1SDPARM(8) SDPARM SDPARM(8)
2
6 sdparm - access SCSI modes pages; read VPD pages; send simple SCSI com‐
7 mands.
8
10 sdparm [--all] [--clear=STR] [--command=CMD] [--dbd] [--defaults]
11 [--dummy] [--flexible] [--get=STR] [--help] [--hex] [--inquiry]
12 [--long] [--num-desc] [--page=PG[,SPG]] [--quiet] [--save] [--set=STR]
13 [--six] [--transport=TN] [--vendor=VN] [--verbose] [--version] DEVICE
14 sdparm --enumerate [--all] [--inquiry] [--long] [--page=PG[,SPG]]
16 [--transport=TN] [--vendor=VN]
17 sdparm --wscan [--verbose]
19
21 This utility fetches and potentially changes SCSI device (e.g. disk)
22 mode pages. Inquiry data including Vital Product Data (VPD) pages can
23 also be displayed. Commands associated with starting and stopping the
24 medium; loading and unloading the medium; and other housekeeping func‐
25 tion may also be issued by this utility.
26 Of the three invocations shown in the synopsis, the first is the most
28 general. The second variant that uses --enumerate is for dumping infor‐
29 mation held in sdparm's internal tables. The last variant is for Win‐
30 dows only and lists the available device names; see the OPTIONS entry
31 for --wscan.
32 If no options (other than DEVICE) are given then a selection of common
34 mode page fields for that device are listed. If the --long option is
35 also given then a description of the fields is placed on the right of
36 each line. If the --all option is given then all known mode page fields
37 for that device are listed. Individual fields can be displayed with the
38 --get=STR option (e.g. '--get=WCE' to fetch the state of the Writeback
39 Cache Enable field).
40 By default this utility shows mode pages that are common to all trans‐
42 port protocols. These are termed as "generic" mode pages. If there is
43 no match on a generic mode page name or field then those pages specific
44 to the SAS transport are checked. Transport protocol specific mode
45 pages are selected with the --transport=TN option. See the TRANSPORT
46 section below. Vendor specific mode pages are selected with the --ven‐
47 dor=VN option. See the VENDORS section below.
48 Although originally for SCSI disks (or storage devices that appear to
50 the OS as SCSI disks) many of the mode pages are for other SCSI device
51 types. These include CD/DVD players that use the ATAPI (or any other)
52 transport, SCSI tapes drives and SCSI enclosures.
53 When the --inquiry option is given without a page number then the
55 Device Identification VPD page (page number 0x83) is requested and if
56 found it is decoded and output. If no page number is given and the
57 --all option is given then a list of VPD page names (but not their con‐
58 tents) supported by the DEVICE is output. When both the --inquiry and
59 --page=PG options are given then the VPD page can be specified as an
60 abbreviation (e.g. "sp" for the SCSI ports VPD page) or numerically
61 (e.g. "0x88"). If a VPD page is returned by the DEVICE but sdparm can‐
62 not decode it or the --hex option is given then it is output in hex.
63 This utility completes with an exit status of 0 when successful. For
65 other values see the EXIT STATUS section below.
66
68 Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options as
69 well. If an option takes a numeric argument then that argument is
70 assumed to be decimal unless otherwise indicated (e.g. with a leading
71 "0x" or a trailing "h"). The options are in alphabetical order, based
72 on the long option name.
73 -a, --all
75 output all recognized fields for the device type (e.g. disk) of
76 the DEVICE. Without this option (or the --page=PG[,SPG] option)
77 the default action is to output a relatively small number of
78 commonly used fields from different pages. When a specific
79 (mode) page number is given with the --page=PG[,SPG] option then
80 all the fields of that page are output (irrespective of the set‐
81 ting of this option). For this option's action when used with
82 the --enumerate option see the ENUMERATE section below.
83 -c, --clear=STR
85 In its simplest form STR contains a field acronym_name or a
86 field numerical descriptor. In the absence of an explicit value
87 argument (e.g. '--clear=WCE=1'), the field has its value cleared
88 to zero. See the PARAMETERS section below.
