Revised SPC-2 Project Proposal

ROWEBER at acm.org ROWEBER at acm.org
Wed Aug 28 20:34:23 PDT 1996


* From the SCSI Reflector (scsi at symbios.com), posted by:
* ROWEBER at ACM.ORG
*
I have made the requested changes in the SPC-2 project proposal, mostly.

I did not accept exactly the proposed changes in section 2.2.  The proposed
changes do not allow for removal to other standards or obsolescence of
existing SPC information.

I did not set a specific obsolescence date in section 2.4.  But, I did add
wording that suggests a potential short lifetime.

I kept the phrase "large mainframe system manufacturers".  It is part of a 
range delimiting statement, to whit "from semiconductor chip manufacturers 
to large mainframe system manufacturers".  Even if IBM were to decide to
not be called a "large mainframe system manufacturer", I see no reason to
believe that Amdahl or Unisys would not accept that designation. 
Therefore, the range delimiting statement still represents the membership
of X3T10.

Ralph...

Here is the revised SPC-2 Project Proposal.

                                                   X3T10/96-___r0



                        Project Proposal
                            For a New
                           X3 Standard


                    SCSI Primary Commands - 2
                             (SPC-2)

                       12 September, 1996


1.   IDENTIFICATION OF PROPOSED PROJECT

1.1  TITLE:  SCSI Primary Commands - 2 (SPC-2)

1.2  PROPOSER:  X3T10.

1.3  DATE SUBMITTED:  12 September, 1996

1.4  PROJECT TYPE: D - Development of a standard within an X3 TC.


2.   JUSTIFICATION OF PROPOSED STANDARD

2.1  NEEDS:
Technological advances require continuing improvements in the set of SCSI 
commands employed by all SCSI device types.  After the publication of SPC, 
SPC-2 will provide the vehicle for standardizing the needed improvements.

2.2  RECOMMENDED SCOPE OF STANDARD:
The SCSI Primary Commands-2 standard is intended to include additional 
commands as well as existing SCSI-3 Primary Commands, and be applicable to 
both existing and new SCSI device types being developed.  The participants 
in the project may decide to move some information in SCSI-3 Primary 
Commands to another standard or to make some information in SCSI-3 Primary 
Commands obsolete in SCSI Primary Commands-2.  For example, participants
in the project regularly consider moving the Processor Device Type Model 
to another standard.

In addition to the information currently in SCSI-3 Primary Commands, 
information that will be considered for incorporation include:
  a)   New additional sense code values,
  b)   New mode page definitions or new fields in existing mode
       pages,
  c)   New fields in the parameter data returned by the INQUIRY and
       REQUEST SENSE commands,
  d)   New vital product data pages,
  e)   New commands appropriate for all SCSI device types,
  f)   Changes to the processor device type model, and
  g)   Other capabilities that fit within the general scope of
       implementing the SPC-2 on a broad range of applications, and
       other capabilities that may be proposed during the development
       phase by the participants in the project.

2.3  EXISTING PRACTICE IN AREA OF PROPOSED STANDARD:
Current design work is generally based upon SPC with a need to expand the 
designs in the future to include the SPC-2 candidate definitions.

2.4  EXPECTED STABILITY OF PROPOSED STANDARD WITH RESPECT TO
     CURRENT AND POTENTIAL TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS:
The proposed project will enhance the existing SCSI-3 Primary Command set.  
The proposed project is part of an on-going and rapid advancement of 
technology in the area of peripheral device interfaces.


3.   DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT:

3.1  TYPE OF DOCUMENT:  Standard.

3.2  DEFINITION OF CONCEPTS AND SPECIAL TERMS:  None.

3.3  EXPECTED RELATIONSHIP WITH APPROVED X3 REFERENCE MODELS:
The SPC-2 standard is intended for use in closed systems.

3.4  RECOMMENDED PROGRAM OF WORK:
The following program of work is planned for the SPC-2 standard:
(1) Solicit participation from present and future SCSI
    participants through X3T10 procedures and through press
    releases. Invite comments and participation by developers
    and end-user organizations and invite proposals from
    organizations that have contributed to the SCSI-3 Primary
    Commands standard.
(2) Establish functional requirements for SCSI Primary
    Commands-2 functional additions.
(3) Prepare a draft standard based on proposals submitted
    and other information gathered during the initial
    investigation.
(4) Invite comments by end-user organizations and invite
    proposals from organizations that may have a contribution 
    to a viable SCSI-3 Primary Commands standard.
(5) Submit the draft proposed standard to X3 for further
    processing.

