Notify bit in SBP-2 ORBs, especially Management ORBs

[Srinivasa Addepalli]

* From the T10 (formerly SCSI) Reflector (t10 at symbios.com), posted by:
* Srinivasa Addepalli <srao at trinc.com>
*
Stephen_Finch at notes.ssi1.com wrote:
> 
> * From the T10 (formerly SCSI) Reflector (t10 at symbios.com), posted by:
> * Stephen_Finch at notes.ssi1.com
> *
> 
> According to SBP-2:
> 
> The notify bit, if set to one, FORCES the target to return a
> status in all conditions.
> 
> If the notify bit is set to zero, the target MAY return a
> status if the command completes without error.  The target
> MUST return a status if an error occurs.
> 
> These rules are true for all types of ORBs.
> 
> -------
> 
> First, I question the usefulness of the notify bit, but I have
> been convinced in the past that there may be devices for which
> this might make sense, especially sequential devices that
> always execute device commands in order.
> 
> I do call into question the viability of this for Management
> commands.  Take the logout command.  If the host doesn't set
> the notify bit, the target could choose not to return a status.
> Hmm...  Did the "failed" status get lost, or was it not sent....
> 
> I don't think any driver writer will every code Management
> commands without the notify bit set to one.  In fact, I would
> prefer to mandate it.

While doing our SBP-2 Initiator, we had the same concern and
we decided to set this bit to 1 always.

I also like to know which applications send these ORBs without
this bit set to 1.


> 
> I would like to propose that SBP-2 require that the notify bit
> be set to one for all management commands.
> 
> -------
> 
> I opened this can of worms, but how do the rest of you like the smell????
> 
> steve finch
> 
> PS:  I know this is late for next weeks meetings, but...
> 
> *
> * For T10 Reflector information, send a message with
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SRINIVASA ADDEPALLI                             408-566-0280 x309
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