Running the Linux smart-log command to check the amount of remaining life in NVMe devices

Find information about using the Linux operating system smart-log command to find the amount of remaining life in an NVMe device.

1. If the system has logical partitions, complete this procedure from the logical partition that owns the NVMe device
2. To use the Linux operating system to find the remaining life on an NVMe device, complete the following steps:
   1. From the Linux command line, type the following command and press Enter.

      nvme smart-log /dev/nvmeX -H

      where nvmeX is the resource name of the NVMe device.
   2. View the Percentage used field.

      Is the value in the Percentage used field 100%?

      • Yes: Continue with the next step.
      • No: Continue with step 4.
3. The NVMe device is nearing its end of life and must be replaced. The NVMe device will soon reach the limit for the number of write operations that are supported. Write operations to the NVMe device become slower over time, and at some point the NVMe device becomes a read-only device. When the operating system writes data to a read-only device, the write operations are rejected, and the operating system considers the device as if a failure occurred. To support normal write operations, the NVMe device must be replaced.
   Note: Failure of IBM® NVMe devices is covered in the standard warranty and during the maintenance period only for devices that have not reached the maximum number of write cycles. Devices that reach this limit might fail to operate according to specifications and must be replaced. This replacement cost is not covered under the standard warranty or during the maintenance period.
   This ends the procedure.
4. In the critical_warning portion of the command output, is the Available Spare field displayed?
   • Yes: Continue with the next step.
   • No: Continue with step 6.
5. Is the Available Spare field equal to 1?
   • Yes: The NVMe device has low spares. Continue with step 7.
   • No: A service action is not required. This ends the procedure.
6. Complete the following steps to determine if the NVMe device has low spares:
   1. View the critical_warning field.
   2. The critical_warning field is a hexadecimal number. Convert the hexadecimal number to a binary number.
   3. Is the rightmost digit of the binary number equal to 1?
      • Yes: The NVMe device has low spares. Continue with the next step.
      • No: A service action is not required. This ends the procedure.
7. The NVMe device is nearing its end of life and must be replaced. The NVMe device will soon reach the limit for the number of write operations that are supported. Write operations to the NVMe device become slower over time, and at some point the NVMe device becomes a read-only device. When the operating system writes data to a read-only device, the write operations are rejected, and the operating system considers the device as if a failure occurred. To support normal write operations, schedule maintenance to replace the NVMe device at your earliest convenience.
   Note: Failure of IBM NVMe devices is covered in the standard warranty and during the maintenance period only for devices that have not reached the maximum number of write cycles. Devices that reach this limit might fail to operate according to specifications and must be replaced. This replacement cost is not covered under the standard warranty or during the maintenance period.
   This ends the procedure.