Reliability and service, Seek errors | Seagate ST973401SS guide

5.1.3Seek errors

A seek error is defined as a failure of the drive to position the heads to the addressed track. After detecting an initial seek error, the drive automatically performs an error recovery process. If the error recovery process fails, a seek positioning error (Error code = 15h or 02h) will be reported with a Hardware error (04h) in the Sense Key. Recoverable seek errors are specified at Less than 10 errors in 108 seeks. Unrecoverable seek errors (Sense Key = 04h) are classified as drive failures.

5.1.4Interface errors

An interface error is defined as a failure of the receiver on a port to recover the data as transmitted by the device port connected to the receiver. The error may be detected as a running disparity error, illegal code, loss of word sync, or CRC error.

5.2Reliability and service

You can enhance the reliability of Savvio disc drives by ensuring that the drive receives adequate cooling. Sec- tion 6.0 provides temperature measurements and other information that may be used to enhance the service life of the drive. Section 8.2 provides recommended air-flow information.

5.2.1Mean time between failure

The production disc drive shall achieve an MTBF of 1,400,000 hours when operated in an environment that ensures the HDA case temperatures specified in Section 6.4 are not exceeded. Short-term excursions up to the specification limits of the operating environment will not affect MTBF performance. Continual or sustained operation at case temperatures above the values shown in Section 6.4.1 may degrade product reliability.

The MTBF target is specified as device power-on hours (POH) for all drives in service per failure.

Estimated power-on operating hours in the period

MTBF per measurement period

Number of drive failures in the period

Estimated power-on operation hours means power-up hours per disc drive times the total number of disc drives in service. Each disc drive shall have accumulated at least nine months of operation. Data shall be cal- culated on a rolling average base for a minimum period of six months.

MTBF is based on the following assumptions:

•8,760 power-on hours per year.

•250 average on/off cycles per year.

•Operations at nominal voltages.

•Systems will provide adequate cooling to ensure the case temperatures specified in Section 6.4.1 are not exceeded.

Drive failure means any stoppage or substandard performance caused by drive malfunction.

A S.M.A.R.T. predictive failure indicates that the drive is deteriorating to an imminent failure and is considered an MTBF hit.

5.2.2Preventive maintenance

No routine scheduled preventive maintenance is required.

18	Savvio SAS Product Manual, Rev. D

ST936701SS, ST973401SS specifications

The Seagate ST936701SS and ST973401SS are high-performance enterprise hard drives designed for optimal data storage solutions in demanding environments. Both models belong to Seagate's Savvio series, which is renowned for its reliability and efficiency. These drives are tailored for critical applications such as database management, data warehousing, and online transaction processing.

The ST936701SS comes with a storage capacity of 36.4 GB, while the ST973401SS offers a larger capacity of 73.4 GB. This variance allows users to choose the drive that best suits their storage needs without compromising performance. Both drives utilize a 2.5-inch form factor, making them compact and suitable for high-density storage configurations.

A key feature of these drives is their impressive rotational speed of 10,000 RPM, which enhances data access times and improves overall system responsiveness. This speed allows for reduced latency and faster data transfer rates, critical for applications that require quick retrieval of large datasets.

In terms of technology, these drives utilize the Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) interface, which is favored in enterprise settings for its reliability and speed. SAS provides better performance than traditional SATA drives, particularly when dealing with high workloads, as it supports multiple concurrent connections and higher data throughput.

The ST936701SS and ST973401SS are also equipped with advanced features such as Seagate's Native Command Queuing (NCQ), which optimizes the order in which read and write commands are executed. This results in improved performance under multi-tasking conditions, essential for enterprise servers managing multiple requests simultaneously.

Additionally, both drives incorporate features aimed at enhancing data integrity and reliability. They support End-to-End Data Protection and are designed to endure the rigors of continuous operation, with MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) ratings that bolster their reputation for durability.

Energy efficiency is another notable characteristic, as both drives are designed to reduce power consumption without sacrificing performance. This is particularly important in enterprise environments where power management contributes to lower operational costs.

In conclusion, the Seagate ST936701SS and ST973401SS drives are robust, reliable storage solutions tailored for enterprise applications. With their high performance, advanced technology features, and capacity options, they provide organizations with the scalability and efficiency required in today’s data-driven landscape. Whether it's for critical data management tasks or high-access applications, these drives stand out as a solid choice for any enterprise storage strategy.