1SG_REASSIGN(8) SG3_UTILS SG_REASSIGN(8)
2
6 sg_reassign - send SCSI REASSIGN BLOCKS command
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9 sg_reassign [--address=A,A...] [--dummy] [--eight=0|1] [--grown]
10 [--help] [--longlist=0|1] [--hex] [--primary] [--verbose] [--version]
11 DEVICE
12
14 Send a SCSI REASSIGN BLOCKS command to DEVICE. Alternatively this util‐
15 ity can find the number of element in a "grown" or "primary" defect
16 list with a SCSI READ DEFECT DATA (10) command. These SCSI commands are
17 defined in SBC-2 for direct access devices (e.g. a disk). Reassign
18 blocks is designed to change the physical location of a logical block
19 that is known or suspected to be defective to another area on the
20 media. Disks are typically formatted with blocks held in reserve for
21 this situation.
22 If neither the --grown nor --primary option is supplied then one or
24 more addresses need to be given. If the address (or all of the
25 addresses) fit into 4 bytes and '--eight=1' is not given then the
26 parameter block passed to DEVICE is made up of 4 byte logical block
27 addresses. If any of the addresses need more than 4 bytes to represent
28 (i.e. >= 2**32) or '--eight=1' is given then the parameter block passed
29 to DEVICE is made up of 8 byte logical block addresses.
30
32 Arguments to long options are mandatory for short options as well.
33 -a, --address=A,A...
35 where A,A... is a string of comma separated numbers. Each number
36 is interpreted as decimal unless prefixed by '0x' or '0X' (or it
37 has a trailing 'h' or 'H'). If multiple logical block addresses
38 are given they must be separated by a comma or a (single) space.
39 A string that contains any space separators needs to be quoted.
40 At least one address must be given.
41 -a, --address=-
43 reads one or more logical block addresses from stdin. These may
44 be comma, space, tab or linefeed (newline) separated. If a line
45 contains "#" then the remaining characters on that line are
46 ignored. Otherwise each non separator sequence of characters
47 should resolve to a decimal number unless prefixed by '0x' or
48 '0X' (or has a trailing 'h'). At least one address must be
49 given.
50 -d, --dummy
52 prepare for but do not execute the SCSI REASSIGN BLOCKS command.
53 Since the REASSIGN BLOCKS command is essentially irreversible,
54 paranoid users may wish to check the invocation of this utility
55 before reassigning defective blocks on a disk. Useful with '-vv'
56 for those who wish to view the parameter block that will accom‐
57 pany the command.
58 -e, --eight=0 | 1
60 when value is 1 then it sets the 'LONGLBA' flag in the command
61 indicating that the addresses in the associated parameter block
62 are 8 byte quantities. When value is 0 then it clears the
63 'LONGLBA' flag in the command indicating that the addresses in
64 the associated parameter block are 4 byte quantities. If this
65 option is not given then 4 byte quantities are assumed unless
66 one of the address is too large.
67 -g, --grown
69 use the SCSI READ DEFECT DATA (10) command to determine the num‐
70 ber of elements in the "grown defect list". When this option is
71 given there is no reassignment of blocks (i.e. this utility is
72 passive). When this option is given then the --address= option
73 is not permitted. See the discussion below concerning the rela‐
74 tionship between reassigned blocks and the grown defect list.
75 This list is sometimes referred to as the GLIST.
76 -h, --help
78 output the usage message then exit.
79 -l, --longlist=0 | 1
81 sets the REASSIGN BLOCKS cdb field of the same name to the given
82 value. Only 1000 addresses are permitted so there should be no
83 need to specify a value of 1. The short list variant restricts
84 the parameter block length to 2 ** 16 bytes (i.e. about 16000 4
85 byte addresses or 8000 8 byte addresses). Added for complete‐
86 ness.
87 -p, --primary
89 use the SCSI READ DEFECT DATA (10) command to determine the num‐
90 ber of elements in the "primary defect list" which is estab‐
91 lished during the manufacturing process. When this option is
92 given there is no reassignment of blocks (i.e. this utility is
93 passive). When this option is given then the --address= option
94 is not permitted. This list is sometimes referred to as the
95 PLIST.
96 -H, --hex
98 print response in hex (for -g, --grown or -p, --primary)
99 -v, --verbose
101 increase the level of verbosity, (i.e. debug output).
102 -V, --version
104 print the version string and then exit.
105
107 Note that if the ARRE field (for reads) and/or the AWRE field (for
108 writes) are set in the "Read Write Error Recovery" mode page then
109 recoverable read and/or write errors cause automatic reassignment of
110 the defective block. The PER bit in the same mode page controls whether
111 a RECOVERED ERROR sense key is reported on not (PER=1 implies do
112 report). Irrespective of the ARRE, AWRE or PER field settings, the
113 error counter log pages reflect any errors (recovered or otherwise).
114 Whenever a block is reassigned, a new entry is added in the "grown"
115 defect list. Apart from doing selftests (see sg_senddiag or smartmon‐
116 tools) regularly, monitoring the grown defect list of a disk is a rea‐
117 sonable metric of its health. If the grown list starts growing quickly
118 that is an ominous sign. The best grown defect lists are empty ones.
119 The number of elements in the grown defect list can be viewed with the
120 --grown option. The contents of the grown defect list can be viewed
121 with the 'sginfo -G' utility.
122 If an unrecoverable error is detected at a logical block address then
124 REASSIGN BLOCKS is needed to reassign the block. Also if the ARRE
125 and/or AWRE fields are clear and a recoverable error is detected then
126 the logical block in question may be reassigned with this utility (oth‐
127 erwise the error counter log pages will continually be incremented for
128 each recovered access).
129 The number of blocks held in reserve for the purposes of REASSIGN
131 BLOCKS is vendor specific and may well be limited to the zone within
132 the media where the original (defective) block lay. When this number is
133 exhausted subsequent invocations of this utility may result in a sense
134 key of hardware error and an additional sense of 'No defect spare loca‐
135 tion available'. The next step would be to reformat the disk (or get a
136 replacement).
137 The SBC-2 draft standard (revision 16) notes that when multiple
139 addresses are given to the SCSI REASSIGN BLOCKS command and there is
140 some failure at one of the later addresses then all addresses prior to
141 that have already be reassigned. Care should be taken in such a case.
142 Re-executing the command with the same addresses will cause the earlier
143 addresses to be reassigned again. At some stage the disk will run out
144 of reserved locations. So unless a large number of addresses are
145 involved it may be safer to reassign them one address at a time.
146
148 The exit status of sg_reassign is 0 when it is successful. Otherwise
149 see the sg3_utils(8) man page.
150
152 Written by Douglas Gilbert.
153
155 Report bugs to <dgilbert at interlog dot com>.
156
158 Copyright © 2005-2012 Douglas Gilbert
159 This software is distributed under a FreeBSD license. There is NO war‐
160 ranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PUR‐
161 POSE.
162
164 sg_format,sginfo,sg_senddiag(all in sg3_utils), sdparm(sdparm), smart‐
165 montools(internet, sourceforge)
166sg3_utils-1.35 November 2012 SG_REASSIGN(8)