SATA and SAS Technologies (DS313)

SynopsisWith the need to support the latest processor family running at GHz clock speed, and the tremendous increase in bandwidth requirement for data transfer in modern day applications, there is a correspondingly need to improve the mass data storage interface bandwidth performance of the computer system. As such, the original PATA and SCSI parallel bus based interface, which was the main standard used for the desktop PC, has now essentially be replaced by the serial point-to-point based Serial-ATA (SATA) and Serial Attached SCSI (SAS).

Course Highlight
This course will discuss the SATA and SAS interfaces separately. The course will first provide an overview of the parallel-based predecessors (PATA and SCSI) of these interfaces, which is primarily responsible for the wide adaptation of the storage interface standards in the past computers and embedded systems. This is then followed by an overview of the new serial-based technologies (SATA and SAS) highlighting their main features. This sets a high-level understanding of these mass storage interface standards. Various layers of the architectures will then be discussed, including application, transport, link, and physical layers. The operation features of these interfaces are then described, including initialization process, commands, protocols, and power management.

What previous participants say about this course
Answers to the question 'what did you like most about the course'

• "SATA protocol, explanation" - 7 Jan 11
• "Comfortable pace, instructor explains well" - 7 Jan 11

What You Will Learn

• Clear understanding of the architecture overview of the SATA and SAS interface system for modern computer system
• Architecture and operation features of the SATA and SAS interfaces, including the topologies, various layers of architecture, initialization process, commands, and protocols required to deploy the SATA and SAS interfaces in computer and embedded systems

Who Should AttendTechnicians and engineers, who work with computer systems and embedded systems that utilize the SATA and SAS interfaces, in the role of :

• design and development
• product engineering
• application engineering
• testing and test development
• product marketing
• system architect

Prerequisite Experience or knowledge in digital system operation and design.

Course Methodology This course is presented classroom style, with discussion on the concepts taught.

Course Duration 2 days, 9am - 5pm

Course Structure

Day 1
PATA Technology Overview

• PATA operation
• PATA limitations

SATA Technology Overview

• Main features: serial point-to-point, LVDS signaling, embedded clock, hotplug
• SATA revisions
• Cabling and connector

SATA topologies and configurations

• Internal cable
• Short backplane
• Long backplane
• External desktop
• SATA + SAS

SATA Architecture

• Application layer
• Transport layer
• Link layer
• Physical layer

Operating Features

• Initialization
• Frame information structure
• SATA command
• Native command queuing
• Hot plug
• Power management

Day 2
SCSI Technology Overview

• SCSI operation
• SCSI limitation

Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) Technology Overviews

• Features

SAS and SATA

• Comparison
• Interoperability

SAS Architecture

• Application layer
• Transport layer
• Link layer
• Physical layer

SAS Operation Features

• Initialization process
• Discovery process
• SSP protocol
• STP protocol
• Power management