Is it ethical to sell old NAS HDD?

[user]

Hello,

Apologies if this is off-topic and complete garbage, but I have dumb question and don't have enough technical knowledge to solve it.

We had an old NAS storage in the office for a few years and got disks upgraded recently.
The question is shall I sell old disks, or recycle them?
I'd prefer not to sell old HDD to some poor soul who will loose all data in a few months. ("Karma is a bitch" etc).
Appreciate any and all help.

Disk 1 (I think it's faulty, but not sure):

Code:

[root@host ~]# smartctl -a /dev/sdb
smartctl 5.43 2012-06-30 r3573 [x86_64-linux-2.6.32-642.3.1.el6.x86_64] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-12 by Bruce Allen, http://smartmontools.sourceforge.net

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family:     Seagate Barracuda (SATA 3Gb/s, 4K Sectors)
Device Model:     ST2000DM001-1CH164
Serial Number:    S1E2HP3W
LU WWN Device Id: 5 000c50 06c83d34e
Firmware Version: CC47
User Capacity:    2,000,398,934,016 bytes [2.00 TB]
Sector Sizes:     512 bytes logical, 4096 bytes physical
Device is:        In smartctl database [for details use: -P show]
ATA Version is:   8
ATA Standard is:  ACS-2 (unknown minor revision code: 0x001f)
Local Time is:    Thu Jul 14 23:35:39 2016 CDT
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled

=== START OF READ SMART DATA SECTION ===
SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: PASSED

General SMART Values:
Offline data collection status:  (0x00)    Offline data collection activity
                    was never started.
                    Auto Offline Data Collection: Disabled.
Self-test execution status:      (   0)    The previous self-test routine completed
                    without error or no self-test has ever
                    been run.
Total time to complete Offline
data collection:         (  584) seconds.
Offline data collection
capabilities:              (0x73) SMART execute Offline immediate.
                    Auto Offline data collection on/off support.
                    Suspend Offline collection upon new
                    command.
                    No Offline surface scan supported.
                    Self-test supported.
                    Conveyance Self-test supported.
                    Selective Self-test supported.
SMART capabilities:            (0x0003)    Saves SMART data before entering
                    power-saving mode.
                    Supports SMART auto save timer.
Error logging capability:        (0x01)    Error logging supported.
                    General Purpose Logging supported.
Short self-test routine
recommended polling time:      (   1) minutes.
Extended self-test routine
recommended polling time:      ( 217) minutes.
Conveyance self-test routine
recommended polling time:      (   2) minutes.
SCT capabilities:            (0x3085)    SCT Status supported.

SMART Attributes Data Structure revision number: 10
Vendor Specific SMART Attributes with Thresholds:
ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME          FLAG     VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE      UPDATED  WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
  1 Raw_Read_Error_Rate     0x000f   117   097   006    Pre-fail  Always       -       157075416
  3 Spin_Up_Time            0x0003   095   095   000    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  4 Start_Stop_Count        0x0032   100   100   020    Old_age   Always       -       17
  5 Reallocated_Sector_Ct   0x0033   100   100   010    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  7 Seek_Error_Rate         0x000f   082   060   030    Pre-fail  Always       -       8946446188
  9 Power_On_Hours          0x0032   078   078   000    Old_age   Always       -       19720
10 Spin_Retry_Count        0x0013   100   100   097    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
12 Power_Cycle_Count       0x0032   100   100   020    Old_age   Always       -       17
183 Runtime_Bad_Block       0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
184 End-to-End_Error        0x0032   100   100   099    Old_age   Always       -       0
187 Reported_Uncorrect      0x0032   094   094   000    Old_age   Always       -       6
188 Command_Timeout         0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       4295032833
189 High_Fly_Writes         0x003a   091   091   000    Old_age   Always       -       9
190 Airflow_Temperature_Cel 0x0022   068   052   045    Old_age   Always       -       32 (Min/Max 26/34)
191 G-Sense_Error_Rate      0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
192 Power-Off_Retract_Count 0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       17
193 Load_Cycle_Count        0x0032   092   092   000    Old_age   Always       -       17800
194 Temperature_Celsius     0x0022   032   048   000    Old_age   Always       -       32 (0 14 0 0 0)
197 Current_Pending_Sector  0x0012   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
198 Offline_Uncorrectable   0x0010   100   100   000    Old_age   Offline      -       0
199 UDMA_CRC_Error_Count    0x003e   200   200   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
240 Head_Flying_Hours       0x0000   100   253   000    Old_age   Offline      -       216002495270117
241 Total_LBAs_Written      0x0000   100   253   000    Old_age   Offline      -       9778237981
242 Total_LBAs_Read         0x0000   100   253   000    Old_age   Offline      -       14262728413

