Seagate ST9146802SS Start/stop time, Prefetch/multi-segmented cache control, Cache operation

4.3Start/stop time

The drive accepts the commands listed in the SAS Interface Manual less than 3 seconds after DC power has been applied.

If the drive receives a NOTIFY (ENABLE SPINUP) primitive through either port and has not received a START STOP UNIT command with the START bit equal to 0, the drive becomes ready for normal operations within 20 seconds (excluding the error recovery procedure).

If the drive receives a START STOP UNIT command with the START bit equal to 0 before receiving a NOTIFY (ENABLE SPINUP) primitive, the drive waits for a START STOP UNIT command with the START bit equal to 1. After receiving a START STOP UNIT command with the START bit equal to 1, the drive waits for a NOTIFY (ENABLE SPINUP) primitive. After receiving a NOTIFY (ENABLE SPINUP) primitive through either port, the drive becomes ready for normal operations within 20 seconds (excluding the error recovery procedure).

If the drive receives a START STOP UNIT command with the START bit and IMMED bit equal to 1 and does not receive a NOTIFY (ENABLE SPINUP) primitive within 5 seconds, the drive fails the START STOP UNIT command.

The START STOP UNIT command may be used to command the drive to stop the spindle. Stop time is 20 sec- onds (maximum) from removal of DC power. SCSI stop time is 20 seconds. There is no power control switch on the drive.

4.4Prefetch/multi-segmented cache control

The drive provides a prefetch (read look-ahead) and multi-segmented cache control algorithms that in many cases can enhance system performance. Cache refers to the drive buffer storage space when it is used in cache operations. To select this feature, the host sends the Mode Select command with the proper values in the applicable bytes in page 08h. Prefetch and cache operations are independent features from the standpoint that each is enabled and disabled independently using the Mode Select command; however, in actual opera- tion, the prefetch feature overlaps cache operation somewhat as described in sections 4.5.1 and 4.5.2.

All default cache and prefetch mode parameter values (Mode Page 08h) for standard OEM versions of this drive family are given in Table 19.

4.5Cache operation

Note. Refer to the SAS Interface Manual for more detail concerning the cache bits.

Of the 16 Mbytes physical buffer space in the drive, approximately 13,000 kbytes can be used as a cache. The buffer is divided into logical segments from which data is read and to which data is written.

The drive keeps track of the logical block addresses of the data stored in each segment of the buffer. If the cache is enabled (see RCD bit in the SAS Interface Manual), data requested by the host with a read command is retrieved from the buffer, if possible, before any disc access is initiated. If cache operation is not enabled, the buffer is still used, but only as circular buffer segments during disc medium read operations (disregarding Prefetch operation for the moment). That is, the drive does not check in the buffer segments for the requested read data, but goes directly to the medium to retrieve it. The retrieved data merely passes through some buffer segment on the way to the host. All data transfers to the host are in accordance with buffer-full ratio rules. See the explanation provided with the information about Mode Page 02h (disconnect/reconnect control) in the SAS Interface Manual.

The following is a simplified description of the prefetch/cache operation:

Case A—read command is received and all of the requested logical blocks are already in the cache:

1. Drive transfers the requested logical blocks to the initiator.

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