SCSI Toolbox :: Newsletter - January 2004
IN THIS EDITION
Focus on Developers Toolbox (DTB)
What is DTB?
What can I do with DTB?
How about a few examples?
How do I get DTB?
How do I learn to use DTB?
What's next for DTB?
New SCSI Toolbox Website is up
December Survey winner
What is Developer Toolbox (DTB)?
DTB is a set of DLL’s that allow you to incorporate proven SCSI,
Fibre Channel, and ATAPI functionality into your own programs. These DLL’s
can be used with Microsoft Visual C++, Visual Basic, or the included Scriptwriter
Pro IDE and GUI design programs.
What can I do with DTB?
Anything you need! From issuing any CDB, through complete high-level threaded
device tests, the DTB tools let you write programs to do whatever you
need, working with whatever type of peripheral device you need to test.
Your tests can seamlessly integrate into existing or new company-wide
test processes. You can output data or test results to any type of data
collection or data base method that your company uses. You can make simple
console apps or full blown GUI extravaganzas! All using the development
tools that you already use.
How about a few examples?
STB customers are using DTB to integrate new device tests into existing
manufacturing processes. We have customers using DTB to test functionality
and compliance of new devices that are not released from engineering yet.
Some customers use DTB to write long term ongoing reliability tests and
feed test results to Oracle or Access databases. Others use DTB in engineering
to write tests “on the fly” as test scenarios are thought
of.
How do I get DTB?
If you have SCSItoolbox version 4.0 or above you already have it! The
full SCSItoolbox includes DTB. If you have your recent SCSItoolbox Performa
CD, there is a folder named “DTB Install CD’ – just
navigate to that folder and run the ‘Setup.exe’ program to
install.
If you
don’t have your CD handy, use this link to download the latest version
of DTB:
Developer Toolbox (version 4.2) download information:
http://www.scsitoolbox.com/Performa_42_a3rsa32/DeveloperToolbox422.exe
This link will expire: Wednesday, January 30th, 2003
How
do I learn to use DTB?
DTB comes with complete instructions to include DTB functions in your
Visual Basic or Visual C++ projects. There are sample projects for each
language that illustrate calling methods, and there is documentation for
each set of function calls.
The new improved SCSI Toolbox website has a section called the “Script Crypt” where we publish sample source code for each language – just go to http://www.scsitoolbox.com/ScryptCrypt/
Check
back often as we add new sample code frequently.
What's next for
DTB?
More high level disk and tape tests. Protocol control to allow you to
set or change any negotiated protocol parameters with certain SCSI host
bus adapters. Easy to use functions to set the Negotiated Transfer Rates,
and to issue SCSI bus resets. User defined ATA command functions that
allow you to set all ATA Task Registers. And a DTB shared library for
Linux.
Where do these new functions and tests
come from? They come from customers like you asking us to implement them!
If there is functionality that you need, just call or email and tell us
what you need – support@scsitoolbox.com New STB Website is up We'll be doing another survey shortly
so stay tuned!
The new SCSI Toolbox website is up. Have you checked it out yet? If not
check out the new look at http://www.scsitoolbox.com
December Survey winner!
We'd like to first thank everyone who participated in our December newsletter
survey. Your feedback is appreciated and helps us continually improve
our products, support, sales, etc.
Congratulations to Curtis Ballard at Hewlett Packard. He is the proud
owner of a mini spy cam. Careful now, don't get in trouble at work with
that thing...
