SCSI Performance to Soar With Up to 4X Current Data Transfer Rates
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 13, 1999--
Industry Adopts Plan to Push SCSI to 640 Mbytes/Second; Adds Usability and
Manageability Features and Enhances Desktop SCSI
Transfer rates for the world's most popular I/O interface will be increased up to four
times current rates, a group of leading industry companies announced Tuesday.
The companies, working together as the SCSI Trade Association (STA(R)), have
adopted a plan that will push data transfer rates from the current 160 Mbytes/second
specified under Ultra3 SCSI to 320 Mbytes/second in less than two years and to 640
Mbytes/second by 2003.
The association believes that higher performance, combined with the usability and
interoperability that are hallmarks of SCSI, will be critical to enterprises depending on
increasing numbers of servers and workstations. In addition, the organization outlined
plans to add features and performance for desktop SCSI.
"User needs are driving the rapid deployment of servers and workstations with faster
data transfer rates. The industry is meeting users' needs with products that provide
performance as well as reliability, interoperability and backward compatibility with
today's SCSI devices," said Harry Mason, president, SCSI Trade Association.
"At the client level, the huge installed base of SCSI devices and its continued
popularity mean we need to add more usability and performance for desktop systems."
Drives, Network I/O, Data Storage Needs Driving Bus Throughput
The original SCSI transferred data at a maximum rate of 5 MBytes/second. In
contrast, today's SCSI peripherals and host controllers based on Ultra3 SCSI, adopted
by the industry last fall and shipping in volume now, move data at 160 MBytes/second.
Several trends support the industry's need to enhance SCSI's capabilities. Higher
processor and memory speeds demand higher data transfer rates from mass storage
devices, requiring that SCSI continue to evolve to faster performance.
Faster network I/O, such as Gigabit Ethernet, also is supporting the continued
evolution of SCSI. For example, Gigabit Ethernet can require data transfer rates up to
200 MBytes/second. Enhancements to the PCI bus to increase bus width to 64 bits and
speed to 66 MHz, along with alternatives to the PCI bus, also will require
ever-increasing data movement.
Further driving the SCSI performance evolution is the exponential increase in data
storage requirements for servers, a result of the widespread usage of the Internet and of
corporate databases that often incorporate multiple data types such as text, graphics and
even audio and video.
Future SCSI To Add Additional Usability, Manageability Features
To complement performance increases, the industry has agreed upon a number of
features for SCSI that adds usability and manageability. Some of these features are
being implemented today in Ultra3 SCSI products and will be part of products based on
future SCSI.
These features include Cyclic Redundancy Code (CRC) and domain validation. CRC
protects data from being lost in the event of a poor connection or during hot-plugging a
new drive into the system. Domain validation provides a new method for ensuring
compatibility and that data transfers happen at the highest possible rate.
If this rate is not possible, the device can shift to a lower speed before data transfer
begins, allowing SCSI to tune its performance to the highest performance the system
will support.
Member companies also are developing manageability software to track errors and
define how to make system adjustments to ensure maximum overall performance.
These manageability improvements will be available in devices supporting
higher-performance future SCSI implementations.
SCSI for the Desktop Enhanced
The STA also announced it will continue to enhance SCSI for desktop connectivity.
Future enhancements will include expanding today's 8-bit desktop SCSI to 16 bits;
adding support for Hot Plug devices and validation; and adding CRC and domain
validation features. For client systems, SCSI offers ease of connection and a large
number of available peripherals.
New SCSI Applications, Configurations
SCSI now is being used as an interface in storage-area networks (SANs) or in
clustered servers or workstations; for high-speed host-to-host interconnection; and as
the preferred interface for data-intensive functions such as video editing and transaction
processing.
In addition, new physical configurations for SCSI include:
-- Static and dynamic switches, which allow multiple systems to
be connected to multiple drive arrays;
-- Expanders, hubs and bridges, which allow SCSI to be used for
longer distances and reduce loading problems;
-- LUN bridges, which allow 900 or more devices per SCSI
connection.
SCSI Technology and the STA
The SCSI Trade Association, or STA, was formed in 1995 to promote the use and
understanding of small computer system parallel interface technology, to provide a
focal point for communicating SCSI benefits, and influence the evolution of SCSI into
the future.
The STA is headquartered at 404 Balboa St., San Francisco, CA 94118, telephone
415/750-8351. Additional information is available at scsita.org, or by
contacting the STA at info@scsita.org.
Note to Editors: All brands and marks are the property of their respective owners.
The Industry Comments On Increased SCSI Performance and Enhanced Manageability
"Adaptec is committed to meeting our customers' needs as they evolve, and ensuring
the continued strength and success of SCSI is a key piece of that," said Tom Shea, vice
president and general manager of Adaptec's OEM Solutions Group. "We are early to
market with Ultra160, and are already working on Ultra320 and Ultra640 SCSI
technology."
Contact: Frankie Borison, 408/957-2044, fborison@corp.adaptec.com
"ANDATACO has taken a lead among the storage manufacturers in bringing
Ultra160 SCSI technology to the storage market" said W. David Sykes, president,
ANDATACO. "ANDATACO is committed to being the innovator in providing OEM's
and resellers with leading-edge solutions in SCSI technology.
"With these latest improvements in speed and manageability, ANDATACO is able to
offer the highest level of performance and reliability in the market."
Contact: Jack Corrao, 619/453-9696 ext. 1108, p_jackc@andataco.com
"Past, present, and future...CA remains committed to providing quality interconnect
solutions for SCSI applications," said Dennis Lang, director of marketing, Circuit
Assembly Corp.
"We supply the world's leading contract manufacturers and OEMs with a full range
of SCSI products, from individual connectors to complex cable assemblies. Our
dedication to the success of the SCSI interface and the continuing development of
leading-edge SCSI interconnect solutions remains strong."
Contact: Christine Stoneking, chriss@circuitassembly.com
"SCSI has long been the cornerstone of the storage server business even as new
interfaces have been introduced. Ongoing enhancements have allowed SCSI to grow,
mature and to continue to be an excellent interface choice," according to Dr. M.S. Bhat,
IBM business line manager, server hard drives.
Contact: Veronica Lopez, 408/656-7573
"IMP supports the growth of SCSI technology with a full range of integrated circuits
for SCSI bus termination and interface," said Barry Wiley, vice president of marketing,
sales and applications for IMP Inc. "As the SCSI standard moves forward with
expanded capabilities, we look forward to working with and meeting the requirements
of SCSI peripheral manufacturers."
Contact: Dave Gillooly, 408/434-1467, daveg@impinc.com
"The STA roadmap reflects the need for SCSI to maintain
pace with ever-increasing disk drive performance. These
performance levels demand a continued emphasis on increasing
the manageability and availability of data," said Harry Mason,
LSI Logic. "LSI Logic supports the STA roadmap initiative and
will be investing to make this vision an industry reality."
Contact: Amy Lockwood, 970/206-5073, amy.lockwood@lsil.com
DataMate of Methode Electronics Inc. is committed to the continuing advancement of
the SCSI standards. As a long-time manufacturer of quality terminators and adapters,
Methode will continue to participate with the SCSI community developing interconnects
to maximize data throughput.
John Daly, general manager of Methode's DataMate, said, "We are working to
enhance SCSI and continue its viability because we believe the huge installed base of
SCSI products makes the technology an active and sustainable platform now and in the
future."
Contact: Tina Ligas, 708/867-9600, ligas@methode.com
"Molex is dedicated to supporting the interconnection needs of the SCSI
marketplace. We continue to develop and deploy new products complementing the
evolution of the SCSI protocol, ranging from connector products and application
equipment to value-added assemblies.
Molex fully supports the STA and its efforts to promote and enhance the SCSI
interface, now and in the future," said Joe Dambach, product manager, Molex Inc.
Contact: Margaret Batkiewicz, mbatkiewicz@molex.com
"As an early adopter of the Ultra3 and Ultra160/m SCSI interfaces, Mylex will be
one of the first RAID vendors to release a line of supporting RAID controllers this
year," said Eric Herzog, vice president of marketing for Fremont, California-based
Mylex Corp.
"Mylex is dedicated to providing its customers with the latest SCSI technology while
ensuring compatibility with legacy SCSI equipment. This technology will be
well-received by the well-established base of SCSI users who are seeking added
performance and reliability."
Contact: Corey Oiesen, Dovetail Public Relations, 408/395-3600,
corey@davetailpr.com
"Quantum applauds the SCSI Trade Association's efforts to promote SCSI as a true
enterprise-class interface," said Pat McGarrah, Quantum's technology programs
director. "The new CRC and domain validation features now available in Quantum's
Ultra160/m hard disk drives help ensure the safe storing and reliable delivery of our
customers' information."
Contact: Vallee Bubak, The Hoffman Agency, valleeh@ix.netcom.com
"Western Digital supports the continuing evolution of the SCSI standard as it meets
the needs of a significantly large customer-installed base," said Brian Nass, vice
president of product marketing for Western Digital's Drive Products Division.
"The need for increased data transfer rates, combined with the reliability of the SCSI
interface, will provide our customers even more usability and manageability features to
protect their existing SCSI product investments."
Contact: Valinda Accetta, 949/932-5178, valinda.m.accetta@wdc.com
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CONTACT: PR Works Inc.
Anne Price, 602/840-6495 (STA General Contact)
amprice@home.com
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