+# partitions have no md/{array_state,metadata_version}
+ENV{DEVTYPE}=="partition", GOTO="md_ignore_state"
+
+# container devices have a metadata version of e.g. 'external:ddf' and
+# never leave state 'inactive'
+ATTR{md/metadata_version}=="external:[A-Za-z]*", ATTR{md/array_state}=="inactive", GOTO="md_ignore_state"
+TEST!="md/array_state", GOTO="md_end"