3.5  RESOURCES - INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS COMPETENT IN THE
     SUBJECT MATTER:
The current membership of X3T10 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 X3T10 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 standard 
without delaying work on other standards.

3.6  RECOMMENDED X3 DEVELOPMENT TECHNICAL COMMITTEE:
It is recommended that the development work be done in Technical
Committee X3T10.

3.7  ANTICIPATED FREQUENCY AND DURATION OF MEETINGS:
Technical Committee X3T10 meets bimonthly.  Specific task ad hoc groups are 
called as may be required between the regular meetings but their results are 
not binding.

3.8  TARGET DATE FOR dpANS TO X3:  July 1998.

3.9  ESTIMATED USEFUL LIFE OF STANDARD:
It is anticipated that this standard will have a life of 5 years.


4.   IMPLEMENTATION IMPACTS
4.1  IMPACT ON EXISTING USER PRACTICES AND INVESTMENTS:
The proposed SCSI Primary Commands-2 standard will provide an upward growth 
path which complements existing practices and investments. 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 Primary Commands-2 standard will provide an upward growth 
path which complements existing practices and investments. 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 Primary Commands-2 testing 
as may be available to the committee through the voluntary efforts of the 
various participants in X3T10.  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:
There are no known legal considerations.  A Call for Patents will
be made regularly.


5.   CLOSELY RELATED STANDARDS ACTIVITIES

5.1  EXISTING STANDARDS:
    
    BSR Number   Title                                  Project
    X3.270-1996  SCSI-3 Architecture Model              X3T10/0994-D
    X3.276-1996  SCSI-3 Controller Commands (SCC)       X3T10/1047-D
    X3.232-1996  SCSI-2 Common Access Method (CAM)      X3T10/0792-D

5.2  X3 STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS:

    BSR Number   Title                                  Project
    X3.xxx-199x  SCSI Architecture Model - 2            X3T10/1157-D
    X3.xxx-199x  SCSI-3 Primary Commands                X3T10/0995-D
    X3.xxx-199x  SCSI-3 Medium Changer Commands         X3T10/0999-D
    X3.xxx-199x  SCSI-3 Block Commands                  X3T10/0996-D
    X3.xxx-199x  SCSI-3 Stream Commands                 X3T10/0997-D
    X3.xxx-199x  SCSI-3 Multi-Media Commands            X3T10/1048-D
    X3.xxx-199x  SCSI-3 Enclosure Services              X3T10/1212-D
    X3.xxx-199x  SCSI Controller Commands-2             X3T10/xxxx-D
    X3.xxx-199x  SCSI Multi-Media Commands-2            X3T10/xxxx-D
    X3.xxx-199x  SCSI-3 Common Access Method-3 (CAM-3)  X3T10/0990-D

5.3  X3 STUDY GROUPS:  None.

5.4  OTHER RELATED DOMESTIC STANDARDS EFFORTS:  None.

5.5  ISO/IEC JTC 1 STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS:
It is anticipated that this standard will be proposed to JTC1/SC25/WG4.

Related ISO projects:
    Project No.    Name
    25.13.11.07    SCSI-3 SBP CD 14776-231
    25.13.11.08    SCSI-3 SAM CD 14776-411
    25.13.11.09    SCSI-3 CAM-3 CD 14776-423
    25.13.11.10    SCSI-3 SBC CD 14776-321
    25.13.11.11    SCSI-3 SSC CD 14776-331
    25.13.11.12    SCSI-3 SGC CD 14776-391
    25.13.11.13    SCSI-3 SMC CD 14776-351
    25.13.11.15    SCSI-3 SCC CD 14776-341

5.6  OTHER RELATED INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS:  None.

5.7  RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COORDINATING LIAISON:  None.

5.8  RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLOSE LIAISON:  X3T11 and X3T13.
*
* For SCSI Reflector information, send a message with
* 'info scsi' (no quotes) in the message body to majordomo at symbios.com




More information about the T10 mailing list