SCSI Toolbox :: Newsletter - June 2003 - Focus on ATA
IN THIS EDITION
ATA Issues
Interim SCSItoolbox release
Ask Dr. SCSI - How can I test, profile, or qualify Serial
ATA drives?
Did you know? - Tape Compression Ratios...
ATA Issues
Since 2002 the SCSItoolbox has been able to communicate and test ATA interface
peripherals - including Serial ATA - by using the ATAPI (ATA Packet Interface)
interface. ATA devices will implement various combinations of the commands
defined in the ATAPI specification - everything from basic commands like
INQUIRY, READ, and WRITE, on through more informative commands such as
MODE SENSE and LOG SENSE. You will need to consult your particular device
documentation to find out what commands are supported.
As a general rule most ATAPI devices will support any of the read or write
tests, performance measurement tests, and media duplication.
Interim SCSItoolbox release
An interim release of SCSItoolbox (version 4.0.1) is available
for download at the SCSItoolbox web site. This version fixes a bug in
the transfer rate calculations in the Tape Performance Test, and adds
an additional new Tape Speed Measurement Test.
Click this link to download. http://www.scsitoolbox.com/support/234sdf92dfmn/STB401Upgrade.zip
When the download is complete unzip the file STB32.exe and copy it into
your SCSItoolbox folder.
Ask Dr. SCSI - How can I test, profile,
or qualify Serial ATA drives?
Q. How can I test, profile, or qualify Serial ATA drives?
A. With the SCSItoolbox,
of course!
Use a non-RAID SATA board, such as a Siig or Adaptec. Use the Scan System
button on the main SCSItoolbox menu to locate and select the drive you
want to test.
Use the Sequential or Random disk tests, and you can set performance alarms
to qualify SATA drives based on transfer rate limits that you set.
Or, use the Disk Screening Module to test multiple SATA drives at once
- as many drives on as many adapters as you'd like! All test results and
data are stored to an Access data base, so tracking historical data by
disk type or serial number is a snap.
Did you know?
Did you know that you can query your tape drive to see what amount of
tape compression is being achieved? In keeping with our ATA theme, we
will look at an ATAPI interface Sony SDX-420 tape drive's compression
page, which is LOG PAGE 39h. Check your tape drive documentation to determine
which LOG PAGE contains compression information.
Here are the parameters available on the SDX-420:
Use the Tape->Commands->Mode/Log Pages->Log Pages->View Log Pages command
to view the current values.
