smartctl

Query SMART data from hard drives and SSDs to assess health and run self-tests.

6|1|Updated Feb 16, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/L3DigitalNet/Claude-Code-Plugins --skill smartctl
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: smartctl
Source: https://github.com/L3DigitalNet/Claude-Code-Plugins/tree/main/plugins/linux-sysadmin/skills/smartctl
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/L3DigitalNet/Claude-Code-Plugins --skill smartctl

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill helps you assess the health of your hard drives and SSDs, identify potential failures early, and run diagnostic tests to ensure data integrity.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Health Assessment: Quickly check the overall health status of any drive.
  • Detailed Attribute Analysis: View specific SMART attributes that indicate wear, reallocated sectors, and other failure indicators.
  • Diagnostic Testing: Initiate short or long self-tests to thoroughly check drive performance and identify bad sectors.
  • Use Case: Before a critical data migration, use this Skill to run a long self-test on the target drive to ensure it's healthy and won't fail mid-process.

Quick Start

Check the overall health of the drive /dev/sda.

Frequently Asked Questions about smartctl

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I check SMART data to assess hard drive health?

To assess hard drive health, you can query SMART data using smartmontools to retrieve status, monitor wear, and detect early signs of drive failure. This provides a comprehensive report on reallocated sectors and overall disk integrity.

What's the best way to detect early signs of SSD failure?

Detecting early signs of SSD failure is best achieved by analyzing specific SMART attributes. This Skill queries firmware data to identify wear levels and reallocated sectors, providing a clear assessment of potential failure risk before data loss occurs.

How do I run a diagnostic self-test on an HDD before data migration?

To run a diagnostic self-test on an HDD before data migration, initiate a long self-test via smartmontools. This thoroughly checks drive performance and identifies bad sectors, ensuring the target drive won't fail mid-process.

Can I use smartctl to monitor drive health on any operating system?

You can use smartctl to monitor drive health on systems where the smartmontools package is installed. This package interfaces directly with drive firmware to report SMART status, supporting system administration and hardware maintenance tasks.

What SMART attributes indicate disk failure risk?

SMART attributes indicating disk failure risk include reallocated sectors and specific wear indicators. This Skill queries Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology data to assess these attributes, detecting early signs of failure for both HDDs and SSDs.