Quality & testing
Every unit checked before it ships
Enterprise drives are tested as individual units, not as a batch claim. This page describes what we check, what evidence is available on request, and what the condition labels mean.
Incoming
Incoming inspection
Before a drive is listed or quoted as available stock, it is checked against the part number and the condition it was sourced as.
Identity
Model, part number, firmware revision and capacity are read from the drive and matched to the quotation line. Mislabelled drives are rejected before they enter stock.
Condition
New, new-pull and refurbished drives are handled and stored separately. Condition is stated on every quotation line, and stock is never mixed silently.
Physical
Connectors, mounting holes, labels and seals are inspected. Drives with damage or signs of tampering are not offered as standard stock.
Test
Health check and surface scan
The test depth depends on the condition: new sealed drives are spot-checked, while refurbished and new-pull drives are tested individually.
SMART
Full SMART attribute read, including reallocated sectors, pending sectors, grown defects and error counters. For SSDs, wear indicators and total data written are recorded where the drive exposes them.
Surface scan
Full read verification of the addressable surface. Drives that fail the scan are removed from stock rather than sold with a caveat.
Functional check
Power-on, spin-up, enumeration against the stated interface and a basic read/write exercise. For SAS drives, both ports are checked where the test bench supports it.
Secure erase
Used and refurbished drives are wiped to a documented standard before dispatch. A wipe confirmation can be included with the shipment on request.
Evidence
What you can request
Documentation is available per serial number — not as a batch-level statement.
- SMART dump — raw attributes per drive serial, before dispatch.
- Surface scan result — pass/fail with the error summary.
- Wipe confirmation — for used and refurbished stock.
- Photos on request — labels, firmware revision and physical condition for high-value or unusual part numbers.
If a specific test report format is required for your QA process, send the template with the request and we will confirm whether it can be produced before quoting.
Limits
What testing does not cover
- Array compatibility — a tested drive can still be rejected by a branded array that validates OEM firmware. Send the array model so we can match firmware, not just the base part number.
- Workload suitability — testing confirms the drive works, not that it fits your workload. Check CMR/SMR, workload rating and duty cycle before ordering.
- Long-term reliability — no short test predicts the full service life of a used drive. Refurbished stock is priced and warranted accordingly; condition is stated on every line.
Need test evidence for a specific part number?
Send the model, quantity and the report format you need — we will confirm what can be provided before quoting.
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