S.M.A.R.T. – key technology in SSD monitoring and diagnostics

What is S.M.A.R.T.?

Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology, is a technology for monitoring the health of HDDs and SSDs. It enables the prediction of potential failures and the detection of fundamental operating errors, which is key to preventing data loss and optimising system performance.

The S.M.A.R.T. function collects and analyses data from the drive in real time, allowing problems to be detected early and appropriate corrective action to be taken before a major failure occurs. This is particularly important in industry, where the interruption of a device or application can result in costly downtime losses, such as in a manufacturing plant.

Application of S.M.A.R.T. technology

That solution is widely used in both traditional hard disk drives and modern SSDs. In the case of Solid State Drives, S.M.A.R.T. plays a particularly important role, as monitoring the state of the NAND Flash memory, is key to ensuring its longevity and reliability. With that technology, users and system administrators can monitor parameters such as:

• the amount of data written and read
• disk operating temperature
• number of programming/deletion cycles of memory cells
• condition and wear of NAND Flash memory cells
• number of reboots during drive operation
• number of read/write errors

All of this data is collected and analysed in real time, allowing rapid detection and response to potential problems.

How does it work?

S.M.A.R.T. works by continuously monitoring a number of drive operating parameters. Each of these parameters is assigned a specific threshold value, the exceeding of which may indicate an impending failure. For example, a drive operating temperature that is too high may suggest a cooling problem.

For SSDs, S.M.A.R.T. also monitors SSD-specific parameters such as the number of terabytes written (TBW) and hours worked. This data allows accurate tracking of NAND wear and an assessment of how long the drive will continue to perform reliably.

The results of the analysis are available through the drive’s standard interface, making them readable using a variety of diagnostic tools. However, for memory cards such as SD cards, accessing this data requires specialised software.

Advantages of using S.M.A.R.T.

There are many benefits to using that technology for both individual users and businesses. Here are some of the key advantages:

Early detection of problems

By continuously monitoring drive performance, S.M.A.R.T. allows for early detection of potential problems so that corrective action can be taken before failure occurs. This could include, for example, copying the data to another medium or replacing the drive with a new one.

Increasing system reliability

Systems using S.M.A.R.T. monitored drives are more reliable because potential failures can be predicted in time and prevented. Unexpected costly downtime and data loss can thus be avoided.

Performance optimisation

By monitoring the drive’s operating parameters, performance can be optimised. For example, excessive operating temperatures can lead to slower drive performance, and proper cooling can prevent this.

Extending the life of SSDs

S.M.A.R.T. monitors the wear of the NAND Flash memory in SSDs to optimise the use of available resources and extend the life of the storage. For the user, this means longer and more reliable device operation.

Summary

S.M.A.R.T. technology is an indispensable tool for SSD and HDD monitoring and diagnostics. Its use enables early detection of problems, increasing system reliability, optimising performance and extending the life of SSDs. Users can rest assured that their data is safe and their hardware is performing optimally and reliably.

In the age of digital transformation, S.M.A.R.T. technology is a key part of a storage management strategy that should be considered by anyone who wants to ensure the highest quality and reliability of their IT systems.