Automatically creating filenames

CODEUPDT can create filenames for each device in two manners. If the Enter key is pressed in a filename field when the field is empty, the default filename for that field will be entered. If F4 is pressed while in the Log Dump screen, CODEUPDT will attempt to fill in filenames for each file selected to be dumped. The first character of a filename is "l" for LogDump, or "c" for CSV database output. The second character indicates plan of manufacturer (R=Rochester, S=San Jose, M=Mainz, G=Singapore_=unknown). The next six characters are the last six digits of the drives serial number. The extension is the model number. If the drive is in the Starfire family, the first digit of the extension is replaced with "h" for a 7200 RPM drive, or "m" for a 5400 RPM drive. If a filename cannot be created for any reason, the default filename for that field is used.

Drive Log interpretation

The error logs on the drive are provided as a failure analysis aid and should not be used as a qualification criterion for the drives. For an explanation of the information in the drive logs, please refer to the file "errorlog.txt" included in this package.

Copying From One Drive To Another

Code Update can copy from one drive to another using the Copy File option from the main menu. Copy attempts to make an exact duplicate of the data stored in the customer area of a drive. Blocks which cannot be read during the copy will be output to an user-specified log file. The copy will be aborted if an error occurs while reading or writing to the target drive. If the source drive fails to start properly, the user will be prompted for special code.

Copy file completes in three phases. The first phase perform the actual copying of the information. The second phase scrubs the error sights on the source file that were written in the log file by attempting to read each of these spots ten more times. The third and final phase verifies that all of the information copied correctly. Errors in this phase are also recorded in the log file.

During the copy file operation, hitting the F3 key will abort the operation and return to the main menu.

Note: The source and target drives should have matching capacities. If the target drive is not formatted like the source drive or the target drive does not have enough capacity to hold all of the information on the source drive, an error will occur.

Format Unit

Code Update can reformat drives to any of the block sizes the drive supports through the use of the SCSI format unit command. To reformat a drive, choose "Format Unit" from the main menu. Select the appropriate targets to format. For each target, choose a block size, maximum LBA, and whether to include the drives G-LIST or not. When the drive is a Scorpion drive or newer, if desired, the drive will perform a Fast Format. If a fast format is performed and the block size is changed, the entire drive will have to be written before any data can be read from the drive successfully. If the drive is running when you enter the format menu, the current block size will be filled in, otherwise CODEUPDT will indicate the block size is indeterminate. If the maximum LBA is set to zero, the current maximum LBA will be used. Press the F2 key to start the format. If a drive's motor is not already spinning, Code Update will start the motor. The progress of the format will be indicated on the screen and Code Update will return to the main screen after the format is complete.

Note: Code Update reformats drives using the primary defect list. Using the grown defect list is optional. Also note that the Code Update Format Unit function performs a mode select to choose block size and maximum LBA. An previous mode select of these features will no longer be valid.

Performing Customer Simulated Operations

Customer Simulated Operations (CSO) has been designed to test several drives at a time with little or no user interaction. The user can specify a wide range of parameters allowing him to fine tune the way in which the drives are tested. These parameters fall into two classes. The first are parameters which apply to a specific target. The second are parameters which apply to all targets.

The CSO Target screen can brought up by selecting "Drive Exerciser" from the main menu. This screen contains target-specific parameters. Each line contains the parameters for a different target. The first field "Target" specifies the Target ID the line represents. The second field "Test?" indicates whether the target is to undergo CSO. The third field "Write Protect?" prevents the target from being written when "YES" is selected. The "Min LBA" and "Max LBA" fields specify the range of LBA's between which operations are performed. Pressing F4 on a line performs a Read Capacity for the target and fills in the Max LBA field with the result. The "Log?" field indicates that the errors encountered for the target be output to a file indicated in the "Log Filename" field.

The CSO Parameter screen contains parameters for all the targets. Pressing F5 brings up this screen. The parameters are listed below.

Read vs. Write %--The number of reads out of 100 read/write operations.

Test Pattern--The order in which reads and writes occur.

Min LBA's--Minimum number of LBA's to be transferred during a read or write operation.

