Q: I'm getting repeated SCSI hardware errors. This seems very worrisome. What should I do?

I have attached a sample from the file /var/log/messages. Right now, the only SCSI devices I have are a 4GB hard drive and a CD-ROM.

Jul 12 11:21:02 simplex kernel: Deferred error sd08:07: sense key Hardware Error
Jul 12 11:21:02 simplex kernel: Additional sense indicates Random positioning error
Jul 12 11:21:02 simplex kernel: scsidisk I/O error: dev 08:07, sector 2015804, absolute sector 6142029
Jul 12 11:21:04 simplex kernel: SCSI disk error : host 0 channel 0 id 0 lun 0 return code = 28000002
Jul 12 11:21:04 simplex kernel: Deferred error sd08:07: sense key Hardware Error
Jul 12 11:21:04 simplex kernel: Additional sense indicates Random positioning error
Jul 12 11:21:04 simplex kernel: scsidisk I/O error: dev 08:07, sector 2015806, absolute sector 6142031
Jul 12 11:21:07 simplex kernel: SCSI disk error : host 0 channel 0 id 0 lun 0 return code = 28000002
Jul 12 11:21:07 simplex kernel: Deferred error sd08:07: sense key Hardware Error
Jul 12 11:21:07 simplex kernel: Additional sense indicates Random positioning error
Jul 12 11:21:07 simplex kernel: scsidisk I/O error: dev 08:07, sector 2032156, absolute sector 6158381
Jul 12 11:21:29 simplex kernel: ncr53c875-0-<0,0>: tagged command queue depth set to 64
Jul 12 12:01:00 simplex su: 'su - news -c /usr/lib/news/bin/nntpsend' by unknown(root) on (null)
Jul 12 12:10:36 simplex kernel: SCSI disk error : host 0 channel 0 id 0 lun 0 return code = 28000002
Jul 12 12:10:36 simplex kernel: Deferred error sd08:07: sense key Hardware Error
Jul 12 12:10:36 simplex kernel: Additional sense indicates Random positioning error
Jul 12 12:10:36 simplex kernel: scsidisk I/O error: dev 08:07, sector 1966108, absolute sector 6092333
Jul 12 12:10:39 simplex kernel: SCSI disk error : host 0 channel 0 id 0 lun 0 return code = 28000002
Jul 12 12:10:39 simplex kernel: Deferred error sd08:07: sense key Hardware Error
Jul 12 12:10:39 simplex kernel: Additional sense indicates Random positioning error
Jul 12 12:10:39 simplex kernel: scsidisk I/O error: dev 08:07, sector 1982492, absolute sector 6108717
Jul 12 12:10:41 simplex kernel: SCSI disk error : host 0 channel 0 id 0 lun 0 return code = 28000002
Jul 12 12:10:41 simplex kernel: Deferred error sd08:07: sense key Hardware Error
Jul 12 12:10:41 simplex kernel: Additional sense indicates Random positioning error
Jul 12 12:10:41 simplex kernel: scsidisk I/O error: dev 08:07, sector 2015260, absolute sector 6141485
Jul 12 12:10:43 simplex kernel: SCSI disk error : host 0 channel 0 id 0 lun 0 return code = 28000002
Jul 12 12:10:43 simplex kernel: Deferred error sd08:07: sense key Hardware Error
Jul 12 12:10:43 simplex kernel: Additional sense indicates Random positioning error
Jul 12 12:10:43 simplex kernel: scsidisk I/O error: dev 08:07, sector 2031648, absolute sector 6157873
Jul 12 12:10:46 simplex kernel: SCSI disk error : host 0 channel 0 id 0 lun 0 return code = 28000002
Jul 12 12:10:46 simplex kernel: Deferred error sd08:07: sense key Hardware Error
Jul 12 12:10:46 simplex kernel: Additional sense indicates Random positioning error

A: The above errors are bad. It's possible they are due to SCSI cabling problems. Judging by your quotation, you recently got the machine. I'd check the cabling first, and make sure the CD-ROM and the hard drive SCSI IDs aren't in conflict. The most likely cause is a failing drive.