SoftRAID error

Was the error during random access or actual certification?

The log will show the details.

Generally the answer is yes, the disk should not be relied upon, if you write data to a disk and the data is incorrect when read back, that is not something you want to rely on for critical data.

A certify is a rigorous, but simple test. Write out patterns, then read them back. A disk system should be absolutely reliable enough to do this.

If the failure was during random access, heat could be a problem.

If it was the last I/O on the disk, it could be a bug in something. Anything else, I would blame your hardware. The only thing besides a disk is the cable/enclosure or USB if this is a USB disk.

The log entries are below. I was not at the computer when it occurred, but I know that most of the cycle ran. I was expecting (hoping) that when I returned it would be finished because it was near the end. The certify was done in a Mac Pro, so the disk is plugged directly into the motherboard - there is no cable in between.

I just pulled these from the log:

Apr 11 12:17:18 - SoftRAID Application: Certifying the disk disk2, SN: K4J3LPTB, SATA bus 0, id 2 (Bay 3). with 3 passes and 15 minutes of random access testing. During each pass, every sector on the disk is filled with a pattern. Then the pattern is read back and verified.

Apr 13 03:11:13 - SoftRAID Application: The certify disk command for disk disk2, SN: K4J3LPTB, SATA bus 0, id 2 (Bay 3) encountered a verify error (offset 31,272,794,624, i/o block size = 16,777,216). Error during random access testing. This disk should be replaced immediately.

Was the error during random access or actual certification?

The log will show the details.

Generally the answer is yes, the disk should not be relied upon, if you write data to a disk and the data is incorrect when read back, that is not something you want to rely on for critical data.

A certify is a rigorous, but simple test. Write out patterns, then read them back. A disk system should be absolutely reliable enough to do this.

If the failure was during random access, heat could be a problem.

If it was the last I/O on the disk, it could be a bug in something. Anything else, I would blame your hardware. The only thing besides a disk is the cable/enclosure or USB if this is a USB disk.

this was during random access. This means when the disk gets hot, or very heavily used, it may not be reliable.

Personally, I would not want such a disk.

Just a FYI update -
I pulled the drives and put them in an OWC Elite Pro Dual enclosure attached to a Mac Mini (one time directly and one time through an OWC Thunderbolt Dock). Certify ran through twice (3 passes, 15 minutes random access). The first time was with with the room quite cool. The second time was with the room warmer.

You mentioned heat and I got a bit suspicious of the Mac Pro being in a corner of a room that was a bit warmer than I would care for so I decided to try this setup.

I really appreciate the knowledge, and assistance, from the people at SoftRAID on this forum! I am new to the product. I was impressed with the product before purchasing. As I continue to get deeper into SoftRAID I keep discovering even more things that impress me. I am still not to the point where I am utilizing it for the main data drives, but I have run a lot of experimental data drive experiments and expect to be soon.

this was during random access. This means when the disk gets hot, or very heavily used, it may not be reliable.

Personally, I would not want such a disk.

Thanks for your feedback!