Background operations and power loss expected

[Mark Evans]

Formatted message: <a href="http://www.t10.org/cgi-bin/ac.pl?t=r&f=r1110052_f.htm">HTML-formatted message</a>

Hi Truong,
A self-test being performed in the background mode is an operation that is
not a background operation.  This is defined in the device specific
background functions clause in SPC-4, which includes a sentence that reads,
“Device specific background functions do not include self-test operations
…
or background scan operations (see SBC-3).”
Please feel free to call or send an email to me with any comments or
questions that you have about this stuff. 
Regards, 
Mark Evans
Western Digital Corporation
5863 Rue Ferrari
San Jose, CA 95138
Email: mark.evans at wdc.com  
From: owner-t10 at t10.org [mailto:owner-t10 at t10.org] On Behalf Of Truong
Nguyen - SISA
Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 10:15 AM
To: t10 at t10.org
Subject: Background operations and power loss expected
In 10-144r3 (SPC:4 Self-test and SEND DIAGNOSTIC command clean-up), text was
added to the Self-test operations Background mode model clause, specifying
changes regarding power loss expected handling. Specifically, in sub-clause
5.8.4.3 Background mode (SPC-4r32), the following text was added:
"A SCSI target device shall abort a self-test being performed in the
background mode as the result of a power loss expected event (see SAM-4)."
However, in SAM-4r14 (and in SAM-5r07), the following text is present in
sub-clause 5.5 Command lifetime:
"Background operations shall not be aborted by I_T nexus loss or power loss
expected."
When a power loss expected event occurs, which is the correct behaviour in
terms of the background self-test? Should it be aborted or not be aborted?
Thanks,
Truong Nguyen
Samsung Information Systems