On a headless C7 server (actually a pogoplug with the Redsleeve 7 distro), I have a usb attached backup drive (what other type of drives can you have on a pogoplug other than usb? :) ). I had reformated the partition as ext4: # parted /dev/sdb print Model: WD My Book 1230 (scsi) Disk /dev/sdb: 3001GB Sector size (logical/physical): 4096B/4096B Partition Table: msdos Disk Flags: Number Start End Size Type File system Flags 1 1049kB 3001GB 3001GB primary So I tried smartctl: #smartctl -a /dev/sdb smartctl 6.2 2013-07-26 r3841 [armv5tel-linux-3.8.7-201.fc18.armv5tel.kirkwood] (local build) Copyright (C) 2002-13, Bruce Allen, Christian Franke, www.smartmontools.org /dev/sdb: Unknown USB bridge [0x1058:0x1230 (0x1065)] Please specify device type with the -d option. I looked at the manpage and I don't know how to figure out what usb bridge to specify. BTW, if anyone has an old pogoplug sitting around, I am putting together my cookbook on how to gain control of it and put a c7 build on it. I plan on having it part of a sernet AD domain as the backup file server (2.5W for the pogo and 4-7W for the drive).