Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for providing a complete validation of an initiator and target within bus architecture. A target's behavior may be controlled by an initiator. Control of the target may be through execution of initiator commands including vendor unique commands relating to desired characteristics for testing. The initiator's response to the target's behavior may be verified due to the handshaking communication protocol between a target and initiator. Additionally, by altering the behavior of the target to test initiator response, a target's behavior is also validated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing data transferred through an SPI data bus are presented. In one exemplary preferred embodiment of the invention, an SPI data probe imitates an SPI device coupled to the SPI data bus and receives data from the SPI data bus so that the data may be analyzed. The SPI data probe transfers the data to an analysis unit without substantially altering impedance more than the SPI device would. The SPI data probe includes connectors configured for coupling the probe to the SPI data bus and for coupling the probe to an analysis unit. The SPI data probe also includes circuitry that may buffer, compensate and deskew the data as an SPI device would.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a CRC/parity error in network environment. A SCSI bus expander such as an Ultra320 bus expander or the like is added between a sending device and a receiving device. The sending device-receiving device pair may execute a training session to determine the skew compensation. During the training session, the SCSI bus expander may figure out timing differences due to skew and adjusts the timing of each data signal to compensate for skew. For each data signal, a compensated time may be obtained. The compensated time may then be modified through a JTAG port of the SCSI bus expander. The compensated times may be adjusted such that a CRC/parity error is generated on every I/O or just some I/Os to the receiving device. By intentionally generating a CRC/parity error, the response of the devices in the SCSI environment to a CRC/parity error may be evaluated during an input/output (I/O) test.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for determining the configuration of a personal computer and storing the configuration for further use, such as administrative analyses. The configuration of a personal computer may be stored locally or in a database located on a network and shared with a plurality of other personal computers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for automatically testing the deskew setting for the clock in a parallel data interface. The deskew value is varied to a high and a low limit to the point where errors occur when transmissions occur. After determining the high and low operable limits of the deskew values, an optimum deskew setting may be determined and set for the system. The present invention may be used as a design verification technique, for optimizing a system after integration, or for further optimization of the deskew value after performing a training pattern for optimizing transmission performance.

Abstract: A method for data verification in a data storage environment comprising the steps of (A) sending a command from an initiator to a target, where the command defines an expected data pattern, (B) sending a block write command from the initiator to the target, where the write command initiates sending data from the initiator to the target, (C) comparing data received to the expected data pattern and (D) generating a status indication in response to the comparison.

Abstract: A communications layer is provided between a host-based SCSI initiator and a SCSI target device to fully automate the validation process. The communications layer allows the host to direct variation and modification of the target parameters and behavior using vendor unique commands. The behavioral modification aims to establish interoperability by conforming the behavior of the target to the host behavior. The host-based initiator transports a suitable command structure to the target device containing appropriate ones of the vendor unique commands and associated parameter data. The target executes and otherwise processes the command structure to effectuate a reconfiguration according to the specifics of the command code. The command code is sufficient to fully reconfigure the SCSI target. Accordingly, the reconfiguration process is carried out in a fully automated fashion.