Reading S.M.A.R.T parameters from a drive
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2025 11:54 pm
I've been looking into SSDs and their behavior lately, and I'm considering writing a simple tool for some testing. For this I'd like to read some S.M.A.R.T parameters from the drive. To be more specific:
1. SMART Temperature - This is a clear indicator if the controller is busy or not. Interestingly, SSDs may do passive garbage recollection after 6 to 8 hours of being idle, so if I could monitor the temperature over a longer period of time, I might spot the moment when a drive starts doing passive garbage recollection.
2. SMART Data written - Can be used for a similar purpose. If the OS has been idle for a longer period of time, and this number increases, then that means the drive is doing garbage recollection.
3. Windows disc acitivity - Not sure how to get my fingers on this, but if the SMART parameter above starts changing (seriously), and this one doesn't (or at least marginally), then that means the drive is doing something by itself.
It's all just an idea, but did anyone ever try to read SMART parameters from an SSD?
1. SMART Temperature - This is a clear indicator if the controller is busy or not. Interestingly, SSDs may do passive garbage recollection after 6 to 8 hours of being idle, so if I could monitor the temperature over a longer period of time, I might spot the moment when a drive starts doing passive garbage recollection.
2. SMART Data written - Can be used for a similar purpose. If the OS has been idle for a longer period of time, and this number increases, then that means the drive is doing garbage recollection.
3. Windows disc acitivity - Not sure how to get my fingers on this, but if the SMART parameter above starts changing (seriously), and this one doesn't (or at least marginally), then that means the drive is doing something by itself.
It's all just an idea, but did anyone ever try to read SMART parameters from an SSD?
