<!--startmeta
custom_edit_url: "https://github.com/netdata/netdata/edit/master/src/go/plugin/go.d/collector/smartctl/README.md"
meta_yaml: "https://github.com/netdata/netdata/edit/master/src/go/plugin/go.d/collector/smartctl/metadata.yaml"
sidebar_label: "S.M.A.R.T."
learn_status: "Published"
learn_rel_path: "Collecting Metrics/Collectors/Storage and Filesystems"
keywords: ['smart', 'S.M.A.R.T.', 'SCSI devices', 'ATA devices']
message: "DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE DIRECTLY, IT IS GENERATED BY THE COLLECTOR'S metadata.yaml FILE"
endmeta-->

# S.M.A.R.T.


<img src="https://netdata.cloud/img/smart.png" width="150"/>


Plugin: go.d.plugin
Module: smartctl

<img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/maintained%20by-Netdata-%2300ab44" />

## Overview

This collector monitors the health status of storage devices by analyzing S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) counters.
It relies on the [`smartctl`](https://linux.die.net/man/8/smartctl) CLI tool but avoids directly executing the binary.
Instead, it utilizes `ndsudo`, a Netdata helper specifically designed to run privileged commands securely within the Netdata environment.
This approach eliminates the need to use `sudo`, improving security and potentially simplifying permission management.

Executed commands:
-  `smartctl --json --scan`
-  `smartctl --json --all {deviceName} --device {deviceType} --nocheck {powerMode}`




This collector is only supported on the following platforms:

- Linux
- BSD

This collector only supports collecting metrics from a single instance of this integration.


### Default Behavior

#### Auto-Detection

This integration doesn't support auto-detection.

#### Limits

The default configuration for this integration does not impose any limits on data collection.

#### Performance Impact

The default configuration for this integration is not expected to impose a significant performance impact on the system.

## Setup


You can configure the **smartctl** collector in two ways:

| Method                | Best for                                                                                 | How to                                                                                                                                 |
|-----------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| [**UI**](#via-ui)     | Fast setup without editing files                                                         | Go to **Nodes → Configure this node → Collectors → Jobs**, search for **smartctl**, then click **+** to add a job. |
| [**File**](#via-file) | If you prefer configuring via file, or need to automate deployments (e.g., with Ansible) | Edit `go.d/smartctl.conf` and add a job.                                                                        |

:::important

UI configuration requires paid Netdata Cloud plan.

:::


### Prerequisites

#### Install smartmontools (v7.0+)

Install `smartmontools` version 7.0 or later using your distribution's package manager. Version 7.0 introduced the `--json` output mode, which is required for this collector to function properly.


#### For Netdata running in a Docker container

**Provide access to storage devices**.

Netdata requires the `SYS_RAWIO` capability and access to the storage devices to run the `smartctl` collector inside a Docker container. Here's how you can achieve this:

- `docker run`

  ```bash
  docker run --cap-add SYS_RAWIO --device /dev/sda:/dev/sda ...
  ```

- `docker-compose.yml`

  ```yaml
  services:
    netdata:
      cap_add:
        - SYS_PTRACE
        - SYS_ADMIN
        - SYS_RAWIO # smartctl
      devices:
        - "/dev/sda:/dev/sda"
  ```

> **Multiple Devices**: These examples only show mapping of one device (/dev/sda). You'll need to add additional `--device` options (in docker run) or entries in the `devices` list (in docker-compose.yml) for each storage device you want Netdata's smartctl collector to monitor.

> **NVMe Devices**: Do not map NVMe devices using this method. Netdata uses a [dedicated collector](https://github.com/netdata/netdata/tree/master/src/go/plugin/go.d/collector/nvme#readme) to monitor NVMe devices.



### Configuration

#### Options

The following options can be defined globally: update_every.


<details open><summary>Config options</summary>



| Group | Option | Description | Default | Required |
|:------|:-----|:------------|:--------|:---------:|
| **Collection** | update_every | Netdata chart update interval (seconds). Collector may use cached data if this is less than **poll_devices_every**. | 10 | no |
|  | timeout | `smartctl` binary execution timeout (seconds). | 5 | no |
|  | scan_every | Device discovery interval using `smartctl --scan` (seconds). Set 0 to scan only once at startup. | 900 | no |
|  | poll_devices_every | Device polling interval (seconds). Data is cached for this interval. | 300 | no |
| **Target** | device_selector | Pattern to match the 'info name' of devices as reported by `smartctl --scan --json`. | * | no |
|  | extra_devices | Manually specify devices not auto-detected by `smartctl --scan`. Each entry must include both a name and a type. | [] | no |
| **Performance** | concurrent_scans | Number of devices to scan concurrently. Set 0 for sequential scanning (default). Helps performance when monitoring many devices. | 0 | no |
|  | [no_check_power_mode](#option-performance-no-check-power-mode) | Skip data collection when device is in low-power mode (avoids unnecessary spin-up). | standby | no |

<a id="option-performance-no-check-power-mode"></a>
##### no_check_power_mode

Valid arguments:

| Mode    | Description                                                                                                                                                                            |
|---------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| never   | Check the device always.                                                                                                                                                               |
| sleep   | Skip check if device is in SLEEP mode.                                                                                                                                                 |
| standby | Skip check if device is in SLEEP or STANDBY mode (prevents spin-up).                                                                                                                   |
| idle    | Skip check if device is in SLEEP, STANDBY, or IDLE mode (not recommended since disks may still be spinning).                                                                           |



</details>


#### via UI

Configure the **smartctl** collector from the Netdata web interface:

1. Go to **Nodes**.
2. Select the node **where you want the smartctl data-collection job to run** and click the :gear: (**Configure this node**). That node will run the data collection.
3. The **Collectors → Jobs** view opens by default.
4. In the Search box, type _smartctl_ (or scroll the list) to locate the **smartctl** collector.
5. Click the **+** next to the **smartctl** collector to add a new job.
6. Fill in the job fields, then click **Test** to verify the configuration and **Submit** to save.
    - **Test** runs the job with the provided settings and shows whether data can be collected.
    - If it fails, an error message appears with details (for example, connection refused, timeout, or command execution errors), so you can adjust and retest.