89 -C, --command=CMD
91 Perform given CMD. See section below on COMMANDS. To enumerate
92 supported commands use '-e -C x' (using any CMD name, valid or
93 otherwise).
94 -B, --dbd
96 disable block descriptors. This is a bit in MODE SENSE cdbs that
97 rarely needs to be set. One known case is a MODE SENSE 6 issued
98 to a Reduced Block Commands (RBC) device where the RBC standard
99 says it shall be set.
100 -D, --defaults
102 sets the given mode page to its default values. Requires the
103 --page=PG[,SPG] option to be given to specify the mode page. To
104 make the default mode page values also the saved mode page val‐
105 ues, use the --save option as well.
106 -d, --dummy
108 when set inhibits changes being placed in the DEVICE's mode
109 page. Instead the mode data that would have been sent to a MODE
110 SELECT command, is output in ASCII hex to the console. This
111 option is mainly for testing.
112 -e, --enumerate
114 lists out descriptive information about the pages and fields
115 known to this utility. Ignores the DEVICE argument and other
116 options apart from the --all, --inquiry, --long,
117 --page=PG[,SPG], --transport=TN and --vendor=VN. If --enumerate
118 is given without other options then the known (generic) mode
119 pages are listed. See the ENUMERATE section below.
120 -f, --flexible
122 Some devices, bridges and/or drivers attempt crude transforma‐
123 tions between mode sense 6 and 10 byte commands without cor‐
124 rectly rebuilding the response. This will cause the response to
125 be mis-interpreted (usually with an error saying the response is
126 malformed). With this option, the length of the response is
127 checked, and if it looks wrong, various corrections are
128 attempted. This option will also allow mode pages that don't
129 belong to the current device's peripheral type to be listed.
130 -g, --get=STR
132 In its simplest form STR contains a field acronym_name or a
133 field numerical descriptor. The field is fetched from mode page.
134 See the PARAMETERS section below. The --long and --hex options
135 effect the output format. Also if a value of "1" is given (e.g.
136 '--get=WCE=1') only the current value is output (i.e. not the
137 change mask, the default value and the saved value).
138 -h, --help
140 output the usage message then exit.
141 -H, --hex
143 rather than trying to decode mode (or VPD) pages, print them out
144 in hex. When used with the --get=STR option the corresponding
145 current, changeable, default and saved values are output in hex,
146 prefixed by "0x" and space separated. If a value of "1" is given
147 with the --get=STR option (e.g. '--get=WCE=1') then only the
148 current value is output in hex, prefixed by "0x". If a value of
149 "2" is given with the --get=STR option then only the current
150 value is output as a (signed) integer. This option can be used
151 multiple times (e.g. '-HH'). Useful with the ATA Information VPD
152 page which usually outputs its IDENTIFY (PACKET) DEVICE response
153 in 16 bit hex words; with '-HH' outputs that response in hex
154 bytes; with '-HHH' outputs the same response in a format suit‐
155 able for 'hdparm --Istdin' to decode.
156 -i, --inquiry
158 output INQUIRY VPD pages. In the absence of this option the
159 default action is to output mode pages. If the --inquiry option
160 is given without the --page=PG[,SPG] option then the device
161 identification VPD page (0x83) is decoded and output. If this
162 option and the --all option are given then the supported VPD
163 pages page (0x0) is decoded and output.
164 -l, --long
166 output extra information. In the case of mode page fields a
167 description (with units if applicable) is output to the right.
168 If used twice, then for some fields more information about its
169 values is given on one or more following lines, each prefixed by
170 a tab character. For usage with --enumerate see the ENUMERATE
171 section below.
172 -n, --num-desc
174 for a mode page that can have descriptors, the number of
175 descriptors for the given page on the DEVICE is output. Other‐
176 wise 0 is output.
177 -p, --page=PG[,SPG]
179 supply the page number (PG) and optionally the sub page number
180 (SPG) of the mode (or VPD) page to fetch. These numbers are
181 interpreted as decimal unless prefixed with "0x" or a trailing.
182 Sub page numbers are only valid for mode pages (not VPD pages).
183 Alternatively an abbreviation for a page can be given (see next
184 entry).
