sg_ses - send controls and fetch status from a SCSI Enclosure Services (SES) device

sg_ses [--byte1=<n>] [--control] [--data=<h>,<h>...] [--filter] [--help] [--hex] [--inner-hex] [--list] [--page=<page_code>] [--raw] [--status] [--verbose] [--version] <scsi_device>

Send controls to a SES device (via a SCSI SEND DIAGNOSTIC command) or fetches status (via a SCSI RECEIVE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS command). The given <scsi_device> should be a SES device which may be a dedicated enclosure services processor (INQUIRY peripheral device type 0xd) or attached to another type of SCSI device (e.g. a disk) in which case the EncServ bit set in its INQUIRY response.

If no options are given (only the <scsi_device> name) then all diagnostic pages supported by the device (including SES pages) are listed.

--byte=<n> | -b <n>

some control pages need byte 1 (i.e. the second byte) of the cdb set. Only required in rare cases when the '--control' option is also set. Default is 0; <n> is in decimal unless it is prefixed by 0x.

--control | -c

will send control information to the given device via a SCSI SEND DIAGNOSTIC command. Cannot give both this option and '--status'. The Enclosure control, String Out, Threshold Out, Array control (obsolete in SES-2) and Subenclosure String Out diagnostic pages can be set currently.

--data=<h>,<h>... | -d <h>,<h>...

permits a string of comma separated (ASCII) hex digits to be specified (limit 512). This allows the parameters to a control diagnostic page to be specified. The string given should not include the first 4 bytes (i.e. page code and length). See next entry for using stdin.

--data=- | -d -

reads a data string from stdin. Space, tabs and line feeds additionally are permitted as separators.

--filter | -f

cuts down on the amount of output from the enclosure status diagnostic page. When this option is given, any line which has all its binary flags cleared (i.e. 0) is filtered out (i.e. ignored). If a line has some other value on it (e.g. a temperature) then it is output.

--help | -h

output the usage message then exit.

--hex | -H

output the response in hexadecimal.

--inner-hex | -i

the outer levels of a status diagnostic page are decoded and printed out but the innermost level (e.g. the element status descriptor) is output in hex.

--list | -l

list all known diagnostic page names and SES elements. <scsi_device> is ignored and utility exits.

--page=<page_code> | -p <page_code>

Supply a <page_code>. Assumed to be in decimal unless prefixed by 0x for hex. Valid range is 0 to 255 (0x0 to 0xff) inclusive. Default is page_code 0 (i.e. "Supported diagnostic pages").

--raw | -r

outputs the chosen status page in (ASCII) hex in a format suitable for a later invocation using the '--data=" option. A status diagnostic page less its first 4 bytes (page code and length) is output.

--status | -s

will fetch status diagnostic page from the given device via a SCSI RECEIVE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS command. If this option is not given and '--control' is not given then '--status' is assumed.

--verbose | -v

increase the level of verbosity, (i.e. debug output).

--version | -V

print the version string and then exit.

Currently all status pages, control pages and element types defined in SES-2 revision 12 (11th May 2005) are decoded.

This utility can be used to fetch arbitrary (i.e. non SES) diagnostic pages (using the READ DIAGNOSTIC SCSI command). To this end the '--page=' and '--hex' options would be appropriate. Arbitrary diagnostic pages can be sent to a device with the sg_senddiag utility.

There is a related command set called SAF-TE (SCSI attached fault-tolerant enclosure) for enclosure (including RAID) status and control. SCSI devices that support SAF-TE report "Processor" peripheral device type (0x3) in their INQUIRY reponse. See safte-monitor on the internet.

Changing a temperature threshold is possible, if a little awkward. The current thresholds can be shown with:

sg_ses --page=5 /dev/sda

The threshold to be changed can be chosen. Then output the threshold page in hex (suitable for editing) with:

sg_ses --page=5 --raw /dev/sda > t

Then with the aid of the SES-2 document (in revision 9: section 6.1.8) use your favourite editor to change t. The change can be sent to the device with:

sg_ses --control --page=5 --data=- /dev/sda < t

If the above is successful, the threshold should have been changed. To check try:

sg_ses --page=5 /dev/sda

again.

Written by Douglas Gilbert.

Report bugs to <dgilbert at interlog dot com>.

Copyright © 2004-2005 Douglas Gilbert

This software is distributed under a FreeBSD liense. There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

sg_inq, sg_senddiag (in sg3_utils package); safte-monitor (internet)