Project 1711 – Information technology - SCSI / ATA Translation (SAT)

The set of SCSI standards specifies the interfaces, functions, and operations necessary to ensure interoperability between conforming SCSI implementations. This standard is a functional description.

Conforming implementations may employ any design technique that does not violate interoperability. This standard defines the protocol requirements of the SCSI / ATA Translation Layer (SATL) to allow conforming SCSI / ATA translating elements to interoperate with ATA devices and SCSI application layers. The SATL covers the range of implementations that use ATA devices to emulate the behavior of SCSI devices as viewed by the SCSI application layer. The primary focus of this standard is to define SCSI/ATA Translation for an ATA device (see 3.1.8).

Where possible, this standard defines SCSI / ATA Translation in a manner that is consistent with the SAM-3, SPC-3, and SBC-2 standards. In some instances, the defined function of an ATA device is different from corresponding functions defined for SCSI target devices (e.g., an ATA device provides no means to abort a single ATA queued command). The translation defined in this standard, in such cases, may not be consistent with other SCSI standards. However, in such cases, this standard specifies the expected behavior, and in what manner it is inconsistent with the behavior specified in other SCSI standards.

The objective of this standard is to allow a complete set of SCSI functions while minimizing the complexity of the SATL and preserving compatibility with existing SCSI application clients.