185 -p, --page=STR
187 a two or three letter abbreviation for a page can be given.
188 Known mode page abbreviations are checked first followed by
189 known VPD page abbreviations. For example '--page=ca' matches
190 the caching mode page. If no match is found then an error is
191 issued and a list of possibilities in the current context is
192 given (so '-p x' can be quite useful). If the STR matches a
193 known VPD page abbreviation then the --inquiry option is
194 assumed. For usage with --enumerate see the ENUMERATE section
195 below.
196 -q, --quiet
198 suppress output of device name followed by the vendor, product
199 and revision strings fetched from an INQUIRY response. Without
200 this option such a line is typically the first line output by
201 sdparm. Reduces output from the device identification VPD page,
202 typically to one line (or none) for each of di_lu, di_port,
203 di_target and di_asis.
204 -S, --save
206 when a mode page is being modified (by using the --clear=STR
207 and/or --set=STR options) then the default action is to modify
208 only the current values mode page. When this option is given
209 then the corresponding value(s) in the saved values mode page is
210 also changed. The next time the device is power cycled (or
211 reset) the saved values mode page becomes (i.e. is copied to)
212 the current values mode page. See NOTES section below.
213 -s, --set=STR
215 in its simplest form STR contains a field acronym_name or a
216 field numerical descriptor. In the absence of an explicit value,
217 each acronym_name has its value set to (all) ones. This means a
218 16 bit field will be set to 0xffff which is 65535 in decimal.
219 Alternatively each acronym_name or numerical descriptor may be
220 followed by "=<n>" where <n> is the value to set that field to.
221 See the PARAMETERS section below.
222 -6, --six
224 The default action of this utility is to issue MODE SENSE and
225 MODE SELECT SCSI commands with 10 byte cdbs. When this option is
226 given the 6 byte cdb variants are used. RBC and old SCSI devices
227 may need this option. This utility outputs a suggestion to use
228 this option if the SCSI status indicates that the 10 byte cdb
229 variant is not supported.
230 -t, --transport=TN
232 Specifies the transport protocol where TN is either a number in
233 the range 0 to 15 (inclusive) or an abbreviation (e.g. "fcp" for
234 the Fibre Channel Protocol). One way to list available transport
235 protocols numbers and their associated abbreviations is to give
236 an invalid transport protocol number such as '-t x'; another way
237 is '-e -l'.
238 -M, --vendor=VN
240 Specifies the vendor (i.e. manufacturer) where VN is either a
241 number (0 or more) or an abbreviation (e.g. "sea" for Seagate
242 disk vendor specific). One way to list available vendor numbers
243 and their associated abbreviations is to give an invalid vendor
244 number such as '-M x'; another way is '-e -l'.
245 -v, --verbose
247 increase the level of verbosity, (i.e. debug output). In some
248 cases more decoding is done (e.g. fields within a standard
249 INQUIRY response).
250 -V, --version
252 print the version string and then exit.
253 -w, --wscan
255 this option is available in Windows only. It lists the device
256 names that are available. In many cases there is more than one
257 device name for a given device. Attempts to group all device
258 names for one device on a single line (exceptions: USB and IEEE
259 1394 devices). See the "Win32 port" section in the README file.
260
262 A mode page for which no abbreviation is known (e.g. a vendor specific
263 mode page) can be listed in hexadecimal by using the option combination
264 '--page=PG --hex'.
265 Numbers input to sdparm (e.g. in the command line arguments) are
267 assumed to be in decimal unless there is a hexadecimal indicator. A
268 hexadecimal indicator is either a leading '0x' or '0X' (i.e. the C lan‐
269 guage convention) or a trailing 'h' or 'H' (i.e. the convention used at
270 www.t10.org ). In the case of --page= either a string or number is
271 expected, so hex numbers like 'ch' (12) should be prefixed by a zero
272 (e.g. '0ch').
273 The SPC-4 draft (rev 2) says that devices that implement no distinction
275 between current and saved pages can return an error (ILLEGAL REQUEST,
276 invalid field in cdb) if the SP bit (which corresponds to the --save
277 option) is _not_ set. In such cases the --save option needs to be
278 given.
