Linux: Monitor Hard Disks Temperature With hddtemp

Posted on in Categories CentOS, Debian Linux, Hardware, Howto, Linux, Monitoring, RedHat/Fedora Linux, Suse Linux, Tips, Troubleshooting, Tuning, Ubuntu Linux last updated June 25, 2017

There is an excellent little utility to monitor hard drive temperature. Most modern computer hard disk comes with S.M.A.R.T (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology). It is a monitoring system for computer hard disks to detect and report on various indicators of reliability, in the hope of anticipating failures.

The hddtemp utility will give you the temperature of your hard drive by reading data from S.M.A.R.T. on drives that support this feature.
hddtemp on linux
Only modern hard drives have a temperature sensor. hddtemp supports reading S.M.A.R.T. information from SCSI drives too. hddtemp can work as simple command line tool or as a daemon to get information from all servers.

Install hddtemp

To install hddtemp under a Debian / Ubuntu Linux use apt-get command/apt command:
$ sudo apt-get install hddtemp
Sample outputs:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
Suggested packages:
  ksensors
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  hddtemp
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 57.8 kB of archives.
After this operation, 184 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 http://cdn-fastly.deb.debian.org/debian stretch/main amd64 hddtemp amd64 0.3-beta15-52+b1 [57.8 kB]
Fetched 57.8 kB in 2s (22.6 kB/s)  
Preconfiguring packages ...
Selecting previously unselected package hddtemp.
(Reading database ... 115096 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../hddtemp_0.3-beta15-52+b1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking hddtemp (0.3-beta15-52+b1) ...
Setting up hddtemp (0.3-beta15-52+b1) ...
Processing triggers for systemd (232-25) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.7.6.1-2)

To install hddtemp under a CentOS/RHEL/SL/Oracle Linux, run yum command (first turn on EPEL repo):
$ sudo yum install hddtemp
Type the following pacman command to install hddtemp under an Arch Linux distro:
$ sudo pacman -S hddtemp
Type the following dnf command to install hddtemp under a Fedora Linux distro:
$ sudo dnf install hddtemp
Type the following zypper command to install hddtemp under an OpenSUSE Linux distro :
$ sudo zypper install hddtemp

A note about source code installation

You can also perform source code installation. Download the source code tar ball here.
$ wget http://download.savannah.nongnu.org/releases/hddtemp/hddtemp-0.3-beta15.tar.bz2
Untar and install hddtemp using the following commands:
$ tar -jxvf hddtemp-0.3-beta15.tar.bz2
$ cd hddtemp-0.3-beta15
$ ./configure
$ make
$ sudo make install

Install hard disk temperature database at /usr/share/misc or /etc directory:
$ cd /usr/share/misc
# wget http://download.savannah.nongnu.org/releases/hddtemp/hddtemp.db

How do I monitor hard disk temperature?

To see temperature for /dev/sda, enter the following command:
$ hddtemp /dev/sda
Sample outputs

/dev/sda: WDC WD2500YS-01SHB1:  25°C

Above output indicate that my hard disk temperature is 25°C. If temperature is higher than 60°C , consider cooling options immediately.

How Do I Find Out Remote Server HDD Temperature?

By default hddtemp bind to TCP/IP port 7634. You need to run hddtemp in daemon mode. Login on remote box and start it as follows to monitor /dev/sda, /dev/sdb, /dev/sdc, and /dev/sdd:
# hddtemp -d /dev/sd[abcd]
Use telnet or nc / netcat command to to get a temperature from a remote box:
$ telnet remotebox 7634
OR
$ nc 192.168.1.100 7634
Sample outputs:

|/dev/sda|Samsung SSD 850 EVO mSATA 500GB|45|C|

You can format it as follows using the awk command:
nc centos7-box 7634 | awk -F'|' '{print $2 " " $4 $5 "(" $3 ")"}'
Sample outputs:

/dev/sda 45C(Samsung SSD 850 EVO mSATA 500GB)

Shutdown Linux Computer If Temperature >= 55

To power off / shutdown computer, run following command via cron tab (cron job) file:
t=$(hddtemp /dev/sda --numeric)
[ $t -ge 55 ] && /sbin/shutdown -h 0
Sample shell script to shutdown box if temperature >= 55°C (download link):

#!/bin/bash
# Purpose: Shutdown server if disk temp crossed $ALERT_LEVEL
# Author: Vivek Gite {https://www.cyberciti.biz/}, under GPL v.2.x
# -----------------------------------------------------------------
HDDS="/dev/sda /dev/sdb /dev/sdc /dev/sdc /dev/sdd /dev/sde"
HDT=/usr/sbin/hddtemp
LOG=/usr/bin/logger
DOWN=/sbin/shutdown
ALERT_LEVEL=60
for disk in $HDDS
do
  if [ -b $disk ]; then
        HDTEMP=$( ${HDT} --numeric ${disk} )
        if [ $HDTEMP -ge $ALERT_LEVEL ];
        then
           $LOG "System going down as hard disk \"$disk\" temperature ($HDTEMP) crossed its limit."
           sync;sync
           $DOWN -h 0
        fi
  fi
done