#### via File

The configuration file name for this integration is `go.d/smartctl.conf`.

The file format is YAML. Generally, the structure is:

```yaml
update_every: 1
autodetection_retry: 0
jobs:
  - name: some_name1
  - name: some_name2
```
You can edit the configuration file using the [`edit-config`](https://github.com/netdata/netdata/blob/master/docs/netdata-agent/configuration/README.md#edit-configuration-files) script from the
Netdata [config directory](https://github.com/netdata/netdata/blob/master/docs/netdata-agent/configuration/README.md#locate-your-config-directory).

```bash
cd /etc/netdata 2>/dev/null || cd /opt/netdata/etc/netdata
sudo ./edit-config go.d/smartctl.conf
```

##### Examples

###### Custom devices poll interval

Allows you to override the default devices poll interval (data collection).

<details open><summary>Config</summary>

```yaml
jobs:
  - name: smartctl
    devices_poll_interval: 60  # Collect S.M.A.R.T statistics every 60 seconds

```
</details>

###### Concurrent scanning for multiple devices

This example demonstrates enabling concurrent scanning to improve performance when monitoring many devices.


<details open><summary>Config</summary>

```yaml
jobs:
  - name: smartctl
    concurrent_scans: 4  # Scan up to 4 devices concurrently

```
</details>

###### Extra devices

This example demonstrates using `extra_devices` to manually add a storage device (`/dev/sdc`) not automatically detected by `smartctl --scan`.


<details open><summary>Config</summary>

```yaml
jobs:
  - name: smartctl
    extra_devices:
      - name: /dev/sdc
        type: jmb39x-q,3

```
</details>



## Alerts

There are no alerts configured by default for this integration.


## Metrics

Metrics grouped by *scope*.

The scope defines the instance that the metric belongs to. An instance is uniquely identified by a set of labels.



### Per controller

These metrics refer to the Storage Device.

Labels:

| Label      | Description     |
|:-----------|:----------------|
| device_name | Device name |
| device_type | Device type |
| model_name | Model name |
| serial_number | Serial number |

Metrics:

| Metric | Dimensions | Unit |
|:------|:----------|:----|
| smartctl.device_smart_status | passed, failed | status |
| smartctl.device_ata_smart_error_log_count | error_log | logs |
| smartctl.device_power_on_time | power_on_time | seconds |
| smartctl.device_temperature | temperature | Celsius |
| smartctl.device_power_cycles_count | power | cycles |
| smartctl.device_read_errors_rate | corrected, uncorrected | errors/s |
| smartctl.device_write_errors_rate | corrected, uncorrected | errors/s |
| smartctl.device_verify_errors_rate | corrected, uncorrected | errors/s |
| smartctl.device_smart_attr_{attribute_name} | {attribute_name} | {attribute_unit} |
| smartctl.device_smart_attr_{attribute_name}_normalized | {attribute_name} | value |



## Troubleshooting

### Debug Mode

**Important**: Debug mode is not supported for data collection jobs created via the UI using the Dyncfg feature.

To troubleshoot issues with the `smartctl` collector, run the `go.d.plugin` with the debug option enabled. The output
should give you clues as to why the collector isn't working.

- Navigate to the `plugins.d` directory, usually at `/usr/libexec/netdata/plugins.d/`. If that's not the case on
  your system, open `netdata.conf` and look for the `plugins` setting under `[directories]`.

  ```bash
  cd /usr/libexec/netdata/plugins.d/
  ```

- Switch to the `netdata` user.

  ```bash
  sudo -u netdata -s
  ```

- Run the `go.d.plugin` to debug the collector:

  ```bash
  ./go.d.plugin -d -m smartctl
  ```

  To debug a specific job:

  ```bash
  ./go.d.plugin -d -m smartctl -j jobName
  ```

### Getting Logs

If you're encountering problems with the `smartctl` collector, follow these steps to retrieve logs and identify potential issues:

- **Run the command** specific to your system (systemd, non-systemd, or Docker container).
- **Examine the output** for any warnings or error messages that might indicate issues.  These messages should provide clues about the root cause of the problem.

#### System with systemd

Use the following command to view logs generated since the last Netdata service restart:

```bash
journalctl _SYSTEMD_INVOCATION_ID="$(systemctl show --value --property=InvocationID netdata)" --namespace=netdata --grep smartctl
```

#### System without systemd

Locate the collector log file, typically at `/var/log/netdata/collector.log`, and use `grep` to filter for collector's name:

```bash
grep smartctl /var/log/netdata/collector.log
```

**Note**: This method shows logs from all restarts. Focus on the **latest entries** for troubleshooting current issues.

#### Docker Container

If your Netdata runs in a Docker container named "netdata" (replace if different), use this command:

```bash
docker logs netdata 2>&1 | grep smartctl
```


