Which command shows drive capabilities?

Which command shows drive capabilities?

• A. Sudo smartctl -c /dev/sdX
• B. Sudo smartctl -a /dev/sdX
• C. Sudo hdparm -I /dev/sdX
• D. Df -h

Answer: (A)

To see what capabilities a drive supports, you want a focused query of the device’s features. Using smartctl with the -c option returns only the device capabilities, giving you a concise view of what the drive can do. This is the most direct way to confirm supported features without pulling in other SMART data or unrelated details. In contrast, asking for all SMART information (-a) will include capabilities plus the full SMART status, which is more than you need for just capabilities. The hdparm -I command shows hardware identity and a broader set of features, not specifically the SMART capability list. And df -h reports filesystem usage, which has nothing to do with drive capabilities. So the -c option is the best fit for showing drive capabilities.

To see what capabilities a drive supports, you want a focused query of the device’s features. Using smartctl with the -c option returns only the device capabilities, giving you a concise view of what the drive can do. This is the most direct way to confirm supported features without pulling in other SMART data or unrelated details. In contrast, asking for all SMART information (-a) will include capabilities plus the full SMART status, which is more than you need for just capabilities. The hdparm -I command shows hardware identity and a broader set of features, not specifically the SMART capability list. And df -h reports filesystem usage, which has nothing to do with drive capabilities. So the -c option is the best fit for showing drive capabilities.