Setting up an efficient and automated system to monitor and repair disk failures is crucial for maintaining high server availability and reliability. In this article, we will discuss how to establish such a system on the CentOS 7 operating system, including configuring notifications for administrators. This approach can significantly reduce response times to potential issues and minimize the risk of data loss or service downtime.

1. Basics of Disk Monitoring System

For effective disk monitoring on CentOS 7, we will utilize the Smartmontools, which provide tools such as smartctl and smartd for working with SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) disk attributes. SMART enables the prediction and detection of various disk issues before they lead to failure.

Installing Smartmontools:

The first step is to install Smartmontools. This can be done using the following command:

sudo yum install smartmontools

Configuring smartd for Automatic Monitoring:

The /etc/smartd.conf file is used to set parameters for smartd, the daemon that will regularly check the disk's status. To activate email alerts for the administrator, add the following line to the file:

/dev/sda -a -o on -S on -m This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Here, /dev/sda is the path to the monitored disk, and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. is the administrator's email address for receiving notifications.

2. Advanced Detection and Repair

For active interventions upon detecting issues, smartd can be configured to execute a script or command. In the /etc/smartd.conf file, the directive -M exec /path/to/script.sh can be used for this purpose. The script may include logic for automatic repair of common issues like bad sectors or creating data backups on another disk before a failure occurs.

3. Administrator Notifications

For effective communication with administrators, it's important to ensure notifications are as informative as possible. In addition to email alerts, systems like Slack, SMS, or automated phone calls can be utilized. Integration with these services may involve using external APIs or specific tools and scripts.

4. Testing and Verification of the System

After configuring the system, thorough testing is necessary to ensure that fault detection and notifications are functioning correctly. This can be done by simulating disk failures or utilizing the testing capabilities offered by smartmontools.

 

Creating an automated system for monitoring and repairing disk failures is critical for ensuring smooth server operations. By leveraging tools like Smartmontools and proper configuration, a high level of prevention can be achieved, minimizing the risk of outages. Regular testing and updates to the system are also important to ensure its reliability.