Dying drive or loose cable?

dvl@ · Jul 7, 2025

I'm tempted to think this is a dying drive, not a loose cable. Right now, I think it's dead.

I had to trim the output (full output at https://dan.langille.org/2025/07/07/x8dtu-drive-problems/)

Code:

[16:43 x8dtu dvl ~] % sudo smartctl -a /dev/ada3
smartctl 7.5 2025-04-30 r5714 [FreeBSD 14.2-RELEASE-p1 amd64] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-25, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org
 
Read Device Identity failed: Input/output error
 
If this is a USB connected device, look at the various --device=TYPE variants
A mandatory SMART command failed: exiting. To continue, add one or more '-T permissive' options.

Code:

Jul  7 16:19:59 x8dtu smartd[8217]: Device: /dev/ada3, failed to read SMART Attribute Data
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: vdev_geom_open_by_path:799[1]: Found provider by name /dev/ada3p1.
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: vdev_geom_attach:219[1]: Attaching to ada3p1.
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: vdev_geom_attach:288[1]: Created consumer for ada3p1.
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: vdev_geom_read_config:457[1]: Reading config from ada3p1...
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 1c 0a 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 1c 4a 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 1c 8a ff bb 40 48 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 1c ca ff bb 40 48 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: vdev_geom_detach:315[1]: Detaching from ada3p1.
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: vdev_geom_detach:326[1]: Destroying consumer for ada3p1.
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: vdev_attach_ok:667[1]: Unable to read config from ada3p1.
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: vdev_geom_open_by_guids:766[1]: Searching by guids [376274468418206170:15764092042190275056].
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: vdev_geom_attach:219[1]: Attaching to ada2p1.
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: vdev_geom_attach:268[1]: Found consumer for ada2p1.
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: vdev_geom_attach:296[1]: Used existing consumer for ada2p1.
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: vdev_geom_read_config:457[1]: Reading config from ada2p1...
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: vdev_geom_detach:315[1]: Detaching from ada2p1.
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: vdev_attach_ok:703[1]: vdev guid mismatch for provider ada2p1: 15764092042190275056 != 15252581311252777810.
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: vdev_geom_attach:219[1]: Attaching to ada3p1.
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: vdev_geom_attach:288[1]: Created consumer for ada3p1.
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: vdev_geom_read_config:457[1]: Reading config from ada3p1...
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 1c 0a 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:46 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 1c 4a 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
...
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 34 1b c6 40 48 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 35 1b c6 40 48 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 34 1b c6 40 48 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 02 10 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 02 02 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 02 00 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 02 40 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 02 10 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 02 02 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 02 00 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 02 40 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 08 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 00 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 02 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 10 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 00 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 35 1b c6 40 48 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 05 00 bc 40 48 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 05 00 bc 40 48 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 04 c7 ff bb 40 48 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu ZFS[1318]: vdev state changed, pool_guid=376274468418206170 vdev_guid=15764092042190275056
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 04 00 bc 40 48 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 05 00 bc 40 48 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 04 00 bc 40 48 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 07 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 06 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 02 16 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 02 08 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 02 06 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 02 46 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 02 16 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 02 08 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 02 06 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 02 46 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 0e 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 06 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 08 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 16 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 06 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): READ_FPDMA_QUEUED. ACB: 60 01 05 00 bc 40 48 00 00 00 00 00
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): CAM status: Auto-Sense Retrieval Failed
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu kernel: (ada3:ahcich3:0:0:0): Error 5, Unretryable error
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu ZFS[1322]: vdev I/O failure, zpool=main_tank path=/dev/ada3p1 offset=4998267674624 size=8192 error=5
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu ZFS[1326]: vdev I/O failure, zpool=main_tank path=/dev/ada3p1 offset=4998267936768 size=8192 error=5
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu ZFS[1330]: vdev I/O failure, zpool=main_tank path=/dev/ada3p1 offset=270336 size=8192 error=5
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu ZFS[1334]: vdev probe failure, zpool=main_tank path=/dev/ada3p1
Jul  7 16:38:49 x8dtu ZFS[1340]: vdev state changed, pool_guid=376274468418206170 vdev_guid=15764092042190275056

mer · Jul 7, 2025

I agree that it is more likely failing hardware, but I have had similar that replacing the cable (I'm guessing this is a SATA drive?) "fixed" it. Not sure it it was the act of unplugging and plugging in pluse blowing out all kinds of dust was the fix but the drive was fine for a few years after.
Maybe make sure dust is blown out of the power supply too.

dvl@ · Jul 7, 2025

The drives are in drive cages. Perhaps reseating it might help.

dvl@ · Jul 7, 2025

I've been looking at 4TB HDD online, and seeing prices at about US$70 for a Toshiba MG04ACA400E - https://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Enterprise-Internal-Operation-MG04ACA400E/dp/B0716ZNGWR/ - they sound OK to ME.

