Filesystem in read-only mode

dam034 · January 25, 2026, 1:47pm

Dear users,

I have a pc with ubuntu server 22.04 installed, and I use it as lamp and nas server.

Since yesterday, the filesystem seems in read-only mode and I can’t do writing operation in the files. I open ssh client to connect to the server, and if I tried to do any writing operation on the disk, it gave me an error: file system in read-only mode.

So I have reboot the server and then lamp and samba services were down.

Then I connected a monitor to the server and used the console. I browsed through the server folders with “cd” command and I was able to verify that no files were lost.

So doing another reboot, the lamp and nas services were on again, but when I did writing operation, in the monitor (of the server) I could see these messages:

So I want to know if I have to replace the hard disk, because it can be corrupted or near to the end of its life.

What you advice to do?

Thanks

furciferpardalis · January 25, 2026, 5:15pm

Hi,

could be a controller problem, loose cable or more likely your disk.

You can check whether the cable is loose but if you have not moved a bad drive is more likely.

For checking the health of your drive you will need smartctl

sudo smartctl -a /dev/sda

and check the output for errors. I would simply backup all your files and replace the drive.

dam034 · January 26, 2026, 3:12pm

Hi,

thanks for your reply.

The server is a Nipogi minipc with the ssd provided by the vendor, and after I added a 1tb hdd.

The hdd is giving me problems.

So I executed the command:

root@nipogi:~#smartctl -a /dev/sda
smartctl 7.2 2020-12-30 r5155 [x86_64-linux-5.15.0-127-generic] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-20, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family:     Seagate Barracuda 2.5 5400
Device Model:     ST1000LM048-2E7172
Serial Number:    C120DTP1
LU WWN Device Id: 5 000c50 0f6719887
Firmware Version: 0001
User Capacity:    1.000.204.886.016 bytes [1,00 TB]
Sector Sizes:     512 bytes logical, 4096 bytes physical
Rotation Rate:    5400 rpm
Form Factor:      2.5 inches
TRIM Command:     Available
Device is:        In smartctl database [for details use: -P show]
ATA Version is:   ACS-3 T13/2161-D revision 3b
SATA Version is:  SATA 3.1, 6.0 Gb/s (current: 6.0 Gb/s)
Local Time is:    Mon Jan 26 16:04:16 2026 CET
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: 		(    0) seconds.
Offline data collection
capabilities: 			 (0x71) SMART execute Offline immediate.
					No Auto Offline data collection 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: 	 ( 167) minutes.
Conveyance self-test routine
recommended polling time: 	 (   2) minutes.
SCT capabilities: 	       (0x3035)	SCT Status supported.
					SCT Feature Control supported.
					SCT Data Table 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   077   064   006    Pre-fail  Always       -       51389744
  3 Spin_Up_Time            0x0003   099   099   000    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  4 Start_Stop_Count        0x0032   100   100   020    Old_age   Always       -       29
  5 Reallocated_Sector_Ct   0x0033   100   100   036    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  7 Seek_Error_Rate         0x000f   071   060   045    Pre-fail  Always       -       11231962
  9 Power_On_Hours          0x0032   083   083   000    Old_age   Always       -       15088 (9 28 0)
 10 Spin_Retry_Count        0x0013   100   100   097    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
 12 Power_Cycle_Count       0x0032   100   100   020    Old_age   Always       -       29
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   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
190 Airflow_Temperature_Cel 0x0022   062   037   040    Old_age   Always   In_the_past 38 (Min/Max 34/50 #31)
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       -       1
193 Load_Cycle_Count        0x0032   022   022   000    Old_age   Always       -       157057
194 Temperature_Celsius     0x0022   038   063   000    Old_age   Always       -       38 (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       -       5
240 Head_Flying_Hours       0x0000   100   253   000    Old_age   Offline      -       661 (88 209 0)
241 Total_LBAs_Written      0x0000   100   253   000    Old_age   Offline      -       9628816876
242 Total_LBAs_Read         0x0000   100   253   000    Old_age   Offline      -       1168058774
254 Free_Fall_Sensor        0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0

SMART Error Log Version: 1
No Errors Logged

SMART Self-test log structure revision number 1
No self-tests have been logged.  [To run self-tests, use: smartctl -t]

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.

When I do writing operations in the hdd, I can hear somewhat loud mechanical noise from hdd.

What you advice me?

furciferpardalis · January 26, 2026, 5:11pm

Thanks, as you can see in the output you have multiple errors. So it would be a good time to copy over your data either to a spare machine or whatever you are using for backup purpose. However in doing so I recommend not simply copy via cp instead use rsync - it’s super reliable and powerful.

dam034 · January 27, 2026, 3:55pm

I have to copy entire folders containing files and symbolic links.

I want to keep sym links and last time modification of all files/folders.

How can I do?

Thanks

furciferpardalis · January 27, 2026, 7:01pm

I do not know what is your backup medium but here I assume you are using an external drive with ext4/xfs/btrfs file system you would backup for example /home/yourusername/

 rsync -avHAX --delete --progress /home/yourusername /mnt/backup/

Breaking down this command:

-a (Archive mode combines several other options and essentially tells rsync to preserve permissions, ownership, timestamps, symbolic links,…)

-v (verbose mode)

-H (preserve hard links)

-A (preserve ACLs (Access Control Lists)

-X (preserve extended attributes)

–delete (delete files on the destination that are no longer exists on your source) Be cautious with this switch as in case you delete something in your source it will delete the same files also in your backup - like its 1:1 mirror of your source.

