Alex Ruben
How To Check the Health of an SSD on Linux/Ubuntu
Keeping an eye on your SSD’s health isn’t just for tech geeks — if your drive’s starting to act up or you’re just paranoid, it’s good to check before things go south. Sometimes these drives give warning signs (like slowdowns, weird noises, or spontaneous freezes), and other times, they just silently fail without notice. This guide walks through how to peek under the hood using free tools built into Ubuntu—namely, smartmontools—so you can get a handle on whether your SSD is in good shape or if it’s time to start planning an upgrade. Spoiler alert: it’s kind of satisfying to see all those SMART stats in plain sight.
Once you follow these steps, you’ll be able to see if your SSD is passing its health checks, or if it’s showing signs of wear. And hey, even regular periodic checks can help catch problems early, possibly saving your data and avoiding a total drive failure. Because of course, Linux and drives have their quirks, and sometimes commands don’t work on the first try. But don’t worry, these are pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it.
How to Check Your SSD Health in Ubuntu
Open the Terminal
To kick things off, you gotta open up the terminal. It’s the gateway for all the commands. You can press Ctrl + Alt + T — which is the quick shortcut — or just search for “Terminal” in your app launcher. Sometimes it feels weird to do it the first time, especially if you’re new to Linux, but trust me, once you get used to it, it’s faster than clicking through menus.
What to expect? A fresh terminal prompt on the screen, ready for some commands. You’ll need admin rights for most steps, so don’t forget to have your password ready.
Install Smartmontools – Your Drive’s Voice
This little package is what makes all the ‘health check’ magic happen. On one setup it worked the first time, on another, I had to run a few commands, so don’t get discouraged if it’s a little wonky at first. Type:
sudo apt update
Hit Enter. This refreshes your package list, so you get the latest versions.
sudo apt install smartmontools
And press Enter again. You might get prompted for your password — just type it in and hit Enter. After some download-and-install action, it should be ready to go.
Pro tip: If you get errors, double-check your internet connection or try running sudo apt update again. Sometimes Ubuntu just needs a nudge.
Identify Your SSD Device Name
Once installed, you need to figure out what your drive is called. Run:
lsblk
This lists all block devices (disks, partitions, etc.). Look for your main drive, it’ll usually be called /dev/sda or /dev/nvme0n1, especially if you’re rocking an NVMe SSD. Check the size and mount points to identify the right one — usually, your root drive has / as the mount point. If you’re not sure, google the device name with the model number or size to confirm.
It’s kind of weird how Linux lists everything so plainly, but on some machines, the drive names can be different or change after updates. If you suspect you’re looking at the wrong device, double-check before running any commands that could alter data.
Run the SSD Health Check
Now, the good stuff. Replace /dev/sda with whatever your drive is called, and run:
sudo smartctl -a /dev/sda
This commands smartctl to give a full report of SMART data—your drive’s internal health record. Expect a lot of info, including temperature, error rates, and reallocated sectors. Not the most glamorous output, but the piece of mind it offers is worth it. On some systems, this might produce permission errors or not run properly; sitting patiently or re-running can sometimes help.
Note: If your drive is NVMe (like most modern laptops), you might need to run:
sudo smartctl -a /dev/nvme0n1
because the command syntax can depend on your drive type.
Understand the SMART Data
Here’s the kinda confusing part—these reports are packed, so focus on key indicators:
- SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: If it says “PASSED”, your drive is probably okay. If not, something’s up.
- Reallocated Sector Count: If this is high or increasing, your drive might be starting to give up the ghost.
- Wear Leveling Count or Media Wearout Indicator: These tell you if the drive is nearing its endurance limits.
Honestly, on some drives, the SMART info can look bad, but the drive keeps chugging, so take these numbers with a grain of salt. If you see red flags, maybe consider backups or replacements; better safe than sorry.
Extra Tips & Common Gotchas
Make sure you run commands with sudo for proper permissions. Also, the SMART data can be intimidating, but a quick search on the metric names helps clarify what’s normal and what’s not. Lastly, check your system regularly — maybe every 3-6 months, especially if it’s your main drive or you’re noticing performance issues. Sometimes issues crop up unexpectedly, and early detection can save a lot of headaches.
Wrap-up
This method might seem a bit technical, but once you have the hang of it, it’s a handy way to keep tabs on your SSD without any fancy software. Regular health scans can spot potential problems early, meaning fewer surprises down the road. Just remember—if your drive shows signs of failure, back up your data ASAP. Because, yeah, drives don’t tend to warn you in advance, but SMART data can give you a heads-up if you’re paying attention.
Summary
- Open terminal: Ctrl + Alt + T
- Install smartmontools:
sudo apt updatethensudo apt install smartmontools - Identify your SSD’s device name with
lsblk - Run the health check:
sudo smartctl -a /dev/sda(replace as needed) - Look for “PASSED” in overall-health and check critical metrics
- Back up early if anything looks fishy
Final Wrap-up
Hopefully, this helps catch any issues before they turn into disaster. It’s not foolproof, but it beats blindly trusting your SSD’s silence. Good luck, and may your drive stay healthy longer than you’d expect!