hesela.devHost-aware SMR
A historical SMR disk interface that exposes zone information while accepting non-sequential writes in sequential-write-preferred zones.
Write model: Unlike host-managed SMR, host-aware disks accept random writes and remain usable as regular disks. Their sequential-write-preferred zones are distinct from host-managed sequential-write-required zones; conventional zones are optional in both models. [1]
Open zones: An advertised optimal open-zone count is a performance guideline rather than an enforced limit. Sequential placement can avoid work caused by non-sequential writes, but compatibility alone gives no workload latency guarantee. [1]
Linux support: Upstream Linux 6.8 removed the host-aware block-layer model while retaining ordinary block-device access. Do not expect queue/zoned to report host-aware; none does not establish CMR recording. This is distinct from device identification and command passthrough. [3]
Evidence scope: Wu et al. studied ST8000AS0022 drives with prototype firmware ZN03 in 2016. Bursty sequential writes and sustained non-sequential writes exposed different bottlenecks. Their 128-open-zone recommendation is device-specific, not an HA-SMR interface limit. [4]
Relations
- related
- hm-smr, device-managed-smr, smr, zbc, zac, zoned-block-device
Advantages
- The historical device interface permits zone-aware placement while accepting ordinary random writes; host software support is a separate requirement. [2]
Limitations
- A SATA disk behind a SAS HBA needs compatible command translation to use its zone-management commands. [2]
Citations
- Zoned Storage: SMR interface models, zone types and limits
- Zoned Storage: host-aware SMR and HBA compatibility
- Linux commit 7437bb73f087: remove the host-aware block-layer model
- Wu et al., Evaluating Host Aware SMR Drives, HotStorage 2016, sections 3.1-3.3
Sources & caveats
- Historical prototype interface; status research records that evidence, not current product availability. Linux behavior is qualified by the upstream removal commit; distributions may carry different patches.
- The 2016 paper is a source review, not a reproduced experiment or a performance claim for other drives.
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Hesela team. Host-aware SMR. Hesela. 2026-10-18. https://hesela.dev/terms/host-aware-smr/