How to check my HDD's for defects

Because I had some problems with my server I want to check it's hard drives for defects (the drives not the file system) which tool can I use for this in ubuntu?

I know for my hard drives there is a CD from Western Digital (Data Lifeguard) but I can't get it to run via usb CD drive. So are there any native alternatives?

System Information:

• Acer easyStore h341
• Intel Atom D410 1.66GHz
• 2x 1TB Western Digital Caviar Green (WD10EADS-00P6B0)
• 2x 1TB Western Digital Caviar Green (WD10EADS-22M2B0)
• RAM 2GB

Solution 1:

If disks support SMART, you can try smartctl (from package smartmontools).

sudo smartctl -d <ata,scsi, etc... > -H /dev/sd*

In addition to (not instead of) smartctl, or in the unlikely event that the disks do not support SMART, you can test the drive for physical/magnetic damage using the badblocks utility.