There was a kernel patch which broke smart over sata. A stock 2.6.20/2.6.21 kernel seems to be fine. Perhaps something was backported from 2.6.22 on ubuntu where the problem is also in the stock (kernel.org) kernel.
Some references Debian bug http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=428975 KLML http://groups.google.com/group/fa.linux.kernel/browse_frm/thread/be4ed50364851176 Fix/Patch http://article.gmane.org/gmane.linux.ide/20799/raw ** Changed in: linux-source-2.6.20 (Ubuntu) Status: Incomplete => Confirmed -- smartmontools/smartctl does not work on SATA drives on Linux Kernel 2.6.20-15.27 https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/106821 You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is the bug contact for Ubuntu. -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs