Start/Stop Time; Prefetch/Multi Segmented Cache Control; Cache Operation - Seagate ST32430N - Hawk 2.1 GB Hard Drive Product Manual

12
_____________________________________________________________________________________
5.4

Start/stop time

After DC power has been applied, the drive becomes ready within 20 seconds (15 seconds typical) if the Motor
Start Option is disabled (i.e. the motor starts as soon as the power has been applied). During this time the drive
responds to some commands over the SCSI interface* in less than 3 seconds. Stop time is less than 20 seconds
from removal of DC power.
If the Motor Start Option is enabled, the internal controller accepts the commands listed in the SCSI Interface
Product Manual* less than 3 seconds after DC power has been applied. After the Motor Start Command has
been received the drive becomes ready for normal operations within 13 seconds typically. The Motor Start
Command can also be used to command the drive to stop the spindle*.
There is no power control switch on the drive.
5.5

Prefetch/multi segmented cache control

The drive provides prefetch (read look-ahead) and multi-segmented cache control algorithms that in many
cases can enhance system performance. "Cache" as used herein refers to the drive buffer storage space when
it is used in "cache" operations. To select prefetch and cache features the host sends the Mode Select
command with the proper values in the applicable bytes in Mode Page 08h*. Prefetch and cache operation are
independent features from the standpoint that each is enabled and disabled independently via the Mode Select
command. However, in actual operation the prefetch feature overlaps cache operation somewhat as is noted
in sections 5.5.1 and 5.5.2.
All default cache and prefetch Mode parameter values (Mode Page 08h) for standard OEM versions of this drive
family are given in Tables 11.3.2-1 through 11.3.2-4.
5.5.1

Cache operation

In general, 480 Kbytes of the 512 Kbytes of physical buffer space in the drive can be used as storage space
for cache operations. The buffer can be divided into logical segments (Mode Select Page 08h, byte 13) from
which data is read and to which data is written. The drive maintains a table of logical block disk medium
addresses of the data stored in each segment of the buffer. If cache operation is enabled (RCD bit = 0 in Mode
Page 08h, byte 2, bit 0. See SCSI Interface Product Manual*), data requested by the host with a Read command
is retrieved from the buffer (if it is there), before any disc access is initiated. If cache operation is not enabled,
the buffer (still segmented with required number of segments) is still used, but only as circular buffer segments
during disc medium read operations (disregarding Prefetch operation for the moment). That is, the drive does
not check in the buffer segments for the requested read data, but goes directly to the medium to retrieve it. The
retrieved data merely passes through some buffer segment on the way to the host. On a cache
transfers to the host are in accordance with "buffer-full" ratio rules. On a cache "hit" the drive ignores the "buffer-
full" ration rules. See explanations associated with Mode page 02h (disconnect/reconnect control) in the SCSI
Interface Product Manual*.
The following is a simplified description of a read operation with cache operation enabled:
Case A - A Read command is received and the first logical block (LB) is already in cache:
1. Drive transfers to the initiator the first LB requested plus all subsequent contiguous LB's that are already
in the cache. This data may be in multiple segments.
2. When the requested LB is reached that is not in any cache segment, the drive fetches it and any remaining
requested LB's from the disc and puts them in a segment of the cache. The drive transfers the remaining
requested LB's from the cache to the host in accordance with the disconnect/reconnect specification
mentioned above.
3. If the prefetch feature is enabled, refer to section 5.5.2 for operation from this point.
__________
*SCSI Interface Product Manual, 77738479.
Product Manual - Hawk 2LP Family SCSI-2 (Volume 1), Rev. B
miss", all data
"