---
name: "ndctl-start-scrub"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "ndctl"
version: "85-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ndctl-start-scrub"
---

# ndctl-start-scrub(1)

start an Address Range Scrub (ARS) operation

## NAME

ndctl-start-scrub - start an Address Range Scrub (ARS) operation

## SYNOPSIS

```
ndctl start-scrub [<bus-id> <bus-id2> ... <bus-idN>] [<options>]
```

## DESCRIPTION

NVDIMM Address Range Scrub is a capability provided by platform firmware that allows for the discovery of memory errors by system software. It enables system software to pre-emptively avoid accesses that could lead to uncorrectable memory error handling events, and it otherwise allows memory errors to be enumerated.

The kernel provides a sysfs file (*scrub*) that when written with the string "1\\n" initiates an ARS operation. The *ndctl start-scrub* operation starts an ARS, across all specified buses, and the kernel in turn proceeds to scrub every persistent memory address region on the specified buses.

## EXAMPLE

Start a scrub on all nvdimm buses in the system. The json listing report only includes the buses that support ARS operations.

```
# ndctl start-scrub
[
  {
    "provider":"nfit_test.1",
    "dev":"ndbus3",
    "scrub_state":"active"
  },
  {
    "provider":"nfit_test.0",
    "dev":"ndbus2",
    "scrub_state":"active"
  }
]
```

When specifying an individual bus, or if there is only one bus in the system, the command reports whether ARS support is available.

```
# ndctl start-scrub e820
error starting scrub: Operation not supported
```

## OPTIONS

- \-v, --verbose

  Emit debug messages for the ARS start process

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2016 - 2022, Intel Corporation. License GPLv2: GNU GPL version 2  \<http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>. This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.  There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO

[ndctl-wait-scrub(1)](/ndctl-wait-scrub/1.md),*ACPI* \<http://www.uefi.org/sites/default/files/resources/ACPI%206\_2\_A\_Sept29.pdf\> 6.2 Specification Section 9.20.7.2 Address Range Scrubbing (ARS) Overview"