Abstract: A method, apparatus and a data storage device are provided for implementing drive list mode for read and write transfers on a recordable surface of a storage device. Drive List mode provides a queue in a linked list to chain together multiple independent transfers on a single track. The multiple drive independent transfers include at least one of sequential transfers, near-sequential transfers, and random transfers on the single track. A drive list mode transfer of multiple independent transfers on the single track is enabled in one disk revolution, and requiring a single hardware setup for the drive list mode transfer.

Abstract: A shingled magnetic recording hard disk drive that uses writeable cache tracks in the inter-band gaps between the annular data bands minimizes the effect of far track erasure (FTE) in the boundary regions of annular data bands caused by writing to the cache tracks. Based on the relative FTE effect for all the tracks in a range of tracks of the cache track being written, a count increment (CI) table or a cumulative count increment (CCI) table is maintained. For every writing to a cache track, a count for each track in an adjacent boundary region, or a cumulative count for each adjacent boundary region, is increased. When the count value for a track, or the cumulative count for a boundary region, reaches a predetermined threshold the data is read from that band and rewritten to the same band.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and a data storage device are provided for implementing drive list mode for read and write transfers on a recordable surface of a storage device. Drive List mode provides a queue in a linked list to chain together multiple independent transfers on a single track. The multiple drive independent transfers include at least one of sequential transfers, near-sequential transfers, and random transfers on the single track. A drive list mode transfer of multiple independent transfers on the single track is enabled in one disk revolution, and requiring a single hardware setup for the drive list mode transfer.

Abstract: A shingled magnetic recording (SMR) disk drive has concentric shingled data tracks having data sectors with physical block addresses (PBAs), with the tracks being arranged in annular bands separated by annular inter-band gaps. The disk drive also has an on-disk extended cache region and may have writable inter-band cache (IBC) tracks in the inter-band gaps. A count is maintained in memory for each band and each IBC, and the count is incremented for each writing to a band or an IBC. When a count for a band or IBC reaches a predetermined threshold, the data is read from the tracks in the boundary region of the adjacent band that are within the range of the FTE and that data is then written to the extended cache. The FTE-affected tracks are then invalidated, meaning that PBAs can no longer be assigned to the data sectors in those tracks.

Abstract: A shingled magnetic recording (SMR) disk drive has concentric shingled data tracks having data sectors with physical block addresses (PBAs), with the tracks being arranged in annular bands separated by annular inter-band gaps. The disk drive also has an on-disk extended cache region and may have writable inter-band cache (IBC) tracks in the inter-band gaps. A count is maintained in memory for each band and each IBC, and the count is incremented for each writing to a band or an IBC. When a count for a band or IBC reaches a predetermined threshold, the data is read from the tracks in the boundary region of the adjacent band that are within the range of the FTE and that data is then written to the extended cache. The FTE-affected tracks are then invalidated, meaning that PBAs can no longer be assigned to the data sectors in those tracks.

Abstract: A shingled magnetic recording hard disk drive that uses writeable cache tracks in the inter-band gaps between the annular data bands minimizes the effect of far track erasure (FTE) in the boundary regions of annular data bands caused by writing to the cache tracks. Based on the relative FTE effect for all the tracks in a range of tracks of the cache track being written, a count increment (CI) table or a cumulative count increment (CCI) table is maintained. For every writing to a cache track, a count for each track in an adjacent boundary region, or a cumulative count for each adjacent boundary region, is increased. When the count value for a track, or the cumulative count for a boundary region, reaches a predetermined threshold the data is read from that band and rewritten to the same band.

Abstract: A shingled magnetic recording (SMR) hard disk drive (HDD) essentially eliminates the effect of far track erasure (FTE) in the boundary regions of annular data bands caused by writing in the boundary regions of adjacent annular data bands. The extent of the FTE effect is determined for each track within a range of tracks of the track being written. Based on the relative FTE effect for all the tracks in the range, a count increment (CI) table or a cumulative count increment (CCI) table is maintained for all the tracks in the range. For every writing to a track in a boundary region, a count for each track in an adjacent boundary region, or a cumulative count for the adjacent boundary region, is increased. When the count reaches a predetermined threshold the data is read from that band and rewritten to the same band.

Abstract: A shingled magnetic recording (SMR) hard disk drive (HDD) essentially eliminates the effect of far track erasure (FTE) in the boundary regions of annular data bands caused by writing in the boundary regions of adjacent annular data bands. The extent of the FTE effect is determined for each track within a range of tracks of the track being written. Based on the relative FTE effect for all the tracks in the range, a count increment (CI) table or a cumulative count increment (CCI) table is maintained for all the tracks in the range. For every writing to a track in a boundary region, a count for each track in an adjacent boundary region, or a cumulative count for the adjacent boundary region, is increased. When the count reaches a predetermined threshold the data is read from that band and rewritten to the same band.

Abstract: A SCSI ID of a SCSI initiator device that has won an arbitration is identified on a SCSI bus and stored in a register at a SCSI device. Subsequently, a SCSI ID of a selected SCSI target device which was selected by the SCSI initiator device is identified on the SCSI bus and compared with the SCSI ID in the register. If the SCSI ID of the selected SCSI target device and the SCSI ID stored in the register are different, a SCSI command from the SCSI initiator device is processed by the selected SCSI target device. If the SCSI ID of the selected SCSI target device and the SCSI ID stored in the register are the same, the selected SCSI target device refrains from processing the SCSI command from the SCSI initiator device.

Abstract: A peripheral device (which is preferably a disk drive) can automatically collect trace data upon detecting certain error conditions. The peripheral device has the ability to selectively alter the range of state data collected in a trace depending on the error type. Preferably, the device includes a programmable processor executing a control program. A set of trace switches, each enabling a corresponding set of trace points, can be independently set by the control program. An error trace identification table identifies, for each error type, a corresponding set of trace switches. If an error is encountered, the trace switches corresponding to the error type are determined from the table, and the switches are set accordingly. In another invention aspect, a set of trap switches in the device can be set to trap on the occurrence of a specific error type, thereby supporting a more detailed error analysis.

Abstract: A peripheral device (which is preferably a disk drive) can automatically collect trace data upon detecting certain error conditions. The peripheral device has the ability to selectively alter the range of state data collected in a trace depending on the error type. Preferably, the device includes a programmable processor executing a control program. A set of trace switches, each enabling a corresponding set of trace points, can be independently set by the control program. An error trace identification table identifies, for each error type, a corresponding set of trace switches. If an error is encountered, the trace switches corresponding to the error type are determined from the table, and the switches are set accordingly. In another invention aspect, a set of trap switches in the device can be set to trap on the occurrence of a specific error type, thereby supporting a more detailed error analysis.