smartctl

Checking S.M.A.R.T data of all drives

# Scan all the drives, including USB drives
sudo smartctl --device sat --scan

# Check SMART
sudo smartctl --device sat,auto --info /dev/sdb

The --device sat option in smartctl works with USB-to-SATA enclosures because it explicitly treats the connected drive as a SATA device accessed through the SCSI/ATA Translation (SAT) protocol. This allows smartctl to send SATA commands (such as retrieving SMART data) over the USB interface, enabling compatibility with most USB-enclosed SATA drives. Using --device sat ensures correct detection and communication, especially when auto-detection fails.