dell support: https://www.dell.com/support
By following this comprehensive guide, you'll be well-equipped to troubleshoot and resolve the "smartctl open device dev sda failed dell or megaraid controller" error, ensuring your disks are properly monitored and maintained.
When you see the error Smartctl open device: /dev/sda failed: DELL or MegaRaid controller, it means smartctl cannot directly access the physical drive because it is "hidden" behind a RAID controller. To fix this, you must specify the exact physical drive ID using the -d megaraid,N flag. 1. Find the Correct Physical Drive ID (
is the physical device ID on the RAID controller. You can find it using one of the following tools:
Using smartctl: Run sudo smartctl --scan to see a list of detected devices and their corresponding IDs.
Using StorCLI: Use the command sudo storcli /c0 /eall /sall show and look for the DID (Device ID) column.
Using MegaCli: Run sudo MegaCli -pdlist -a0 | grep 'Device Id' to list the IDs of all physical drives on the first controller. 2. Run the Correct smartctl Command Once you have the ID (e.g., 8), use it in your command: General Syntax:sudo smartctl -a -d megaraid,N /dev/sda
Example for Drive ID 8:sudo smartctl -a -d megaraid,8 /dev/sda
For SATA Drives: If the drive is SATA rather than SAS, you may need a combined flag:sudo smartctl -a -d sat+megaraid,N /dev/sda Summary of Flags -a: Displays all SMART information.
-d megaraid,N: Tells smartctl to talk to the RAID controller to reach physical disk
/dev/sda: The logical device name (though behind a RAID, this often acts as the entry point to the controller). Error with smartctl on Dell/Megaraid · Issue #660 - GitHub
Fix: smartctl "Open Device Failed" on Dell or MegaRAID Controllers
When running smartctl on a Dell PowerEdge server or any system using a MegaRAID (LSI/Broadcom) controller, you often encounter this error:Smartctl open device: /dev/sda failed: Dell or MegaRAID controller, please try adding '-d megaraid,N'.
This happens because the operating system sees a virtual logical drive (the RAID array), but smartctl needs to talk directly to the physical disks hidden behind the controller. The Solution: Using the -d megaraid,N Flag
To bypass the virtual layer, you must tell smartctl which specific physical disk you want to inspect by providing its Device ID (represented as 1. Find the Physical Device ID (
You cannot guess this number, as it doesn't always start at 0. Use the storcli (or older MegaCli) utility to find the DID (Device ID). Command: sudo storcli /c0 /eall /sall show
What to look for: Locate the DID column in the "Drive Information" table. If your disk is in slot 1 and has a DID of 11, then 2. Run the Correct smartctl Command Make sure you have the latest version of
Once you have the ID, run the command against the controller's device node (usually /dev/sda or /dev/bus/0). Cannot get smartctl working - Unix & Linux Stack Exchange
"smartctl open device dev sda failed dell or megaraid controller please try adding -d megaraid,N"
The article explains the error, why it happens, how to fix it, and includes best practices for monitoring RAID drives behind Dell PERC / MegaRAID controllers.
Why This Happens
Script to Check All Physical Drives
Here is a simple Bash script to iterate through all possible physical disks on /dev/sda (adjust if needed):
#!/bin/bash LOGICAL_DEV="/dev/sda" MAX_DISKS=32 # Adjust based on max expected drives
for N in $(seq 0 $((MAX_DISKS-1))); do echo "Checking $LOGICAL_DEV -d megaraid,$N" smartctl -H -d megaraid,$N $LOGICAL_DEV > /dev/null 2>&1 if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then echo "Disk $N exists. Health status:" smartctl -H -d megaraid,$N $LOGICAL_DEV | grep "SMART overall-health" echo "---" else # No more disks found break fi done
A more robust script would parse storcli output to get exact PD list.
Summary of Syntax
If you are writing a script or noting this down for future reference, the clear syntax is:
| Component | Meaning |
| :--- | :--- |
| -d | Device Type Flag |
| megaraid | The driver for Dell PERC / LSI controllers |
| ,N | The physical disk index (0, 1, 2, etc.) |
By ignoring the garbled "39" text and identifying the correct disk index, you will successfully bypass the "Device Open Failed" error and retrieve your SMART data.
This error occurs because Dell PERC and MegaRAID controllers hide physical drives behind a "Virtual Drive" abstraction. When you run smartctl /dev/sda, the tool tries to talk to the RAID volume itself, which doesn't support standard S.M.A.R.T. commands.
To fix this, you must tell smartctl to bypass the abstraction and target a specific physical disk using the -d megaraid,N flag. 1. Find the Physical Drive IDs
The value for N (the Device ID) is not always 0, 1, 2, etc. You can find the correct IDs using two methods: Via smartctl scan: smartctl --scan Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard
This should return lines like /dev/bus/0 -d megaraid,4. In this case, 4 is your ID.
Via RAID utilities:If you have perccli (Dell) or storcli installed, run: /opt/MegaRAID/perccli/perccli64 /c0 /eall /sall show Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Look for the DID (Device ID) or Slot Number column. 2. Run the Correct Command
Once you have the ID (let’s assume it’s 4), run the command against your logical device (e.g., /dev/sda): smartctl -a -d megaraid,4 /dev/sda Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard
Note for SATA Drives: If you are using SATA drives behind a MegaRAID controller, you might need to combine flags: smartctl -a -d sat+megaraid,4 /dev/sda Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard 3. Summary of Key Flags smartctl megaraid,N ( how to find the right value for N ? )
Resolving smartctl "Open Device Failed" on Dell MegaRAID Controllers
If you encounter the error Smartctl open device: /dev/sda failed: DELL or MegaRaid controller, please try adding '-d megaraid,N', it means smartctl cannot directly talk to your hard drives because they are hidden behind a RAID controller (like a Dell PERC). To fix this, you must tell smartctl exactly which physical drive to look at using the -d megaraid,N flag. Why This Error Occurs
Standard Linux device names like /dev/sda often represent Virtual Disks (logical volumes) created by the RAID controller, not the physical hardware. Since SMART data exists on the physical disks themselves, smartctl needs to bypass the RAID abstraction layer. Step-by-Step Solution 1. Find the Physical Drive IDs
To use the correct N value, you first need to identify the Device ID (DID) assigned by the controller.
Option A: Using smartctl scanRun this command to see a list of physical drives the system can detect:smartctl --scanThis often returns lines like /dev/bus/0 -d megaraid,0. Detailed Steps for Dell Systems For Dell systems,
Option B: Using MegaCLI or StorCLIIf you have Dell/LSI management tools installed, use them for more detail:storcli /c0 /eall /sall show (Look for the DID column).MegaCli -pdlist -a0 | grep "Device Id". 2. Run the Correct smartctl Command
Once you have the ID (e.g., 0, 1, or 32), use the -d (device type) flag: For SAS/SCSI Drives:smartctl -a -d megaraid,0 /dev/sda For SATA Drives:smartctl -a -d sat+megaraid,0 /dev/sda
Note: Replace 0 with your actual Device ID and /dev/sda with your controller's device node. Troubleshooting Common Issues Smartmontools with MegaRAID Controller - Thomas-Krenn.AG
Fix: smartctl "Open Device /dev/sda Failed" on Dell MegaRAID Controllers
If you are running smartctl -a /dev/sda on a Dell PowerEdge server and seeing the error "smartctl open device: /dev/sda failed", it is likely because your disks are behind a Dell PERC or MegaRAID hardware controller.
Hardware RAID controllers present a single virtual drive to the operating system, which hides the raw SMART data of the individual physical disks. To bypass this, you must explicitly tell smartctl which physical disk on the controller you want to query using the -d megaraid,N flag. Step 1: Identify the Physical Device IDs
Before you can run the command, you need the "Device ID" or "Physical Disk Number" for each drive. You can find this using the following tools:
Using smartctl scan: Run sudo smartctl --scan to see if smartmontools can automatically detect the correct mapping.
Using StorCLI: Run sudo storcli /c0 /eall /sall show and look for the DID (Device ID) column.
Using MegaCli: Run sudo megacli -PDList -aALL | grep "Device Id". Step 2: Run the Correct Command
Once you have the Device ID (let's assume it is 0), use the following syntax to pull the SMART report: For SAS/SCSI Drives:sudo smartctl -a -d megaraid,0 /dev/sda For SATA Drives:sudo smartctl -a -d sat+megaraid,0 /dev/sda
Note: Replace 0 with the actual Device ID you found in Step 1. In some configurations, the device node may also be /dev/bus/0 instead of /dev/sda. Why standard commands fail Virtualization: Controllers like the Dell PERC H730 Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
or H755 create a "logical volume." The OS sees the volume, but standard SMART commands cannot reach the physical disks behind the RAID firmware.
Permissive Mode: If the command still fails with minor errors, you can try adding the -T verypermissive flag to ignore mandatory SMART command failures that the controller might be blocking. Troubleshooting Summary
This error occurs because your controller hides the physical drive's SMART data behind a RAID layer . To fix it, you must tell which specific physical disk ID to query. 🛠️ The Direct Fix Run the command using the -d megaraid,N flag, where is the drive's physical ID (starting from 0). Try this first (for the first drive): sudo smartctl -a -d megaraid,0 /dev/sda Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard 🔍 How to find the correct ID (N) megaraid,0
doesn't work, use one of these methods to find the actual physical drive IDs: sudo smartctl --scan
to see a list of detected drives and their corresponding IDs. Use MegaCLI / StorCLI (Dell Recommended):
If you have the RAID management tools installed, you can list all physical drives and their Device IDs sudo storcli /c0 /eall /sall show (Look at the "DID" column). sudo megacli -pdlist -a0 | grep "Device Id" Server Fault 💡 Common Variations
Depending on your drive type (SATA vs. SAS) and controller version, you might need a slightly different flag: For SATA drives behind MegaRAID: sudo smartctl -a -d sat+megaraid,0 /dev/sda Using the SCSI generic path: still fails, try the generic bus path: sudo smartctl -a -d megaraid,0 /dev/bus/0 If you are using a very old version of smartmontools , consider updating it
(version 7.0 or higher is recommended) as newer versions have significantly better support for Dell PERC and LSI MegaRAID controllers. Unix & Linux Stack Exchange If you'd like, let me know: server model (e.g., Dell PowerEdge R730) you're using. smartctl --scan If you're trying to monitor a
It sounds like you’re encountering the classic smartctl error when trying to access a physical disk behind a Dell PERC (MegaRAID) controller. The message you're referencing is essentially telling you to use the correct device syntax: -d megaraid,N.
Here’s a breakdown of good content you can use—whether for a knowledge base article, a forum post, or internal documentation.
✅ Solution
Add the MegaRAID device type and specify the physical disk number:
smartctl -a -d megaraid,N /dev/sda
N= physical disk index (0, 1, 2, ...) inside the RAID array.- Replace
/dev/sdawith the device node for the logical drive.

