SCSI Toolbox :: Newsletter - June 2005
IN THIS EDITION
Did you know...Map Tape Contents Test
How are people using BAM?
End-User Tools :: Why your company shouldn't run without them
Ask Dr. SCSI - A/V Optimization and Disk Performance
Did you know...
Is one backup set on your tape bad, and rest good? Are they all unreadable? How many are there?
The Map Tape Contents Test will show everything that has been written on a tape. File marks, tape marks, data, and the read error count for each group of data blocks. Run this non-destructive test on any previously written tape to see how the data is arranged, how many file marks separate data files, and how many read errors are encountered when reading the data blocks.
How are people using BAM?
Many of the tools in the SCSItoolbox Suite come to be when our programmers need a something special in order to do their work. We develop the tool, and if it is especially useful we add it into the SCSItoolbox Suite. And that’s how BAM came to be.
This month we did an informal survey of our developers and support staff and some customers – asking the question “How have you used BAM this week”. We’re printing the answers here with the idea that seeing how other people are using BAM might give you some new ideas of how it can help you do your job better, or at least easier.
I used BAM to:
- make sure that a test I was writing had the correct ratio of write and read commands
- confirm the burst and overall transfer rate to a new tape drive
- check a device firmware update for impact on command latency times
- find a bug in my application where I was sending MODE SELECT data incorrectly
- confirm a backplane problem
- measure the command queuing depth and average I/O size of a Windows application
- Observe the I/O activity of an application
- Check the data sent by an application that corrupts blocks on a disk drive
- Confirm how Windows dealt with a device that reset itself upon error
- Check driver status when an I/O times out
- Determine exactly how much data is transferred when a data underrun occurred
- Check if other applications or OS “features” are sending I/O to my device during test
Everyone asked replied that the more they use BAM the more uses they find for it. So if you haven’t used BAM yet, start today! It’s included in the SCSItoolbox Suite, it’s got its own desktop icon – it’s ready to help you now!
End-User Tools :: Why your company shouldn't run without them
What is an End-User Tool?
An End-User Tool is a utility program that is written to help with the following functions:
- Reduce cost to you
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- Reducing NTFs and NPFs
- Eliminate unneeded shipping costs (RMA related cost)
- Eliminate unneeded troubleshooting by your engineering staff (RMA related cost)
- Increase your customers confidence in your product and services - Offering a proactive analysis tool
- Streamline the RMA process when a failed drive is diagnosed (Generate RMA numbers, shipping labels, customerIDs, etc)
- Capture relevant information from the system for engineering troubleshooting
- Competitive edge for marketing and sales (Offering a solution a competitor isn't)
What End-User Tools has SCSI Toolbox written or have been a part of?
| Client | Application |
| Hewlett Packard | End user tape tool for reduction of NPFs |
| Hewlett Packard | Firmware download tool for Network Server Division |
| Mylex | Firmware download tool functioning through RAID pass through mode |
| Sony Electronics | Windows based firmware download tool |
| Sony Electronics | End-User Tape Tool (DriveTools - STU) |
| Storage Technology | Service tool for worldwide field service group |
| Seagate | SeaTools Enterprise End-user diagnostic tool |
| Overland Storage | End-User Tape Tool (TOD - Tech On a Disk) |
| Comverse | Field Service diagnostic tool |
| Hitachi | End-user firmware download tool |
How much do End-User Tools cost?
End-User Tools have a price range, typically ranging from no more than the price of a handful of SCSItoolbox Suite licenses or more depending on how elaborate your needs are. End-User Tools are indispensable , once in place and utilized the End-User tool will pay for itself in no time at all.
I'm not sure an End-User Tool is a good fit for our company, is it?
If your company is doing any of the following:
- Manufacturing a product
- Assembling a product
- Engineering/Developing Storage based hardware
Call 720.249.2641, write sales@scsitoolbox.com, or use the online contact form here: http://www.scsitoolbox.com/Contact.asp
Ask Dr. SCSI - Disk Performance and A/V Optimization
Q. “I have a video NLE workstation. I know my disks are plenty fast, so why should I care about A/V disk optimization?”
A. “You might be surprised what small correctable disk errors will do to your fast disk transfer rate – but you don't need to be surprised, just run the A/V Data Performance Test to see for yourself. And then use the A/V Optimization Command to optimize your disk for reliable A/V use.”
Download > A/V optimization Video (Windows Media Video)
Download > Correctable disk errors and Audio/Video applications (White Paper)
