how do you check a storage device health

skyler has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Dear Monks, I have a task to monitor NAS devices. A NAS device unlike a server does have an OS (win) installed and configurable harddrives (Raid5 or Raid0,1). The problem is that I cannot intalled any software on them because they won't work. Do you know if there is a Perl module that may allow me to check the NAS devices (harddrives) remotely? I'm wondering if I have to login everytime or could I use a Perl module to check the harddrives remotely. Inside a NAS, there is a command that I could run to check for harddrive health. Any ideas on how to accomplish this task will be appreciated.

Comment on how do you check a storage device health

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Re: how do you check a storage device health by Abigail-II (Bishop) on Aug 19, 2003 at 06:59 UTC
There isn't a module for that. There would be a module for that if there was a standard way of checking the health. But there isn't - for different boxes, different things can go wrong. Doesn't the box come with monitoring software, that will display the health? Inside a NAS, there is a command that I could run to check for harddrive health. Well, then run that command! Since you don't tell us anything what kind of box it is, and how it's connected, don't expect us to tell you how to run that command. Besides, that's more a systems issue than a Perl issue. Note however that just the status of the individual disks doesn't mean much. Withing a RAID system, at least one disk may fail anyway. Furthermore, SCSI or FC controllers, cables or FC switches may fail too. Abigail	[reply]
Re: how do you check a storage device health by aquarium (Curate) on Aug 19, 2003 at 06:10 UTC
does the vendor of your NAS supply a snmp/mib interface with the module?	[reply]
Re: Re: how do you check a storage device health by yodabjorn (Monk) on Aug 19, 2003 at 15:47 UTC
I would imagine, and in my experience most of the SAN/NAS stuff exsposes SMB for remote monitoring. As it is the defacto standard. you should look @ the docs or website for the NAS for info on what it exsposes via SNMP. who manufactures the NAS ? An intellectual is someone whose mind watches itself. - Albert Camus	[reply]
Re: how do you check a storage device health by LazerRed (Pilgrim) on Aug 19, 2003 at 18:57 UTC
I agree with the SNMP route. Most vendors support it. I've used NET::SNMP to gather statistics from a NetApp and import them into a Big Brother display. It wasn't easy for me, as I'm new to perl, but I learned a lot in the process. May the Schwartz be with you! `Whip me, Beat me, Make me use Y-ModemG.`	[reply] [d/l]