SMART Error Log Version: 1
ATA Error Count: 6 (device log contains only the most recent five errors)
    CR = Command Register [HEX]
    FR = Features Register [HEX]
    SC = Sector Count Register [HEX]
    SN = Sector Number Register [HEX]
    CL = Cylinder Low Register [HEX]
    CH = Cylinder High Register [HEX]
    DH = Device/Head Register [HEX]
    DC = Device Command Register [HEX]
    ER = Error register [HEX]
    ST = Status register [HEX]
Powered_Up_Time is measured from power on, and printed as
DDd+hh:mm:SS.sss where DD=days, hh=hours, mm=minutes,
SS=sec, and sss=millisec. It "wraps" after 49.710 days.

Error 6 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 0 hours (0 days + 0 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 51 00 ff ff ff 0f  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x0fffffff = 268435455

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 00 f0 ff ff ff 4f 00      00:03:08.032  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      00:03:08.003  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT
  ec 00 00 00 00 00 a0 00      00:03:07.983  IDENTIFY DEVICE
  ef 03 46 00 00 00 a0 00      00:03:07.963  SET FEATURES [Set transfer mode]
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      00:03:07.943  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT

Error 5 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 0 hours (0 days + 0 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 51 00 ff ff ff 0f  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x0fffffff = 268435455

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 00 f0 ff ff ff 4f 00      00:03:01.662  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      00:03:01.633  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT
  ec 00 00 00 00 00 a0 00      00:03:01.613  IDENTIFY DEVICE
  ef 03 46 00 00 00 a0 00      00:03:01.593  SET FEATURES [Set transfer mode]
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      00:03:01.573  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT

Error 4 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 0 hours (0 days + 0 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 51 00 ff ff ff 0f  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x0fffffff = 268435455

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 00 f0 ff ff ff 4f 00      00:02:55.271  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      00:02:55.243  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT
  ec 00 00 00 00 00 a0 00      00:02:55.223  IDENTIFY DEVICE
  ef 03 46 00 00 00 a0 00      00:02:55.203  SET FEATURES [Set transfer mode]
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      00:02:55.183  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT

Error 3 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 0 hours (0 days + 0 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 51 00 ff ff ff 0f  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x0fffffff = 268435455

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 00 f0 ff ff ff 4f 00      00:02:48.901  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      00:02:48.873  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT
  ec 00 00 00 00 00 a0 00      00:02:48.853  IDENTIFY DEVICE
  ef 03 46 00 00 00 a0 00      00:02:48.833  SET FEATURES [Set transfer mode]
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      00:02:48.813  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT

Error 2 occurred at disk power-on lifetime: 0 hours (0 days + 0 hours)
  When the command that caused the error occurred, the device was active or idle.

  After command completion occurred, registers were:
  ER ST SC SN CL CH DH
  -- -- -- -- -- -- --
  40 51 00 ff ff ff 0f  Error: UNC at LBA = 0x0fffffff = 268435455

  Commands leading to the command that caused the error were:
  CR FR SC SN CL CH DH DC   Powered_Up_Time  Command/Feature_Name
  -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --  ----------------  --------------------
  60 00 f0 ff ff ff 4f 00      00:02:42.491  READ FPDMA QUEUED
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      00:02:42.463  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT
  ec 00 00 00 00 00 a0 00      00:02:42.442  IDENTIFY DEVICE
  ef 03 46 00 00 00 a0 00      00:02:42.423  SET FEATURES [Set transfer mode]
  27 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00      00:02:42.403  READ NATIVE MAX ADDRESS EXT

