Handy commands:

• lsblk – Lists all attached drives, including partitions
  Ex:

  lsblk

• udevadm – Gives detailed information about a drive
  Ex:

  udevadm info --query=all --name=/dev/sd<X> | grep ID_SERIAL_SHORT

Handy Commands:

• Checking a drive's SMART attributes:
  • GUI:
  1. Install gnome-disk-utility (If not already installed)
     

     apt-get install gnome-disk-utility

  2. Run:

     gnome-disks

  3. Select your drive and then select the menu button in the top-right corner:
     
     
  • Command Line:
    1. Install smartmontools

       apt-get install smartmontools

    2. Overall health report:

       smartctl -H /dev/sd<X>

    3. Detailed SMART information:

       smartctl -i /dev/sd<X>

• Running SMART tests (non-destructive to data)
  • GUI:

    gnome-disks

    
    Open “SMART Data & Self-Tests”, click “Start Self-Test”, and select a test to run.

  • Command Line:

    smartctl --test=short /dev/sd<X>

    
    

    smartctl --test=long /dev/sd<X>

• Thoroughly Testing Drive Media (CAUTION: DESTRUCTIVE TO DATA)

  1. badblocks -vws /dev/sd<X>