How to check the HD badsector

ust · 02-14-2012, 01:37 AM

I use Redhat EL 3 server , I would like to check if the HD have sector or not , as the server is too old that do not support on-line checking , so I can not use the vendor utility to check it , does linux have such command / method to check ?

thx

tailinlinux · 02-14-2012, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ust

I use Redhat EL 3 server , I would like to check if the HD have sector or not , as the server is too old that do not support on-line checking , so I can not use the vendor utility to check it , does linux have such command / method to check ?

thx

Open your terminal.
type

Code:

su

type your root password.
type

Code:

init1

to enter run level 1
type

Code:

e2fsck

and see some function option like this

Usage: e2fsck [-panyrcdfvtDFV] [-b superblock] [-B blocksize]
[-I inode_buffer_blocks] [-P process_inode_size]
[-l|-L bad_blocks_file] [-C fd] [-j external_journal]
[-E extended-options] device

Quote:

Emergency help:
-p Automatic repair (no questions)
-n Make no changes to the filesystem
-y Assume "yes" to all questions
-c Check for bad blocks and add them to the badblock list
-f Force checking even if filesystem is marked clean
-v Be verbose
-b superblock Use alternative superblock
-B blocksize Force blocksize when looking for superblock
-j external_journal Set location of the external journal
-l bad_blocks_file Add to badblocks list
-L bad_blocks_file Set badblocks list

ust · 02-14-2012, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tailinlinux

Open your terminal.
type

Code:

su

type your root password.
type

Code:

init1

to enter run level 1
type

Code:

e2fsck

and see some function option like this

Usage: e2fsck [-panyrcdfvtDFV] [-b superblock] [-B blocksize]
[-I inode_buffer_blocks] [-P process_inode_size]
[-l|-L bad_blocks_file] [-C fd] [-j external_journal]
[-E extended-options] device

thx reply

If I use this method to check badsector , I need to umount the drive first ?

thanks.

tailinlinux · 02-14-2012, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ust

thx reply

If I use this method to check badsector , I need to umount the drive first ?

thanks.

You're welcome sir.

Yes you need to be on single user mode, for you to able run safe disk checking.

Aries

catkin · 02-14-2012, 02:49 AM

Or, as root, you can run touch /forcefsck and do a reboot. Linux will fsck all file systems during the reboot. More info here.

But fsck only checks the file system structure; it does not look for bad blocks.

Have you investigated the availability of a vendor-supplied utility that comes with a bootable media? The disk would have to be very old for that not to be available.

You could use the badblocks utility. More information here and here.