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 ST3300555SS manual Defect and error management, Drive internal defects/errors, Drive error recovery procedures

ST3300555SS, ST3146755SS, ST373355SS specifications

The Seagate ST373355SS, ST3146755SS, and ST3300555SS represent a range of high-performance hard drives designed for enterprise applications, particularly in server environments requiring reliability, speed, and high capacity.

The ST373355SS is a 73.5 GB SCSI hard drive operating at 15,000 RPM, which ensures rapid data access and superior performance, making it ideal for transactional applications and data-intensive tasks. With its 4 MB cache, the drive leverages fast read and write speeds, enhancing overall system responsiveness. The SCSI interface, operating at 80 MB/s, allows for high-speed data transfers, making it a suitable choice for demanding environments where quick access to information is critical. Its hot-swappable feature enables maintenance without shutting down the system, maximizing uptime and productivity.

The ST3146755SS, with a capacity of 146.8 GB, builds on the performance of its predecessor while introducing improvements in data handling and reliability. Operating at the same impressive 15,000 RPM, this model also features a 16 MB cache that greatly improves data throughput and access speed. The drive is designed to reduce latency, which is crucial for applications where timing is everything. It is equipped with advanced error recovery features and Seagate’s innovative PowerTrim technology, which improves power efficiency during read and write operations. The ST3146755SS also features a higher mean time between failures (MTBF), underscoring its reliability in high-demand environments.

Lastly, the ST3300555SS offers even greater capacity with 300 GB. This drive maintains the 15,000 RPM rotation speed and benefits from a 16 MB cache, providing a balance of speed and storage capacity. Its advanced SCSI interface supports not just speed but also data integrity, ensuring consistent performance during extensive data transfers. The drive is designed to handle workloads naturally associated with enterprise servers, data warehouses, and video editing applications. Its rugged build supports continuous operation and is tested for high-temperature environments to ensure durability.

In summary, the Seagate ST373355SS, ST3146755SS, and ST3300555SS hard drives are engineered for enterprise environments, combining impressive RPM speeds, significant storage capacities, and advanced technologies to deliver reliability, performance, and efficiency for critical applications. These hard drives represent Seagate's commitment to providing solutions that meet the rigorous demands of modern data environments.