7.0Defect and error management

Seagate continues to use innovative technologies to manage defects and errors. These technologies are designed to increase data integrity, perform drive self-maintenance, and validate proper drive operation.

SCSI defect and error management involves drive internal defect/error management and SAS system error considerations (errors in communications between the initiator and the drive). In addition, Seagate provides the following technologies used to increase data integrity and drive reliability:

Background Media Scan (see Section 7.4)

Media Pre-Scan (see Section 7.5)

Deferred Auto-Reallocation (see Section 7.6)

Idle Read After Write (see Section 7.7)

The read error rates and specified storage capacities are not dependent on host (initiator) defect management routines.

7.1Drive internal defects/errors

During the initial drive format operation at the factory, media defects are identified, tagged as being unusable, and their locations recorded on the drive primary defects list (referred to as the “P’ list and also as the ETF defect list). At factory format time, these known defects are also reallocated, that is, reassigned to a new place on the medium and the location listed in the defects reallocation table. The “P” list is not altered after factory formatting. Locations of defects found and reallocated during error recovery procedures after drive shipment are listed in the “G” list (defects growth list). The “P” and “G” lists may be referenced by the initiator using the Read Defect Data command.

Details of the SCSI commands supported by the drive are described in the SAS Interface Manual. Also, more information on the drive Error Recovery philosophy is presented in the SAS Interface Manual.

7.2Drive error recovery procedures

When an error occurs during drive operation, the drive, if programmed to do so, performs error recovery proce- dures to attempt to recover the data. The error recovery procedures used depend on the options previously set in the Error Recovery Parameters mode page. Error recovery and defect management may involve using sev- eral SCSI commands described in the SAS Interface Manual. The drive implements selectable error recovery time limits required in video applications.

The error recovery scheme supported by the drive provides a way to control the total error recovery time for the entire command in addition to controlling the recovery level for a single LBA. The total amount of time spent in error recovery for a command can be limited using the Recovery Time Limit bytes in the Error Recovery mode page. The total amount of time spent in error recovery for a single LBA can be limited using the Read Retry Count or Write Retry Count bytes in the Error Recovery mode page.

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Seagate ST31000640SS manual Defect and error management, Drive internal defects/errors, Drive error recovery procedures

ST31000640SS, ST3500620SS, ST3750630SS specifications

Seagate has been a leading name in the storage industry for decades, and its range of enterprise-class hard drives showcases advanced technologies and robust performance. The Seagate ST3750630SS, ST3500620SS, and ST31000640SS are three notable models that cater to the demands of data centers and enterprises. Each model is designed with specific features that enhance reliability and efficiency, making them suitable for various applications.

The Seagate ST3750630SS is a 750GB 15K RPM Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) drive. It boasts a high-performance architecture that allows for fast data transfer rates, making it ideal for high-load environments such as transaction processing and video streaming. This drive features an MTBF of 1.6 million hours, ensuring minimal downtime due to failures. It also employs advanced error recovery and data protection mechanisms, including error correction codes (ECC), to maintain data integrity.

Meanwhile, the ST3500620SS offers a capacity of 500GB with a spinning speed of 15K RPM as well. This drive utilizes the SAS interface, providing users with improved bandwidth and connectivity compared to traditional SATA drives. The ST3500620SS is designed with a focus on high availability, featuring a robust design that supports multiple workloads simultaneously. Its quick access times enhance overall system performance, making it a preferred choice for high-performance computing applications.

The ST31000640SS is another enterprise-class offering, delivering 1TB of storage capacity. Like its counterparts, this drive operates at 15K RPM and utilizes the SAS interface, facilitating fast data processing and retrieval. It also incorporates a dual-port design which allows for redundancy and failover capabilities. This feature is critical in enterprise environments where data access and uptime are paramount. The drive's design is optimized for durability and longevity, best suited for environments that require 24/7 operation.

All three Seagate drives feature advanced technologies such as dual-stage actuators and thermal write technology, ensuring improved read and write performance, along with reduced power consumption. Additionally, they are built to endure the rigors of enterprise workloads, including heavy I/O operations and high access demands.

In summary, the Seagate ST3750630SS, ST3500620SS, and ST31000640SS are exemplary models that reflect the company’s commitment to quality and performance in enterprise storage solutions. With their high speeds, reliability, and extensive features, these drives are well-equipped to meet the challenges of modern data-driven environments.