1. Identification of Proposed Project 1.1 Title: SCSI Diagnostic Command Set 1.2 Proposer This project is proposed by the X3T9 Technical Committee. For additional information, please contact John B. Lohmeyer, X3T9.2 Chairman, at NCR Corporation, 3718 N. Rock Rd., Wichita, KS 67226 (Phone: 316-636-8703 FAX: 316-636-8889) or Dal Allan, X3T9.2 Vice-Chairman at ENDL, 14426 Black Walnut Ct, Saratoga, CA 95070 (Phone: 408-867-6630 Fax: 408-867-2115). 1.3 Date Submitted: ***, 1991 1.4 Project Type: Development 2. Justification of Proposed Standard or Technical Report 2.1 Needs With the integration of embedded controller technology into disk drives, systems integrators have found it increasingly difficult to evaluate products between vendors. The SCSI Diagnostic Command Set Technical Report will supply systems integrators and disk drive manufacturers with guidelines for the implementation and use of diagnostic routines incorporated within the embedded controller functionality. 2.2 Recommended Scope of Standard or Technical Report The proposed SCSI Diagnostic Command Set will retain compatibility with the architecture of X3.131-199x by providing a structure within which manufacturers can develop diagnostic functions which will assist in the evaluation of magnetic disk drive functionality and probable reliability. This Technical Report is not intended to address areas outside the diagnosis of magnetic disk drive characteristics. It is intended that this Technical Report will be a valuable complement to the command sets defined in SCSI-2 and/or subsequent versions of SCSI. 2.3 Existing Practice in Area of Proposed Standard or Technical Report The proposed Technical Report involves providing a generic framework within which manufacturers can allow access to functions which are not available during normal execution. Current practice is for vendors to support these diagnostic functions through vendor-specific commands. 2.4 Expected Stability of Proposed Standard or Technical Report with Respect to Current and Potential Technological Advance The nature of the proposed project is in an area of rapidly evolving technology and will provide a set of guidelines that manufacturers may follow to provide capabilities outside the scope of X3.131-1991x. 3. Description of Proposed Project 3.1 Type of Document (Standard or Technical Report): Technical Report 3.2 Definition of Concepts and Special Terms (if any): none 3.3 Expected Relationship with Approved X3 Reference Models (e.g., DBMS, OSI) The SCSI Diagnostic Command Set is for use with X3.131-1991x. 3.4 Recommended Program of Work The following program of work is planned for the SCSI Diagnostic Command Set Technical Report. o Solicit continuing participation by the present SCSI-2 participants through X3T9.2 procedures and new participants through press releases. Invite comments by end-user organizations and invite proposals from SCSI development organizations and other organizations that may have a contribution to a viable SCSI Diagnostic Command Set. o Establish functional requirements for SCSI functional additions. o Prepare a Technical Report based on proposals submitted and other information gathered during the initial investigation. o Consider the results of SCSI Diagnostic Command Set testing as may be available to the committee through the voluntary efforts of the various participants in X3T9 and its assigned task group. o Submit the draft proposed Technical Report to X3 for further processing. 3.5 Resources - Individuals and Organizations Competent in Subject Matter The current membership of X3T9.2 includes representatives from all parts of the computer industry from semiconductor chip manufacturers to large mainframe system manufacturers as well as Government agencies. The members of X3T9.2 have expressed their desire to participate and cooperate in the development of this proposed standard. There are sufficient resources to complete the development of this Technical Report without delaying work on other standards. 3.6 Recommended X3 Development Technical Committees (Existing or New) It is recommended that the development work be done in task group X3T9.2 which was responsible for developing the SCSI-1 and SCSI-2 standards. 3.7 Anticipated Frequency and Duration of Meetings Task group X3T9.2 meets for two days bi-monthly. Specific task ad hoc groups are called as may be required for one to three days between the regular meetings but their results are not binding. 3.8 Target Date for draft to X3 (Milestone 10): December 1992 3.9 Estimated Useful Life of Standard or Technical Report It is anticipated that this Technical Report will have a life of over 5 years. 4. Implementation Impacts 4.1 Impact on Existing User Practices and Investments The proposed SCSI Diagnostic Command Set will provide a set of capabilities which complement system integrator and manufacturers needs. It is likely that any isolated negative impacts would occur in any case through non-standard evolution or revolution. 4.2 Impact on Supplier Products and Support The proposed SCSI Diagnostic Command Set will provide a set of capabilities which complement system integrator and manufacturers needs. It is likely that any isolated negative impacts would occur in any case through non-standard evolution or revolution. 4.3 Techniques and Costs for Compliance Verification The committee will consider the results of SCSI Diagnostic Command Set testing as may be available to the committee through the voluntary efforts of the various participants in X3T9 and its assigned task group. With this method all costs are borne by the organizations of the various participants and have for the most part been mainly an adjunct of their normal development costs. 4.4 Legal Considerations No new legal considerations are expected that are not already attendant with SCSI and in accordance with accepted X3 patent policies. 5. Closely Related Standards Activities 5.1 Existing Standards X3.131-1986 Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) X3.131-199x Small Computer System Interface (SCSI-2) 5.2 X3 Standards Development Projects: Projects 854-D, 855-D, and 856-D have been approved to develop the SCSI-3 family of standards which collectively enhance and extend the SCSI-2 draft standard in a layered architecture. Another project proposal for a SCSI-3 Packetized Protocol is pending X3 approval. 5.3 X3/SPARC Study Groups: none 5.4 Other Related Domestic Standards Efforts: none 5.5 ISO Standards Development Projects IS 9316 (SCSI-1) has been published. DP 10288 (SCSI-2) is in development in ISO JTC1/SC25 WG4. 5.6 Other Related International Standards Development Projects ECMA SCSI (ECMA-111:1985). This is partly equivalent to ANSI SCSI-1 (X3.131- 1986). There are no current development activities within ECMA on SCSI. 5.7 Recommendations for Coordinating Liaison: none 5.8 Recommendations for Close Liaison: none