279 If the --save option is given but the existing mode page indicates (via
281 its PS bit) that the page is not savable, then this utility generates
282 an error message. That message suggests to try again without the --save
283 option.
284 Since the device identification VPD page (acronym_name "di") poten‐
286 tially contains a lot of diverse designators, several associated
287 acronyms are available. They are "di_lu" for designators associated
288 with the addressed logical unit, "di_port" for designators associated
289 with the target port (which the command arrived via) and "di_target"
290 for designators associated with the target device. When "di" is used
291 designators are grouped by lu, then port and then target device. To
292 see all designators decoded in the order that they appear in the VPD
293 page use "di_asis".
294 In the linux kernel 2.6 series any device node that understands a SCSI
296 command set (e.g. SCSI disks and CD/DVD drives) may be specified. More
297 precisely the driver that "owns" the device node must support the SG_IO
298 ioctl. In the lk 2.4 series only SCSI generic (sg) device nodes support
299 the SG_IO ioctl. However in the lk 2.4 series other SCSI device nodes
300 are mapped within this utility to their corresponding sg device nodes.
301 So if there is a SCSI disk at /dev/sda then 'sdparm /dev/sda' will work
302 in both the lk 2.6 and lk 2.4 series. However if there is an ATAPI
303 cd/dvd drive at /dev/hdc then 'sdparm /dev/hdc' will only work in the
304 lk 2.6 series.
305
307 In their simplest form the --clear=, --get= and --set= options (or
308 their short forms) take an acronym_name such as "WCE". In the case of
309 '--get=WCE' the value of "Writeback Cache Enable" in the caching mode
310 page will be fetched. In the case of '--set=WCE' that bit will be set
311 (to one). In the case of '--clear=WCE' that bit will be cleared (to
312 zero). When an acronym_name is given then the mode page is imputed from
313 that acronym_name (e.g. WCE is in the caching mode page).
314 Instead of an acronym_name a field within a mode page can be described
316 numerically with a <start_byte>:<start_bit>:<num_bits> tuple. These are
317 the <start_byte> (origin 0) within the mode page, a <start_bit> (0 to 7
318 inclusive) and <num_bits> (1 to 64 inclusive). For example, the low
319 level representation of the RCD bit (the "Read Cache Disable bit in the
320 caching mode page) is "2:0:1". The <start_byte> can optionally be given
321 in hex (e.g. '--set=0x2:0:1' or '--set=2h:0:1'). With this form the
322 --page= option is required to establish which mode page is to be used.
323 Either form can optionally be followed by "=<val>". By default <val> is
325 decimal but can be given in hex in the normal fashion. Here are some
326 examples: '--set=2h:0:1=1h' and '-s MRIE=0x3'. When the acronym_name or
327 numeric form following --clear= is not given an explicit '=<val>' then
328 the value defaults to zero. When the acronym_name or numeric form fol‐
329 lowing --set= is not given an explicit '=<val>' then the value defaults
330 to "all ones" (i.e. as many as <num_bits> permits). For example
331 '--clear=WCE' and '--clear=WCE=0' have the same meaning: clear Write‐
332 back Cache Enable or, put more simply: turn off the writeback cache.
333 Multiple fields within the same mode page can be changed by giving a
335 comma separated list of acronym_names and/or the numerical form. For
336 example: '--set=TEST,MRIE=6'.
337 Some mode page have multiple descriptors. They typically have a fixed
339 header section at the start of the mode page that includes a field con‐
340 taining the number of descriptors that follow. Following the header is
341 a variable number of descriptors. An example is the SAS Phy Control and
342 Discover mode page. An acronym_name may include a trailing '.<num>'
343 where "<num>" is a descriptor number (origin 0). For example '-t sas -g
344 PHID.0' and '-t sas -g PHID' will yield the phy identifier of the first
345 descriptor of the above mode page; '-t sas -g PHID.1' will yield the
346 phy identifier of the second descriptor.