–progress (shows the progress of the backup)

ogra · January 27, 2026, 7:18pm

Make sure the filesystem on the target disk actually supports symlinks (i.e. don’t use any FAT variant)

dam034 · January 29, 2026, 4:51pm

I want to backup my server in my local pc and in an external hard disk. Both are ubuntu and are formatted with ext4. Also the hard disk has ext4.

Is it possible?

furciferpardalis · January 29, 2026, 6:55pm

No problem as you can do rsync over ssh. EXT4 is fine for this purpose.

dam034 · February 3, 2026, 1:16pm

Now I want to know how can I mount automatically at boot the new hard disk at the same mount point of the old.

Can I post here or I need to open a new topic?

Thanks

yancek · February 3, 2026, 2:29pm

Check the /etc/fstab file and replace the device, partition for the old device with the device, partition for the new device. Obviously, can’t have both drives attached.

dam034 · February 4, 2026, 12:23pm

This is server’s fstab:

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>
# / was on /dev/sdb2 during curtin installation
/dev/disk/by-uuid/e5af9c9d-4bb6-4013-8251-f6ec5f34c1e7 / ext4 defaults 0 1
# /srv was on /dev/sda1 during curtin installation
/dev/disk/by-uuid/d97db283-0f7b-4c34-84bd-68c28cb3a65e /srv ext4 defaults 0 1
# /boot/efi was on /dev/sdb1 during curtin installation
/dev/disk/by-uuid/C3C2-9080 /boot/efi vfat defaults 0 1
/swap.img	none	swap	sw	0	0

Now I have to replace the uuid on /srv mount point. Right?

Can I get the uuid on this local pc and after type it in the server?

Thanks

furciferpardalis · February 4, 2026, 5:26pm

You mean you are remote logged in via ssh - of course

sudo blkid /dev/yournewdrive

will show you the UUID.

dam034 · February 6, 2026, 2:39pm

I created GPT table partition on the new hdd, and I ecexuted smartctl to see if it is good or has manufacturing defects, this is the result:

root@corcierge:/home/vincent# smartctl -a /dev/sdb
smartctl 7.2 2020-12-30 r5155 [x86_64-linux-6.8.0-45-generic] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-20, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org

=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family:     Seagate Mobile HDD
Device Model:     ST1000LM035-1RK172
Serial Number:    ZDE671DK
LU WWN Device Id: 5 000c50 0a58ce530
Firmware Version: SDM2
User Capacity:    1.000.204.886.016 bytes [1,00 TB]
Sector Sizes:     512 bytes logical, 4096 bytes physical
Rotation Rate:    5400 rpm
Form Factor:      2.5 inches
Device is:        In smartctl database [for details use: -P show]
ATA Version is:   ACS-3 T13/2161-D revision 3b
SATA Version is:  SATA 3.1, 6.0 Gb/s (current: 6.0 Gb/s)
Local Time is:    Fri Feb  6 15:32:07 2026 CET
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: 		(    0) seconds.
Offline data collection
capabilities: 			 (0x71) SMART execute Offline immediate.
					No Auto Offline data collection 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: 	 ( 162) minutes.
Conveyance self-test routine
recommended polling time: 	 (   2) minutes.
SCT capabilities: 	       (0x3035)	SCT Status supported.
					SCT Feature Control supported.
					SCT Data Table 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   075   066   006    Pre-fail  Always       -       33374498
  3 Spin_Up_Time            0x0003   100   100   000    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  4 Start_Stop_Count        0x0032   100   100   020    Old_age   Always       -       6
  5 Reallocated_Sector_Ct   0x0033   100   100   036    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
  7 Seek_Error_Rate         0x000f   100   253   045    Pre-fail  Always       -       15171
  9 Power_On_Hours          0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0 (157 94 0)
 10 Spin_Retry_Count        0x0013   100   100   097    Pre-fail  Always       -       0
 12 Power_Cycle_Count       0x0032   100   100   020    Old_age   Always       -       3
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   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0
190 Airflow_Temperature_Cel 0x0022   081   067   040    Old_age   Always       -       19 (Min/Max 18/19)
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       -       2
193 Load_Cycle_Count        0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       17
194 Temperature_Celsius     0x0022   019   040   000    Old_age   Always       -       19 (0 18 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      -       0 (3 82 0)
241 Total_LBAs_Written      0x0000   100   253   000    Old_age   Offline      -       33193387
242 Total_LBAs_Read         0x0000   100   253   000    Old_age   Offline      -       181111
254 Free_Fall_Sensor        0x0032   100   100   000    Old_age   Always       -       0

SMART Error Log Version: 1
No Errors Logged

SMART Self-test log structure revision number 1
No self-tests have been logged.  [To run self-tests, use: smartctl -t]

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.

I hear some small noise coming from the disk, I don’t know if it’s normal or not. If you want, I can record it and send it here for you to hear.

Can I trust him?

furciferpardalis · February 7, 2026, 2:57pm

A healthy hard drive typically produces a low humming or quiet whirring noise during operation or when accessing data whereas a defective drive can produce clicking or other loud noises which are indicators for mechanical or electrical failures which can lead to a potential data loss.

It is up to you - always have a backup of your data and even a new drive can be defective (had once a drive which I had to replace within a day after a stress tested it). Maybe you can put some load on drive to check how it behaves until you decide whether you put in production.