[smartmontools-support] Read SMART Self-Test Log Failed for WDC WD120EDAZ-11F3RA0

[Sascha Effert]

Hello,

I have an issue monitoring a WDC WD120EDAZ-11F3RA0 (12TB WD MyBook USB
HDD). I have this problem since updating to Upbuntu 20.04, before with
Ubuntu 18.04 I had no problem. I use following version of
smartmontools:

   smartd 7.1 2019-12-30 r5022 [x86_64-linux-5.4.0-48-generic] (local
   build)

I configured following to scan the disk in /etc/smartd.conf:


 * DEFAULT -H -l error -l selftest -f -s
   (O/../../5/11|L/../../5/13|C/../../5/15) -m root -M exec
   /usr/share/smartmontools/smartd-runner
 * /dev/disk/by-id/usb-WD_My_Book_25EE_38434B4555315945-0:0 # WD MyBook
   USB Disk (Backup_3)

For every scan I get two mails with the following error messages:

 * Device: /dev/disk/by-id/usb-WD_My_Book_25EE_38434B4555315945-0:0
   [SAT], failed to read SMART Attribute Data
 * Device: /dev/disk/by-id/usb-WD_My_Book_25EE_38434B4555315945-0:0
   [SAT], Read SMART Self-Test Log Failed

I disabled the scan of the disk in smartd.conf by stoping the
smartmontools service and started a long test calling:

   ➜  root at drecksserver ~ smartctl -t long /dev/sda
   smartctl 7.1 2019-12-30 r5022 [x86_64-linux-5.4.0-48-generic] (local
   build)
   Copyright (C) 2002-19, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, 
   www.smartmontools.org

=== START OF OFFLINE IMMEDIATE AND SELF-TEST SECTION ===
Sending command: "Execute SMART Extended self-test routine
immediately in off-line mode".
Drive command "Execute SMART Extended self-test routine immediately
in off-line mode" successful.
Testing has begun.
Please wait 1298 minutes for test to complete.
Test will complete after Mon Oct 19 05:29:33 2020 CEST
Use smartctl -X to abort test.
➜  root at drecksserver ~ 

/dev/disk/by-id/usb-WD_My_Book_25EE_38434B4555315945-0:0 is a link to
/dev/sda, so it is the same disk. I see the test running:

   ➜  root at drecksserver ~ smartctl -a /dev/sda | grep -A 1 "Self-test
   execution status"Self-test execution status:      ( 249)     Self-
   test routine in progress...                                  90% of
   test remaining.➜  root at drecksserver ~

The test succeeded (about 1 hour earlier then estimated) but after
activating the smartmontools service I got at first the error message

   Device: /dev/disk/by-id/usb-WD_My_Book_25EE_38434B4555315945-0:0
   [SAT], not capable of SMART self-check

and from there on the same messages as before.

Is this a problem with the disk? How can I adjust the settings, so I do
no more get this warning? Is it safe to ignore it?

bests

Sascha