Table 5-124READ BUFFER Command-Field Descriptions

 

 

Field

Description

 

 

Mode

Four modes are supported by the drive; Combined Header and Data, Data Only, Descriptor Only, and

Read Data from Echo Buffer. The permissible values for Buffer ID, Buffer Offset, are as follows:

 

 

Combined Header and Data – In this mode, data to be transferred is preceded by a 4-byte header that

 

contains the buffer capacity. The resulting descriptor and data are transferred to the initiator during the

 

command’s data-in buffer transfer.

0000b

Buffer ID must be 0

 

 

Buffer Offset must be 0

 

Allocation length must be set to between 0 and 516 (4 bytes of header and up to 512 bytes of data).

 

 

 

Data Only– In this mode, the data-in buffer transfer contains data from the controller’s memory.

 

Buffer ID. When non-zero, the value specifies a specific track line in the controller’s cache. If Buffer

0010b

ID of zero is specified, the buffer referenced is the same as if a Buffer ID of one were specified.

Buffer Offset. When non-zero, the value of Buffer Offset can range from 0 to one less than the number

 

 

of sectors/track multiplied by 512. This value must be either a zero or a multiple of 512.

 

Allocation Length Must be between zero and the maximum number of sectors/track multiplied by 512.

 

 

 

Descriptor Only

 

When requesting a descriptor (a description of the buffer referenced in the Buffer IDfield), the resulting

 

data is the offset boundary requirements and the length of each buffer.

0011b

Buffer ID When non-zero, the value specifies a specific track line within the controller’s cache. If Buff-

er ID of 0 is specified, the buffer referenced is the same as if a Buffer ID of 1 were specified.

 

 

Buffer Offset Must be zero

 

Allocation Length Must be between 4 (header) and the maximum number of sectors/track multiplied

 

by 512 + header size.

1010b

Read Data from Echo Buffer

 

In this mode, the drive transfers data to the host from the echo buffer. The echo buffer will transfer the

 

same data as when the WRITE BUFFER command with the mode field set to echo buffer was issued.

 

Buffer ID Ignored.

 

Buffer Offset Ignored.

 

 

Maxtor Atlas 10K V

5-95