Maxtor 5120 manual Cache Management, Buffer Segmentation, Read-Ahead Mode, Write Cache Stacking

PRODUCTDESCRIPTION

Cache Management

Buffer Segmentation

The data buffer is organized into two segments: the data buffer and the micro controller scratch pad. The data buffer is dynamically allocated for read and write data depending on the commands received. A variable number of read and write buffers may exist at the same time.

Read-Ahead Mode

Normally, this mode is active. Following a read request, disk read-ahead begins on the first sector and continues sequentially until the allocated buffer is full. If a read request is received during the read-ahead operation, the buffer is examined to determine if the request is in the cache. If a cache hit occurs, read- ahead mode continues without interruption and the host transfer begins immediately.

Automatic Write Reallocation (AWR)

This feature is part of the write cache and reduces the risk of data loss during deferred write operations. If a disk error occurs during the disk write process, the disk task stops and the suspect sector is reallocated to a pool of alternate sectors located at the end of the drive. Following reallocation, the disk write task continues until it is complete.

Write Cache Stacking

Normally, this mode is active. Write cache mode accepts the host write data into the buffer until the buffer is full or the host transfer is complete. A command complete interrupt is generated at the end of the transfer.

A disk write task begins to store the host data to disk. Host write commands continue to be accepted and data transferred to the buffer until either the write command stack is full or the data buffer is full. The drive may reorder write commands to optimize drive throughput.

2 – 4