347
349 The --enumerate option essentially dumps out static information held by
350 this utility. A list of --enumerate variants and their actions follows.
351 For brevity subsequent examples of options are shown in their shorter
352 form.
353 --enumerate list generic mode page information
355 -e --all list generic mode page contents
356 (i.e. parameters)
357 -e --page=rw list contents of read write error
358 recovery mode page
359 -e --inquiry list VPD pages this utility can decode
360 -e --long list generic mode pages, transport
361 protocols, mode pages for each
362 supported transport protocol and
363 supported commands
364 -e -l --all additionally list the contents of
365 each mode page
366 -e --transport=fcp list mode pages for the fcp
367 transport protocol
368 -e -t fcp --all additionally list the contents of
369 each mode page
370 -e --vendor=sea list vendor specific mode pages for
371 "sea" (Seagate)
372 -e -M sea --all additionally list the contents of vendor
373 specific mode pages for "sea" (Seagate)
374 -e -p pcd -l list contents of SAS phy control and
375 discovery mode page plus (due to "-l")
376 some descfriptor format information
377 When known mode pages are listed (via the --enumerate option) each
379 line starts with a two or three letter abbreviation. This is followed
380 by the page number (in hex prefixed by "0x") optionally followed by a
381 comma and the subpage number. Finally the descriptive name of the mode
382 page (e.g. as found in SPC-4) is output.
383 When known parameters (fields) of a mode page are listed, each line
385 starts with an acronym (indented a few spaces). This will match (or be
386 an acronym for) the description for that field found in the (draft)
387 standards. Next are three numbers, separated by colons, surrounded by
388 brackets. These are the start byte (in hex, prefixed by "0x") of the
389 beginning of the field within the mode page; the starting bit (0
390 through 7 inclusive) and then the number of bits. The descriptive name
391 of the parameter (field) is then given. If appropriate the descriptive
392 name includes units (e.g. "(ms)" means the units are milliseconds).
393 Adding the '-ll' option will list information about possible field val‐
394 ues for selected mode page parameters.
395 Mode parameters for which the num_bits is greater than 1 can be viewed
397 as unsigned integers. Often 16 and 32 bit fields are set to 0xffff and
398 0xffffffff respectively (all ones) which usually has a special meaning
399 (see drafts). This utility outputs such values as "-1" to save space
400 (rather than their unsigned integer equivalents). "-1" can also be
401 given as the value to a mode page field acronym (e.g. '--set=INTT=-1'
402 sets the interval timer field in the Informational Exceptions control
403 mode page to 0xffffffff).
404
406 SCSI transport protocols are a relatively specialized area that can be
407 safely ignored by the majority of users.
408 Some transport protocols have protocol specific mode pages. These are
410 usually the disconnect-reconnect (0x2), the protocol specific logical
411 unit (0x18) and the protocol specific port (0x19) mode pages. In some
412 cases the latter mode page has several subpages. The most common trans‐
413 port protocol abbreviations likely to be used are "fcp", "spi" and
414 "sas".
415 Many of the field names are re-used in the same position so the acro‐
417 nym_name namespaces have been divided between generic mode pages (i.e.
418 when the --transport= option is _not_ given) and a namespace for each
419 transport protocol. A LUPID field from the protocol specific logical
420 unit (0x18) mode page and the PPID field from protocol specific port
421 (0x19) mode page are included in the generic modes pages; this is so
422 the respective (transport) protocol identifiers can be seen. In most
423 cases the user will know what the "port" transport is (i.e. the same
424 transport as the HBA in the computer) but the logical unit's transport
425 could be different.
426
428 SCSI leaves a lot of space for vendor specific information. Often this
429 is described in product manuals. The --vendor=VN (or -M=VN) option
430 allows known vendor specific mode pages to be examined and/or modified
431 by acronym.
432 In this utility the syntax and semantics of vendor specific mode pages
434 is very similar to those of transport protocol specific mode pages.
435 Both cannot be specified together. Vendor specific modes pages can
436 still be accessed numerically (as shown at the end of the EXAMPLES sec‐
437 tion).