You can run script using a cron job on Linux or Unix-like system:
$ sudo crontab -e
Append the following to run cron job every 10 minutes to check for disk temp:
*/10 * * * * /root/bin/chk-disk-temp.bash

Say hello to smartctl Utility

If you have smartctl utility installed, try it as follows to get temperature data:
# smartctl -d ata -A /dev/sda | grep -i temperature
Output:

194 Temperature_Celsius     0x0022   122   095   000    Old_age   Always       -       28

Set ALERT_LEVEL as per your requirements. Please refer to your hard disk manual for working temperature guideline. Here is general temperature guideline (extracted from Seagate SV35.2 Series Hard Drives Web Page):

Operating 0 to 60 degrees C
Nonoperating -40 to 70 degrees C
Maximum operating temperature change 20 degrees C per hour
Maximum nonoperating temperature change 30 degrees C per hour
Maximum operating case temperature69 degrees C

A note for MS-Windows XP / Vista/ 7 / 10 / Server Users

Sorry. The hddtemp is UNIX / Linux only program.

Further readings

Posted by: Vivek Gite

The author is the creator of nixCraft and a seasoned sysadmin and a trainer for the Linux operating system/Unix shell scripting. He has worked with global clients and in various industries, including IT, education, defense and space research, and the nonprofit sector. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+.

Share this on (or read 31 comments/add one below):

31 comment

  1. 35C is a little premature to be shutting down the system, or even to get additional cooling. Most manufacturers specify a maximum operating temperature of 60C as being fully within specifications. Check your drive manufacturer’s web site for the specifications for your particular drive. During periods of high activity (e.g., backups, RAID sync), a drive can easily exceed 50C. Shutting down every time that happens is not productive.

    Reply Report comment

  3. Neat little howto. Instant success

    [email protected]:~$ sudo hddtemp /dev/sda
    /dev/sda: SAMSUNG SPXXXX: 33°C
    [email protected]:~$ sudo hddtemp /dev/sdb
    /dev/sdb: SAMSUNG SPXXXX: 32°C

    Here on my striped raid.

    I would welcome a warning instead of immediate box shutdown w/o named reason. Some speaker beeps would fulfill that approach.

    the polarizer

    PS: Have to check whether the sda drive which is more hot is on the top.

    Reply Report comment

  6. I personally think that you are the best Linux blogger that I’ve ever seen. I read your blog all the time and I think it’s so well done. My browser home page set to cyberciti.biz!

    Reply Report comment

  9. this program has an error with my version of hddtemp.
    $4 should read $3
    ‘ should read ‘
    so the line should be:
    HDTEMP=$($HDT $disk | awk ‘{ print $3}’ | awk -F ‘°’ ‘{ print $1}’)

    additionally, if a shutdown is to occur, and there is more than one hard drive, the shutdown command will be executed for the number of hard drives that exceed the temperature. i am a linux newbie and don’t know if this is relevant.
    P.

    Reply Report comment

  10. Check hddtemp-0.3-beta15/src/hddtemp.c
    on line 227, the hddtemp tool can also print out just the temperature value. No need to parse the output and fetch the value from a formatted string.
    Just issue this command:

    /usr/local/sbin/hddtemp /dev/hdc --numeric

    Reply Report comment

  11. This is my cron script using the –numeric arg:

    #!/bin/bash
    HDDS="/dev/hdc"
    HDT=/usr/sbin/hddtemp
    LOG=/usr/bin/logger
    DOWN=/sbin/shutdown
    ALERT_LEVEL=55
    args="--numeric"
    for disk in $HDDS
    do
    if [ -b $disk ]; then
    HDTEMP=$($HDT $disk $args)
    $LOG "HDTEMP for $disk is $HDTEMP"
    if [ $HDTEMP -ge $ALERT_LEVEL ]; then
    $LOG "System going down as hard disk : $disk temperature $HDTEMP exceeded its limit"
    sync;sync
    $DOWN -h 0
    fi
    fi
    done

