Project Proposal: SCSI-3 Transport via SBP-2

[PJohansson at aol.com]

* From the SCSI Reflector (scsi at symbios.com), posted by:
* PJohansson at aol.com
*
                     Project Proposal
                       For a New
                      X3 Standard

               SCSI-3 Transport via SBP-2

                     November 7, 1996

1. IDENTIFICATION OF PROPOSED PROJECT

1.1 TITLE: SCSI-3 Transport via SBP-2.

1.2 PROPOSER: X3T10.

1.3 DATE SUBMITTED: November 7, 1996

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

2. JUSTIFICATION OF PROPOSED STANDARD

2.1 NEEDS:

The Serial Bus Protocol 2 (SBP-2) standards development 
project has evolved to a general-purpose, low-level 
interface for the transport and management of commands, data 
and status on IEEE Std 1394-1995, High Performance Serial 
Bus. SBP-2 is no longer connected to any particular command 
set, e.g., the SCSI-3 family of command sets. A need remains 
for a standard to map SCSI Architecture Model requirements 
(SAM) to SBP-2 and to specify how SCSI-3 devices shall be 
implemented if they utilize the facilities of SBP-2.

2.2 RECOMMENDED SCOPE OF STANDARD:

The SCSI-3 Transport via SBP-2 standard will map services 
required by SAM to the facilities provided by SBP-2.
The SBP-2 proposed standard shall conform to the 
requirements of the SCSI-3 Architecture Model proposed 
standard but may also provide extensions (e.g., isochronous 
services) that are beyond the scope of the SCSI-3 
Architecture Model.

2.3 EXISTING PRACTICE IN AREA OF PROPOSED STANDARD:

Serial Bus Protocol  2 (X3T10/1155D). Other X3T10 projects 
exist that define the transport of the SCSI protocol over 
different media, for example Fibre Channel and SSA.

2.4 EXPECTED STABILITY OF PROPOSED STANDARD WITH RESPECT TO 
    CURRENT AND POTENTIAL TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCE:

The nature of the proposed project is to insure that SCSI 
has an upward, highly compatible growth path in the 
environment of IEEE Std 1394-1995. This will insure that 
current investments in SCSI are provided with more stability 
in the face of technological developments.

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 SCSI-3 Transport via SBP-2 standard is intended for use 
in closed systems.

3.4 RECOMMENDED PROGRAM OF WORK:

The following program of work is planned for the SCSI-3 
Transport via SBP-2:

  a) solicit continuing participation by the current 
     membership of X3T10 through X3 procedures. Invite 
     comments and proposals from organizations that may have 
     a contribution to the SCSI-3 Transport via SBP-2 
     standard,

  b) establish functional requirements for extensions, if 
     any, need in SAM to fully accommodate the isochronous 
     facilities of SBP-2,

  c) prepare a draft proposed standard based on proposals 
     submitted and other information gathered during the 
     initial investigation,

  d) consider the results of SCSI-3 Transport via SBP-2 
     testing as may be available to the committee through 
     the voluntary efforts of the X3T10 membership, and

  e) 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 projects.

High Performance Serial Bus has been adopted for use outside 
of the computer industry.  X3T10 could benefit from contact 
with other groups that embody High Performance Serial Bus 
expertise. The 1394 Trade Association, which meets four 
times a year, is representative of the High Performance 
Serial Bus community and is an appropriate point of contact.

3.6 RECOMMENDED X3 DEVELOPMENT TECHNICAL COMMITTEE:

It is recommended that the development work be done in 
Technical Committee X3T10 which is responsible for 
developing the family of SCSI standards.

3.7 ANTICIPATED FREQUENCY AND DURATION OF MEETINGS:

Technical Committee X3T10 meets bimonthly. 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 dpANS TO X3: November, 1997.

3.9 ESTIMATED USEFUL LIFE OF STANDARD:

It is anticipated that this standard will have a life of 
five (5) years.

4. IMPLEMENTATION IMPACTS

4.1 IMPACT ON EXISTING USER PRACTICES AND INVESTMENTS:

The proposed SCSI-3 Transport via SBP-2 standard will 
provide an evolutionary growth path to the 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-3 Transport via SBP-2 standard will 
provide an evolutionary growth path to the 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-3 Transport 
via SBP-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 unique to SCSI-3 
Transport via SBP-2. A Call for Patents will be made.

5. CLOSELY RELATED STANDARDS ACTIVITIES

5.1 EXISTING X3 STANDARDS: None.

5.2 X3 STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS:

  BSR Number    Title                          Project

  X3.270-199x   SCSI-3 Architecture Model      994D
                Serial Bus Protocol 2 (SBP-2)  1155D

5.3 X3 STUDY GROUPS: None.

5.4 OTHER RELATED DOMESTIC STANDARDS EFFORTS:

  IEEE P1394a / P1394.1 / P1394.2.

5.5 ISO/IEC JTC 1 STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS:

  CD 9316-8 SCSI-3 Architecture Model
  CD 9316-7 SCSI-3 Serial Bus Protocol

It is anticipated that SCSI-3 Transport via SBP-2 will be 
proposed to JTC1/SC25/WG4.

5.6 OTHER RELATED INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT 
    PROJECTS: None.

5.7 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COORDINATING LIAISON: None.

5.8 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLOSE LIAISON:

  Serial Bus Protocol 2 (SBP-2)         1155D

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