5.4Checking Operation after Installation and Preparing the HDDs for Use
c)Issue the REQUEST SENSE command to collect sense data. When sense data has been collected successfully, perform an analysis to check for recoverable errors, and retry operations for recovery from any such errors.
(2)Checking at abnormal end
a)When sense data can be obtained, analyze the sense data and retry recovery for a recoverable error. Refer to Chapter 5 “Sense Data and Error Recovery Method” of the Interface Specifications for further details.
5.4.2Formatting
Since the disk drive is formatted with a specific (default) data format for each model (part number) when shipped from the factory, the disk need not be formatted (initialized) when it is installed in the system.
However, when the system needs data attributes different from the default format, all sides of the disk must be formatted (initialized) according to the procedures below.
The user can change the following data attributes at initialization:
•Logical data block length
•Number of logical data blocks in the user space
•Alternate spare area size
This section outlines the formatting at installation. Refer to Subsection 4.1.4 “MODE
SELECT (15)”, 4.1.5 “MODE SELECT EXTENDED (55)” of the Serial Attached SCSI Interface Specifications for further details.
(1)MODE SELECT/MODE SELECT EXTENDED command
Specify the format attributes on the disk with the MODE SELECT or MODE SELECT EXTENDED command. The parameters are as follows.
a.Block descriptor
Specify the size (byte length) of the logical data block in the "data block length" field. To explicitly specify the number of logical data blocks, specify the number in the "number of data blocks" field. Otherwise, specify 0 in "number of data blocks" field. In this case, the number of logical data blocks after initialization is determined by the value specified in the format parameter (page code = 3) and drive parameter (page code = 4).
b.Format parameter (page code = 3)
Specify the number of spare sectors for each cell in the "alternate sectors/zone" field. It is recommended not to specify values smaller than the HDD default value in this field.