438
440 The command option sends a SCSI command to the DEVICE. If the command
441 fails then this is reflected in the non-zero exit status. To obtain
442 more information about the error use the -v option.
443 The 'capacity' command sends a READ CAPACITY command (valid for disks
445 and cd/dvd media). If successful yields "blocks: " [the number of
446 blocks], "block_length: " [typically either 512 or 2048] and "capac‐
447 ity_mib: " [capacity in MibiBytes (1048576 byte units)].
448 The 'eject' command stops the medium and ejects it from the device.
450 Note that ejection (by command or button) may be prevented in which
451 case the 'unlock' command may be useful in extreme cases. Typically
452 only appropriate for cd/dvd drives and disk drives with removable
453 media. Objects if sent to another peripheral device type (but objection
454 can be overridden with '-f' option).
455 The 'load' command loads the medium and and starts it (i.e. spins it
457 up). See 'eject' command for supported device types.
458 The 'ready' command sends the "Test Unit Ready" SCSI command to the
460 DEVICE. No error is reported if the device will respond to data
461 requests (e.g. READ) in a reasonable timescale. For example, if a disk
462 is stopped then it will report "not ready". All devices should respond
463 to this command.
464 The 'sense' command sends a REQUEST SENSE command. It reports a hard‐
466 ware threshold exceeded, warning or low power condition if flagged. If
467 a progress indication is present (e.g. during a format) then it will be
468 output as a percentage. Yields a process status of 0 if the command
469 succeeds and the sense key is 0; else yields 1. The --quiet option can
470 be used to lessen output, and --hex to output sense data in hex.
471 The 'start' command starts the medium (i.e. spins it up). Harmless if
473 medium has already been started. See 'eject' command for supported
474 device types.
475 The 'stop' command stops the medium (i.e. spins it down). Harmless if
477 medium has already been stopped. See 'eject' command for supported
478 device types.
479 The 'sync' command sends a SYNCHRONIZE CACHE command. The device should
481 flush any data held in its (volatile) buffers to the media.
482 The 'unlock' command tells a device to allow medium removal. It uses
484 the SCSI "prevent allow medium removal" command. This is desperation
485 stuff, possibly overriding a prevention applied by the OS on a mounted
486 file system. The "eject" utility (from the "eject" package) is more
487 graceful and should be tried first. This command is only appropriate
488 for devices with removable media.
489 For loading and ejecting tapes the mt utility should be used (i.e. not
491 these commands). The 'ready' command is valid for tape devices.
492
494 To list the common (generic) mode parameters of a disk:
495 sdparm /dev/sda
497 To list the designators within the device identification VPD page of a
499 disk:
500 sdparm --inquiry /dev/sda
502 To see all parameters for the caching mode page:
504 sdparm --page=ca /dev/sda
506 To see all parameters for the caching mode page with parameter descrip‐
508 tions to the right:
509 sdparm --page=ca --long /dev/sda
511 To get the WCE values (current changeable default and saved) in hex:
513 sdparm -g WCE -H /dev/sda
515 0x01 0x00 0x01 0x01
516 To get the WCE current value in hex:
518 sdparm -g WCE=1 -H /dev/sda
520 0x01
521 To set the "Writeback Cache Enable" bit in the current values page:
523 sdparm --set=WCE /dev/sda
525 To set the "Writeback Cache Enable" bit in the current and saved values
527 page:
528 sdparm --set=WCE --save /dev/sda
530 To set the "Writeback Cache Enable" and clear "Read Cache Disable":
532 sdparm --set=WCE --clear=RCD --save /dev/sda
534 The previous example can also by written as:
536 sdparm -s WCE=1,RCD=0 -S /dev/sda
538 To re-establish the manufacturer's defaults in the current and saved
540 values of the caching mode page:
541 sdparm --page=ca --defaults --save /dev/sda
543 If an ATAPI cd/dvd drive is at /dev/hdc then its common (mode) parame‐
545 ters could be listed in the lk 2.6 series with:
546 sdparm /dev/hdc
548 If there is a DVD in the drive at /dev/hdc then it could be ejected in
550 the lk 2.6 series with:
551 sdparm --command=eject /dev/hdc
553 If the ejection is being prevented by software then that can be over‐
555 ridden with:
556 sdparm --command=unlock /dev/hdc
558 One disk vendor has a "Performance Mode" bit (PM) in the vendor spe‐
560 cific unit attention mode page [0x0,0x0]. PM=0 is server mode (the
561 default) while PM=1 is desktop mode. Desktop mode can be set (both cur‐
562 rent and saved values) with:
563 sdparm --page=0 --set=2:7:1=1 --save /dev/sda
565 The resultant change can be viewed in hex with the --hex option as
567 there are no acronyms for vendor extensions yet. The PM bit is now cov‐
568 ered by vendor specific mode pages and the above can also be accom‐
569 plished with:
570 sdparm --vendor=sea --set=PM --save /dev/sda
572
574 To aid scripts that call sdparm, the exit status is set to indicate
575 success (0) or failure (1 or more). Note that some of the lower values
576 correspond to the SCSI sense key values. The exit status values are:
577 0 success
579 1 syntax error. Either illegal command line options, options with
581 bad arguments or a combination of options that is not permitted.
