sg_format installation to remove type 2 protection on SAS drives.

[daves_nt_here]

I've bought some SAS drives off ebay but they have type 2 protection on them. Doing some googling, it looks like I need sg_format to remove the protection but I can't figure out how to install sg_format.
apt-get install -y sg3_utils does not want to work. (Unable to locate package)
How do I get sg_format on my system or is their something else out their that will work that I didn't see in any google searches.

 

[wbk]

Hi daves_nt_here,

apt-get install -y sg3_utils does not want to work. (Unable to locate package)

Debian mostly uses hyphens in the package names.

Give it a try with apt install sg3-utils

Good luck with your disks!

 

[daves_nt_here]

OMG! I think my brain was just too overwhelmed with google results to remember to remove the hyphens. I knew that but was just copy/pasting everything hoping something would stick.

Got the app and started wiping the one of the 8-2tb disks. If it works, then I'll do the rest. Looks like it's going to take hours though. Taken about 15min to do the first 2%

sg_format -v -F /dev/sdc

Fingers crossed, this removes the protection and I can finally add the drives to a ZFS raid pool.
Thanks wbk for the slap in the face to wake me up

 

[MrDevanWright]

@daves_nt_here, were you succesful? I believe I'm having a similar issue, however, sg_scan -i doesn't show the HGST EMC drives listed as blocked in iDRAC. Any suggestions?

 

[Falk R.]

@daves_nt_here, were you succesful? I believe I'm having a similar issue, however, sg_scan -i doesn't show the HGST EMC drives listed as blocked in iDRAC. Any suggestions?

You are required to connect the disks to an HBA that does not block anything and perform the low level format as above. The DELL controller will then accept the disks.

 

[darmach]

This "type 2 protection" feature - it's unusable with proxmox? Or it depends on controller?

 

[alexskysilk]

This "type 2 protection" feature - it's unusable with proxmox?

Type 2 protection is a component of T10PI and uses a trailing 8 bit for crc per block. Your sas HBA/controller doesnt normally know what to do with such a format, requiring you to low level reformat to 512b block size before it can be used.

 

[MotorN]

What's the best way to format these HDDs? Within Proxmox after installing SG Tools? I recall reading certain ways may time-out and fail during the format. I have about 20 x 8TBs, getting another 35 x 14TBs soon.

 

[mr44er]

Within Proxmox after installing SG Tools?

Yes, works.

I recall reading certain ways may time-out and fail during the format.

Happened in old versions, timer is big enough now
https://forums.servethehome.com/ind...drives-unusable-in-ktn-stl3.38284/post-378532
Or --size=4096 if disk has "AF" (advanced format/4k native)-label and you/ZFS can make use of.