SMART Self-test log structure revision number 1
Num  Test_Description    Status                  Remaining  LifeTime(hours)  LBA_of_first_error
# 1  Extended offline    Completed without error       00%     19717         -
# 2  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     19714         -

SMART Selective self-test log data structure revision number 1
SPAN  MIN_LBA  MAX_LBA  CURRENT_TEST_STATUS
    1        0        0  Not_testing
    2        0        0  Not_testing
    3        0        0  Not_testing
    4        0        0  Not_testing
    5        0        0  Not_testing
Selective self-test flags (0x0):
  After scanning selected spans, do NOT read-scan remainder of disk.
If Selective self-test is pending on power-up, resume after 0 minute delay.

And then there's Disk 2, which is also quite old.

Code:

[root@host ~]# smartctl -a /dev/sdc
smartctl 5.43 2012-06-30 r3573 [x86_64-linux-2.6.32-642.3.1.el6.x86_64] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-12 by Bruce Allen, http://smartmontools.sourceforge.net

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family:     Seagate Barracuda (SATA 3Gb/s, 4K Sectors)
Device Model:     ST2000DM001-1CH164
Serial Number:    S2F0F1RA
LU WWN Device Id: 5 000c50 06c7a4f29
Firmware Version: CC47
User Capacity:    2,000,398,934,016 bytes [2.00 TB]
Sector Sizes:     512 bytes logical, 4096 bytes physical
Device is:        In smartctl database [for details use: -P show]
ATA Version is:   8
ATA Standard is:  ACS-2 (unknown minor revision code: 0x001f)
Local Time is:    Thu Jul 14 23:35:43 2016 CDT
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled

=== START OF READ SMART DATA SECTION ===
SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: PASSED
See vendor-specific Attribute list for marginal Attributes.

General SMART Values:
Offline data collection status:  (0x00)    Offline data collection activity
                    was never started.
                    Auto Offline Data Collection: Disabled.
Self-test execution status:      (   0)    The previous self-test routine completed
                    without error or no self-test has ever
                    been run.
Total time to complete Offline
data collection:         (  609) seconds.
Offline data collection
capabilities:              (0x73) SMART execute Offline immediate.
                    Auto Offline data collection on/off support.
                    Suspend Offline collection upon new
                    command.
                    No Offline surface scan supported.
                    Self-test supported.
                    Conveyance Self-test supported.
                    Selective Self-test supported.
SMART capabilities:            (0x0003)    Saves SMART data before entering
                    power-saving mode.
                    Supports SMART auto save timer.
Error logging capability:        (0x01)    Error logging supported.
                    General Purpose Logging supported.
Short self-test routine
recommended polling time:      (   1) minutes.
Extended self-test routine
recommended polling time:      ( 258) minutes.
Conveyance self-test routine
recommended polling time:      (   2) minutes.
SCT capabilities:            (0x3085)    SCT Status supported.

SMART Attributes Data Structure revision number: 10
Vendor Specific SMART Attributes with Thresholds:
ID# ATTRIBUTE_NAME          FLAG     VALUE WORST THRESH TYPE      UPDATED  WHEN_FAILED RAW_VALUE
  1 Raw_Read_Error_Rate     0x000f   117   099   006    Pre-fail  Always       -       163689896
  3 Spin_Up_Time            0x0003   092   091   000    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  4 Start_Stop_Count        0x0032   100   100   020    Old_age   Always       -       16
  5 Reallocated_Sector_Ct   0x0033   100   100   010    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  7 Seek_Error_Rate         0x000f   039   026   030    Pre-fail  Always   In_the_past 201524533225888
  9 Power_On_Hours          0x0032   076   076   000    Old_age   Always       -       21092
10 Spin_Retry_Count        0x0013   100   100   097    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
12 Power_Cycle_Count       0x0032   100   100   020    Old_age   Always       -       16
183 Runtime_Bad_Block       0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
184 End-to-End_Error        0x0032   100   100   099    Old_age   Always       -       0
187 Reported_Uncorrect      0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
188 Command_Timeout         0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
189 High_Fly_Writes         0x003a   098   098   000    Old_age   Always       -       2
190 Airflow_Temperature_Cel 0x0022   068   050   045    Old_age   Always       -       32 (Min/Max 26/34)
191 G-Sense_Error_Rate      0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
192 Power-Off_Retract_Count 0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       16
193 Load_Cycle_Count        0x0032   092   092   000    Old_age   Always       -       17776
194 Temperature_Celsius     0x0022   032   050   000    Old_age   Always       -       32 (0 15 0 0 0)
197 Current_Pending_Sector  0x0012   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
198 Offline_Uncorrectable   0x0010   100   100   000    Old_age   Offline      -       0
199 UDMA_CRC_Error_Count    0x003e   200   200   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
240 Head_Flying_Hours       0x0000   100   253   000    Old_age   Offline      -       114946209763906
241 Total_LBAs_Written      0x0000   100   253   000    Old_age   Offline      -       5923852850
242 Total_LBAs_Read         0x0000   100   253   000    Old_age   Offline      -       36484788035

