| PC-3000 for SCSI |
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PC-3000 for SCSI is a software complex designed for comprehensive testing, repair and (whenever acting together with Data Extractor) for recovery of user data from damaged SCSI HDD. It allows simultaneous work with single or several HDD (up to 15) running tests and service operations independently on each of them. E.g., you may launch a reading test on one drive, a writing test on another, data copying on the third one, etc. Operations on hard drive are performed via a standard SCSI host controller (not included, available from various vendors). You can connect and disconnect SCSI HDD being repaired from the controller without restarting the computer or utility. The package includes a specialized PC-KEY board making possible software control over power supply for one hard drive under test. Power supply for other connected SCSI HDD requires an external standard PC power supply unit.
Power control card PC-KEY
| Basic principles of operation |
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The program has an original, convenient and intuitively comprehensible interface identical to the PC-3000 complex for Windows.
Testing provides for performance of various operations over a HDD that allow a complete check-up of all their functionality in accordance with the SCSI specification for HDD. Please see the list of test procedures below.
- Running of elementary tests (readiness check, recalibration, self-diagnostics, drive ID reading, spindle stop/start).
- Surface verification.
- Read, write, and seek tests.
- Complex HDD test including all of the above.
- Reading and viewing of PLIST and GLIST defect tables.
- Relocation of defects.
- Low-level HDD format.
- Launch of short HDD self-test.
The program performs testing of HDD performance and outputs the results in the form of diagrams. Data exchange rate is displayed in MB/sec for commands actually pertaining to data exchange or as a number of LBA processed per second for tests, which do not transfer data, e.g. surface verification test.
The program has a built-in sector editor, which allows reviewing and modification of specified surface areas as well as their saving to file.
PC-3000 software for SCSI allows HDD image creation. Copying can be performed from a single drive to several ones simultaneously. The feature is useful in cases when source HDD has damaged sectors and we have to recover its data, but hanging or malfunctioning drive prevents that.
The program allows users to save any part of HDD surface to a file on another HDD and then record the data to a selected HDD. The feature may be applied for HDD duplication or data recovery.
| Peculiarities in the software complex of PC-3000 for SCSI. |
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One great advantage of PC-3000 for SCSI is manifested in the fact that operations on a HDD are performed at the top speed available, which is determined by the capabilities of SCSI host controller for all operations pertaining to data transfer. Thus, when using modern Ultra320 controllers with transfer speed of 320 MB/sec between HDD buffer and the controller proper, the actual transfer speed will be limited not by the controller but rather by the maximum transfer speed of the read channel in the drive (sustained between HDD surface and its buffer). In modern HDD it does not exceed 90 MB/sec. Therefore, if we connect to the controller, e.g., 4 Ultra320 HDD and launch a read test on all 4 of them or start data image creation from a single HDD to 3 others, the transfer speed on each of the HDD will approach the maximum of 60-80 MB/sec matching the speed achieved during connection of just one HDD to the controller. In case of simultaneous verification of a maximum HDD number (up to 15) verification speed will be at the top value equal to the speed achieved when just a single HDD is connected. E.g., verification or reading of the whole surface area of a 73 GB HDD will take approximately 24 minutes. Simultaneous verification of all surfaces on 5 HDD of the same capacity will take 24 minutes just as well.
The software structure of the PC-3000 complex for SCSI includes (in addition to a universal utility) specialized utilities for factory mode operations on SCSI HDD. Currently there is just one specialized utility for IBM-HGST SCSI HDD; it allows testing of those drives in factory mode, saving and restoration of their firmware data. In case of error detection the utility uses an additional list of vendor error codes (Unit Error Code, UEC), which may not be accessed from the universal utility. The UEC list details error causes and in many cases allows very precise definition of its background as well as possible methods of HDD repair or data recovery.
At present we are developing an identical specialized utility for Maxtor-Quantum HDD. Our plans also include development of a specialized utility for Seagate HDD.
PC-3000 for SCSI features an opportunity to create custom tests using built-in Visual Basic Script programming language. The language allows access to all functions of "PC-3000 for SCSI": its window interface, database operations, sending of any SCSI command, operations with data buffer, etc.
All test results can be saved to files or a database. For that purpose the application creates a special directory with a unique name for each HDD. The results can be used for further reviewing or subsequent testing. The application logs all its actions while running. The log can be saved to a file for reviewing later.
PC-3000 for SCSI software complex can function under the following operating systems: Microsoft Windows 98/ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP.
The hardware requirements to PC are determined by the corresponding requirements of the operating system.
The system must have an installed SCSI controller.
The software is supplied with a technical manual, which includes a detailed description of SCSI interface and all components in a SCSI system: cables, connectors, terminators, signals, messages, commands, etc. The manual describes the guidelines for work with the software and basic methods of HDD diagnostics and repair.
Description of the specialized utility for IBM-HGST HDD contains the most important information about all drive families of those manufacturers. It also provides recommendations for the repair and diagnostics of those HDD.
| PC-3000 for SCSI kit |
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PC-3000 for SCSI kit includes:
- Power control card PC-KEY
- Power cable
- User Manuals
- Software PC-3000 for SCSI
PC-KEY card and accessories
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