    Reply Report comment
  15. WARN_LEVEL=40
ALERT_LEVEL=63
for disk in $HDDS
do
  if [ -b $disk ]; then
	HDTEMP=$($HDT $disk)
        if [ $HDTEMP -ge $ALERT_LEVEL ]; then
		date >> ~/Desktop/ERRORS.TXT
           	echo "System going down as hard disk : $disk temperature is $HDTEMP°C" >> ~/Desktop/ERRORS.TXT
           sync;sync
		$DOWN -h 0
	else
		echo $disk - $HDTEMP
        fi
	if [ $HDTEMP -ge $WARN_LEVEL ]; then
		date >> ~/Desktop/ERRORS.TXT
           	echo "hard disk : $disk temperature is $HDTEMP°C" >> ~/Desktop/ERRORS.TXT
		/usr/bin/notify-send -u critical -c device.error -i /usr/share/icons/Human/32x32/status/dialog-warning.png -t 900 "HDD TEMP" "$disk temperature $HDTEMP°C"
		zenity --info --text "hard disk : $disk temperature $HDTEMP°C"
           sync;sync
        fi
  fi
done
exit 0
    Reply Report comment

  16. To see temperature for /dev/sda, enter the following command:
    # hddtemp /dev/sda
    Output:

    /dev/sdb: WDC WD2500YS-01SHB1: 25°C

    The output should also be /dev/sda not sdb.

    Reply Report comment

    1. Hi Vivek,

      SteveH is right there is a typo (should be the same device ! sda )

      And Andrey ask a useful question: Is it possible to get any SMART HDD info using a HDD-USB drive ?

      TIA!

      Reply Report comment

  17. Hi!
    Thanks for your blog!
    Tell me please, will it work for me if I use the SATA Docking Station, so the hard drive is connected to my computer via usb?
    What am I supposed to do?

    Reply Report comment

  18. Hi,

    First off, thanks for the great tutorial and information.

    I have a question. How does this work with RAID drives, or can it? For example, all of my servers are running either RAID-0,2,6, etc and usually all the drives show up as one in linux (ex: /dev/sda).

    I have not tried this method yet, but I’m wondering if and how this would work with RAID (where a raid controller connects the drives to the system).

    Thanks,
    Luc

    Reply Report comment

    1. Most modern RAID controller expose themself to you via different device name under Linux. See this FAQ. Also cli tools provided by RAID controller can be used to obtain the same info. It all depends upon your RAID card. However, hddtemp may not work for RAID based hard disk, use smartctl command:

      smartctl -d scsi --all /dev/sg1  | grep -i temp
Temperature Warning Disabled or Not Supported
Current Drive Temperature:     23 C
Drive Trip Temperature:        65 C

      This is from Adaptec 5405 SAS running FUJITSU hard disks.

      Reply Report comment

  19. Hi,
    Mine is 59C! It’s too hot. You said cooling options, please someone tell me how can I cool down my hard drive?
    Laptop: Acer Aspire 5536
    Linux: Ubuntu 10.04
    Here’s the output of hddtemp command:
    sudo hddtemp /dev/sda
    /dev/sda: WDC WD3200BEVT-22ZCT0: 59°C
    Thanks in advance.

    Reply Report comment

    1. You can put a small fan in front of the drives ( in the front of your comp-case ). this well draw fresh (cool) air in and blow it over the Harddisk and cooling it. Also, place your computer on the floor ( the air is cooler on the floor )

      I am having this problem : I use hddtemp (daemon) in combination with conky. My 4 internal drives report just fine, but my 2 external sata-drives connected with usb don’t report the temperature ( -> N/A in conky ). The internal and external drives are all Samsung model 103SJ / SI or UJ. ( i tried putting sata: in front of the device name in the conky config file. When i try hddtemp in terminal ‘hddtemp /dev/sbb’ i get ‘/dev/sdb: SAMSUNG HD103SI: S.M.A.R.T. not available’, when i try ‘hddtemp sata:/dev/sdb’ i get a several lines of weird characters and the correct temperature behind them)
      Any suggestions how to fix this ?

      Reply Report comment

  20. I do not recommend hddtemp. My application fails because of it.
    I run it about 30 times and in the middle, it fails. It causes an error on the bus. I’m looking for something better.

    Reply Report comment

  22. Created the below script in a file (called check-hddtemp) in /usr/local/sbin/ and set it to run every 30min in my Ubuntu Server 11.10’s crontab file (in /etc/). Script is below and so is more information how to set it up.

    #!/bin/bash
HDDS="/dev/sda"
HDT=/usr/sbin/hddtemp
LOG=/usr/bin/logger
DOWN=/sbin/shutdown
ALERT_LEVEL=50
args="--numeric"
for disk in $HDDS
do
if [ -b $disk ]; then
HDTEMP=$($HDT $disk $args)
$LOG "HDTEMP for $disk is $HDTEMP"
if [ $HDTEMP -ge $ALERT_LEVEL ]; then
$LOG "System going down due hard disk : $disk temperature $HDTEMP exceeded its limit"
sync;sync
$DOWN -h 0
fi
fi
done

    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=12144858

    Reply Report comment

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