I really wish I could run spinrite over the network (on our machines) so I can just setup a spinr...

[G+_T Nohands]

I really wish I could run spinrite over the network (on our machines) so I can just setup a spinrite server to use on NAS drives and in machine backup drives without having to remove the drives and bring them and breakdown the machines that are on the other side of the physical distance my network spans. Is that possible Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ? Do you think Steve would go for that?

[G+_Eddie Foy]

Considering its over 2 years to still not have sqrl done, I doubt we will ever see a sinritre 7

[G+_Ben Reese]

It sounds like sqrl is pretty near completion, so maybe soon?

[G+_Eddie Foy]

Its been on 'finishing up' for 1.5 of those years.

[G+_Ben Reese]

A couple weeks ago on Security Now, Steve and Padre talked about a hidden service in Intel ethernet adapters available even when the system is turned off. Ironically, a week or so before that I had been researching ways to remotely control my PC even when the system is booting. Servers sometimes have this capability built in, but I'd like to have it on my home desktop server...

 

That lead me to this howtogeek article about just that and it uses the Vpro support of Intel chips.

http://www.howtogeek.com/56538/how-to-remotely-control-your-pc-even-when-it-crashes/

Of course, it requires a compatible motherboard and a bit of setup, but I think it would allow you to do just what you're looking for. Once I discovered my CPU/motherboard aren't compatible and neither is the 6600k I'm planning on using in my next build, I stopped researching. It sounds like it would do exactly what you (and I) are looking for, but I don't know for sure.

[G+_Ben Reese]

Eddie Foy true, but it takes a lot of time to save the world from passwords.

[G+_Eddie Foy]

passwords aren't going anywhere soon.

Trust me, Steve isn't saving the world.  He's a niche, on the fringe.

Banks still haven't all caught on to 2FA

[G+_Ben Reese]

Eddie Foy Yeah, I was being a bit facetious... If sqrl is as great as it sounds, I'm definitely interested; but I don't think the UN/PW model will competely go away from most websites.

[G+_David Wiggins]

Wouldn't it be possible to load SpinRite into memory over PXE? PXE into a freedos instance with the exe, then run. I do that for active kill disk for dod wipes.

[G+_Mike B]

I don't think you can use Spinrite on NAS drives as it won't have direct control of the drive.

[G+_Ben Reese]

You can if you have direct control of the machine and it's an x86 machine instead of an off the shelf Arm system.

[G+_T Nohands]

I'm looking to get a used 4U server loaded with a nic or 2 with all ports arranged in an LAG config hopefully in something simple like LACP and if I can't find a used server loaded with sata rev.3 I plan on building from a new computer component build with main drive an M.2 and all NAS information on the sata connections as well as usb 3.0, 3.1, and Thunderbolt, using pcie expansion slots so I'm hoping if all drives used for the actually separated from main machine's system OS drive then maybe I can remotely take 1 drive off line of the system and run test it with various programs like spinrite from another machine like an Intel NUC on my own network over tcp/ip connection if spinrite can be setup like that. Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ is that even possible?

[G+_David Wiggins]

As I understand it, that seems unlikely. If the drive is in a hot swap type array, then it could be pulled out and put in a SpinRite machine to test/repair/maintain. I believe someone mentioned that SpinRite requires direct hardware access. The machine doing the processing work needs to be attached to the physical drive, rather than logically mounted like a network share.

[G+_Eddie Foy]

Some people saying it does work when attached to a VM.  Thats not a thing I'd do.  Single task machine is where its at.  Remember what we are trying to accomplish.  Less wrenches in the works the better/safer it will be

(that said spinrite never fixed a single problem/drive for me yet)

[G+_Mike B]

PCPer.com has a review of another hard drive utility that is better than Spinrite. It costs drastically more though. Good discussion on the limitations of Spinrite.