smartctl -t short -d megaraid,0 /dev/sda
This applies to any LSI MegaRAID card (e.g., 9260, 9361) under Linux. For HP SmartArray, use -d cciss,N ; for 3ware, use -d 3ware,N .
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. smartctl -t short -d megaraid,0 /dev/sda This applies
The error smartctl open device: /dev/sda failed: DELL or MegaRAID controller, please try adding -d megaraid,N is not a bug—it is a sign that you need to tell smartctl which physical drive behind the RAID controller to query.
If you'd like to , I can provide a script that loops through all drives behind the controller. Let me know what you'd like to do next! Share public link When a disk is part of a RAID
If you have multiple arrays, the N value might not correspond linearly to the physical slot. The smartctl scan command is the best way to verify, or check megacli -PDList -aAll .
To fix this error, you need to tell smartctl to use the megaraid driver and specify which physical disk to query using its N number. If you'd like to , I can provide
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
If successful, you will bypass the initial controller failure blocks and pull standard diagnostic metrics, including device temperature, power-on hours, reallocated sector counts, and drive health status. Making the Configuration Permanent