SMART Error Log Version: 1
No Errors Logged

SMART Self-test log structure revision number 1
Num  Test_Description    Status                  Remaining  LifeTime(hours)  LBA_of_first_error
# 1  Extended offline    Completed without error       00%     21090         -
# 2  Short offline       Completed without error       00%     21085         -

SMART Selective self-test log data structure revision number 1
SPAN  MIN_LBA  MAX_LBA  CURRENT_TEST_STATUS
    1        0        0  Not_testing
    2        0        0  Not_testing
    3        0        0  Not_testing
    4        0        0  Not_testing
    5        0        0  Not_testing
Selective self-test flags (0x0):
  After scanning selected spans, do NOT read-scan remainder of disk.
If Selective self-test is pending on power-up, resume after 0 minute delay.

[root@host ~]# 

 

[Slavik]

As long as you disclose - seems fair to me.

Recently, my friend was buying used HDD simply because his HDD died, and he had no backup, so he wanted exactly same model, so he can swap electronics...

 

[Ericloewe]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with selling used drives, as long as their condition is clearly identified.

As for a significant market, that's a different story.

 

[Mirfster]

If the drive is faulty and you are trying to sell it as "Fully working"; then I would say that is unethical
If you provide full disclosure; then I would say that is ethical

My 2 cents...

 

[Mirfster]

P.S. just noticed that those drives are Seagate "ST2000DM001"....

Now I change my answer to add:
If you are selling a Seagate ST2000DM001; that is unethical.... :P

 

[tvsjr]

P.S. just noticed that those drives are Seagate "ST2000DM001"....

Now I change my answer to add:
If you are selling a Seagate ST2000DM001; that is unethical.... :p

Having just finally killed the last two of these infernal drives, you are absolutely correct. My ST2000DM001s are going to receive destructive testing... probably some 5.56x45, maybe some 7.62x51...

 

[user]

Thanks a lot! I'll include SMART data in a listing and hope it won't scare away everyone. :)

 

[Z300M]

P.S. just noticed that those drives are Seagate "ST2000DM001"....

Now I change my answer to add:
If you are selling a Seagate ST2000DM001; that is unethical.... :p

I have nine of those currently in use in my FreeNAS box, some bought as "bare" drives, some bought as STBD2000101 "retail" drives. The oldest -- received as a warranty replacement for a failed ST32000AS641 and with the balance of the original drive's 5-year warranty -- has clocked up 24248 POH. No failures. It was the 3TB Seagates that had the terrible failure rate.

 

[Mirfster]

It was the 3TB Seagates that had the terrible failure rate.

Ahh, you are correct.. I mistoke the 2 for a 3 in the model.

 

[Robert Trevellyan]

shall I sell old disks, or recycle them?

Before listing a used disk, I run SMART short and extended tests, and badblocks destructive 4-pass (which also takes care of wiping), and recently started running benchmarks too (see SMART is not the whole story). I state the test results in the listing. If you feel inclined, you could also state power on hours. As was pointed out above, the buyer of a used drive is as likely to be a recovery service as a potential user. Perhaps counterintuitively, until you think about it, it's the least reliable drives that attract the best prices.