So does this used Seagate for $60 - https://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Constellation-ST4000NM0033-Internal-Enterprise/dp/B07T8XJTT5

I think I'll buy the Toshiba.

matt_k · Jul 7, 2025

My drive seated in a Orico brand HDD cradle is doing something similar. The problem is, that the cradle itself has some kind of electronics in it, which turn off power to the drive when the drive is not used for a longer period of time in order to be more eco friendly. Of course the operating system is not expecting that and it's an Unretryable error.

mer · Jul 7, 2025

dvl@ said:
I've been looking at 4TB HDD online, and seeing prices at about US$70 for a Toshiba MG04ACA400E - https://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Enterprise-Internal-Operation-MG04ACA400E/dp/B0716ZNGWR/ - they sound OK to ME.

So does this used Seagate for $60 - https://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Constellation-ST4000NM0033-Internal-Enterprise/dp/B07T8XJTT5

I think I'll buy the Toshiba.

I agree on the Toshiba.

matt_k yeah the "idle power down" thing, just like the "car turns off when at stop light for fleet MPG averages". They both work to play the statistics but in real life are annoying. I don't have references handy, but there may be a command you can send down to disable this.

matt_k · Jul 7, 2025

mer said:
I agree on the Toshiba.

matt_k yeah the "idle power down" thing, just like the "car turns off when at stop light for fleet MPG averages". They both work to play the statistics but in real life are annoying. I don't have references handy, but there may be a command you can send down to disable this.

I resolved it. The drive is only used once a day for backups, so the backup script starts with `zfs import stupid_orico_drive` and after the backup is complete, `zfs export stupid_orico_drive` -- that way the problem does not appear.
EDIT: here is the thread where I was encountering problems: https://forums.freebsd.org/threads/zfs-failure-on-an-external-disk.86949/#post-586583

Phishfry · Jul 7, 2025

dvl@ said:
I think I'll buy the Toshiba.

Its kinda tough spot. You want cheap new drives but without the premium.
Toshiba is what I have used.

So older drives NEW must be-
1)Corp spares
2)?

Amazon is notorious for fakes and the drive show is sold by an independent seller.

That sets off warning bells for me. I would thoroughly investigate the seller MDSales.

Buying a single drive is not so bad as buying four drives or eight.
It can be a significant investment with 8 drives but I like them all coming from same batch.
I don't care for mixing firmwares. I will take the chance the whole batch is bad.

Seagate has a bad rap with me. Shit on a shingle and all that jazz.
I only buy their enterprise SSD.

bob2112 · Jul 7, 2025

Phishfry said:
Seagate has a bad rap with me. Shit on a shingle and all that jazz.
I only buy their enterprise SSD.

AFAIK Seagate has never used shingling on their NAS drives - unlike WD. All manufactures use it on the larger, ordinary consumer drives, so it doesn't seem fair to single out Seagate.

dvl@ · Jul 8, 2025

bob2112 said:
AFAIK Seagate has never used shingling on their NAS drives - unlike WD. All manufactures use it on the larger, ordinary consumer drives, so it doesn't seem fair to single out Seagate.

dvl@ said:
I've been looking at 4TB HDD online, and seeing prices at about US$70 for a Toshiba MG04ACA400E - https://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Enterprise-Internal-Operation-MG04ACA400E/dp/B0716ZNGWR/ - they sound OK to ME.

So does this used Seagate for $60 - https://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Constellation-ST4000NM0033-Internal-Enterprise/dp/B07T8XJTT5

I think I'll buy the Toshiba.

I decided to buy one of each. I'll remove the failing drive, and turn the mirror into a 3-way mirror.

Nope. That won't work. No room for additional drives in this 1U host. Toshiba it is then.

kent_dorfman766 · Jul 8, 2025

matt_k said:
My drive seated in a Orico brand HDD cradle is doing something similar. The problem is, that the cradle itself has some kind of electronics in it, which turn off power to the drive when the drive is not used for a longer period of time in order to be more eco friendly. Of course the operating system is not expecting that and it's an Unretryable error.

drive spindown of quiet drives is actually a feature of the drive firmware on SATA drives. There are "first page" registers that can be maniplated on the drive (by the customer) to determine if a drive stays running when not in use.

kent_dorfman766 · Jul 8, 2025

re - possible bad cable. If you have a spare machine then move the drive to a different machine and diagnose it there. The less components in the loop, the better.

VladiBG · Jul 8, 2025

Consumer disks are low quality, I recommend you to buy a minimum WD Gold/ultrastar or SG Exos or any other enterprise class brand. Also make sure that the disk support TLER / ERC

bob2112 SG use SMR for it's consumer HDD. For it's enterprise class (Exos) they use CMR

CMR and SMR Hard Drives | Seagate US

See the list of recording technology utilized on our internal hard drives

www.seagate.com

bob2112 · Jul 17, 2025

VladiBG said:
bob2112 SG use SMR for it's consumer HDD. For it's enterprise class (Exos) they use CMR

CMR and SMR Hard Drives | Seagate US

See the list of recording technology utilized on our internal hard drives

www.seagate.com

That's not what the link shows. They use SMR for the basic, bottom of the range, Barracudas, but those aren't intended for NAS/RAID. The NAS drives are IronWolf and IronWolf Pro which are CMR.