582 2 the DEVICE reports that it is not ready for the operation
584 requested. The device may be in the process of becoming ready
585 (e.g. spinning up but not at speed) so the utility may work
586 after a wait.
587 3 the DEVICE reports a medium or hardware error (or a blank
589 check). For example an attempt to read a corrupted block on a
590 disk will yield this value.
591 5 the DEVICE reports an "illegal request" with an additional sense
593 code other than "invalid operation code". This is often a sup‐
594 ported command with a field set requesting an unsupported capa‐
595 bility. For commands that require a "service action" field this
596 value can indicate that the command is not supported.
597 6 the DEVICE reports a "unit attention" condition. This usually
599 indicates that something unrelated to the requested command has
600 occurred (e.g. a device reset) potentially before the current
601 SCSI command was sent. The requested command has not been exe‐
602 cuted by the device. Note that unit attention conditions are
603 usually only reported once by a device.
604 9 the DEVICE reports an illegal request with an additional sense
606 code of "invalid operation code" which means that it doesn't
607 support the requested command.
608 11 the DEVICE reports an aborted command. In some cases aborted
610 commands can be retried immediately (e.g. if the transport
611 aborted the command due to congestion).
612 15 the utility is unable to open, close or use the given DEVICE.
614 The given file name could be incorrect or there may be permis‐
615 sion problems. Adding the -v option may give more information.
616 20 the DEVICE reports it has a check condition but "no sense".
618 Some polling commands (e.g. REQUEST SENSE) can react this way.
619 It is unlikely that this value will occur as an exit status.
620 21 the DEVICE reports a "recovered error". The requested command
622 was successful. Most likely a utility will report a recovered
623 error to stderr and continue, probably leaving the utility with
624 an exit status of 0 .
625 33 the command sent to DEVICE has timed out. This occurs in Linux
627 only; in other ports a command timeout will appear as a trans‐
628 port (or OS) error.
629 97 the response to a SCSI command failed sanity checks.
631 98 the DEVICE reports it has a check condition but the error
633 doesn't fit into any of the above categories.
634 99 any errors that can't be categorized into values 1 to 98 may
636 yield this value. This includes transport and operating system
637 errors after the command has been sent to the device.
638 Most of the error conditions reported above will be repeatable (an
640 example of one that is not is "unit attention") so the utility can be
641 run again with the -v option (or several) to obtain more information.
642
644 Written by Douglas Gilbert.
645
647 Report bugs to <dgilbert at interlog dot com>.
648
650 Copyright © 2005-2007 Douglas Gilbert
651 This software is distributed under a FreeBSD license. There is NO war‐
652 ranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PUR‐
653 POSE.
654
656 hdparm(hdparm), sg_modes, sg_wr_mode, sginfo, sg_inq, sg_vpd(all in
657 sg3_utils), smartmontools(smartmontools.sourceforge.net), mt,
658 eject(eject),
659sdparm-1.02 October 2007 SDPARM(8)