How to use the command ledctl (with examples)

The ledctl command is used to control the LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) on Intel enclosures. It provides options to turn on/off different LEDs for specified devices. The command is run with sudo privileges and takes different arguments to control and manipulate the LEDs.

Use case 1: Turn on the “Locate” LED for specified device(s)

Code:

sudo ledctl locate=/dev/sda,/dev/sdb,...

Motivation:

This use case is useful when you want to locate specific devices in an Intel enclosure by turning on the “Locate” LED. It helps in identifying the physical location of the devices within the enclosure.

Explanation:

• sudo: The command is run with superuser privileges.
• ledctl: The name of the command.
• locate=/dev/sda,/dev/sdb,...: The argument locate is used to specify the devices for which the “Locate” LED should be turned on. You can provide multiple devices separated by commas.

Example output:

The “Locate” LED will be turned on for the specified devices, indicating their physical location within the Intel enclosure.

Use case 2: Turn off the “Locate” LED for specified device(s)

Code:

sudo ledctl locate_off=/dev/sda,/dev/sdb,...

Motivation:

This use case is helpful when you want to turn off the “Locate” LED for specific devices in an Intel enclosure. It is useful when you no longer need the visual indication of the device’s location.

Explanation:

• sudo: The command is run with superuser privileges.
• ledctl: The name of the command.
• locate_off=/dev/sda,/dev/sdb,...: The argument locate_off is used to specify the devices for which the “Locate” LED should be turned off. You can provide multiple devices separated by commas.

Example output:

The “Locate” LED will be turned off for the specified devices.

Use case 3: Turn off the “Status” LED and “Failure” LED for specified device(s)

Code:

sudo ledctl off=/dev/sda,/dev/sdb,...

Motivation:

In certain situations, you may want to turn off both the “Status” LED and the “Failure” LED for specific devices. This can be helpful if you want to suppress or disable the visual indication of the device’s status or failure.

Explanation:

• sudo: The command is run with superuser privileges.
• ledctl: The name of the command.
• off=/dev/sda,/dev/sdb,...: The argument off is used to specify the devices for which the “Status” LED and “Failure” LED should be turned off. You can provide multiple devices separated by commas.

Example output:

The “Status” LED and “Failure” LED will be turned off for the specified devices.

Use case 4: Turn off the “Status” LED, “Failure” LED and “Locate” LED for specified device(s)

Code:

sudo ledctl normal=/dev/sda,/dev/sdb,...

Motivation:

This use case allows you to turn off all the LEDs (including the “Status”, “Failure”, and “Locate” LEDs) for specific devices. It can be useful if you want to disable all visual indications for the specified devices.

Explanation:

• sudo: The command is run with superuser privileges.
• ledctl: The name of the command.
• normal=/dev/sda,/dev/sdb,...: The argument normal is used to specify the devices for which all LEDs should be turned off. You can provide multiple devices separated by commas.

Example output:

All LEDs (including the “Status”, “Failure”, and “Locate” LEDs) will be turned off for the specified devices.

Conclusion:

The ledctl command provides a way to control the LEDs on Intel enclosures. By using different arguments, you can turn on/off specific LEDs for specified devices, allowing you to locate, disable, or enable visual indications as per your requirements.