root@rescue:~# smartctl -a -d ata /dev/sda
smartctl 5.41 2011-06-09 r3365 [x86_64-linux-3.8.13-xxxx-std-ipv6-64] (local build)
Copyright (C) 2002-11 by Bruce Allen, http://smartmontools.sourceforge.net

Smartctl: Device Read Identity Failed: Input/output error

A mandatory SMART command failed: exiting. To continue, add one or more '-T permissive' options.