Max LBA's--Maximum number of LBA's to be transferred during a read or write operation. This value also depends on the block size and the length of Code Update's buffer.

Length is--The method by which the transfer length is to be determined. "Random" indicates that the transfer length will be randomly chosen to be between the minimum and maximum. "Step" indicates that the transfer length start at the minimum, be incremented by one after every read or write operation until the maximum is reached, and then be reset to the minimum.

Perform--Perform a miscompare test for targets with "NO" selected for "Write Protect?". The write and read for this test take place at the location of the last read or write with the same transfer length.

Pattern--Pattern to be written to disk during miscompare test.

Test Every--Period of the test. The field after this indicates whether the period is measured in operations, seconds, minutes, or is to occur at random intervals of time.

Target Switch--The way in which the next target is chosen.

Switch Target Every--Period of target switching. The field after this indicates whether the period is measured in operations, seconds, minutes, or is to occur at random intervals of time.

Stop on Error for Nonlogged Targets?--Specifies whether targets with "Log?" set to "NO" should be tested after an error for that target occurs.

Try to Restart Down and Unpresent Drives?--Specifies whether a drive should be restarted if it is sensed that the drive has stopped spinning or has been removed from the bus.

Restart Timeout--Time to wait for a down or unpresent drive to come ready.

Extended error reporting in logfiles?--Extended error reporting gives a multiple line report of information about each error, including what kind of operation was taking place when the error occurred and the type of error. If the error reporting is not extended, the information is condensed into one line per error.

Diagnostics

Code Update can perform a SCSI send diagnostic command. Select this option from the main menu to open the Diagnostics screen. The options are as follows:

Target ID	SCSI ID of the drive
Self Test	Setting this field to "YES" causes the drive to perform a series of self-tests. Setting this field to "NO" causes the drive to perform a translation as indicated by additional options
Translate From	Selects whether a LBA is translated to its corresponding physical address or vice versa. (This option only appears if Self Test is set to "NO.")

If Self Test is "NO," entry fields for the physical or logical address appear, depending on what is to be translated.

Pressing F2 executes the reassign blocks command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the main screen.

Note: The translate function of send diagnostic is not supported by Lightning, Turbo, and Corsair drives.

Reassign Blocks

Code Update can perform a SCSI reassign blocks command. Select this option from the main menu to open the Reassign Blocks screen. The options are as follows:

Target ID	SCSI ID of the drive
Reassign Input Format	This field selects whether a LBA or a physical address is reassigned.

Entry fields for the physical or logical address appear, depending the input format.

Pressing F2 executes the reassign blocks command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the main screen.

Read Defect Data

Code Update can read all or part of a drives P-LIST and/or G-LIST and save the information to a file logfile. Select the Read Defect Data option from the main menu to open the Read Defect Data screen. The options are as follows:

Target ID	SCSI ID of the drive
Grown Defect List (G-LIST)	This field selects whether the G-LIST will be included in the output log.
Primary Defect List (P-LIST)	This field selects whether the P-LIST will be included in the output log.
Defect List Format	Choose "Physical Sector" to have the logfile show defect sites using physical addresses. Choose "Bytes from Index" to have the logfile show defect locations by indicating the middle byte of the defect as an offset from the index of the track.
Length	The amount of the list(s) being read. All or part of the each list can be read from the drive.
Defect data output file	The name of the logfile which will contain the P-LIST and/or G-LIST data.

Pressing F2 executes the reassign blocks command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the main screen.

Read Buffer

Code Update can perform a SCSI read buffer command. Select the Read Buffer option from the main screen to open the Read Buffer screen. The options are as follows :

Target ID	SCSI ID of the drive
Mode (000 / 001 / 010 / 011)	This option refers to which of the mode parameters are to be reported. "000" will transfers a four byte header and the specified amount of data. "001" transfers the specified internal memory data. "010" transfers the specified amount of data. "011" transfer a four byte header.
Offset	Specifies the byte offset within the buffer from which the data will be transferred
Length	The number of bytes to return
Buffer ID	Return the specified buffer header information
Output	The file that stores the data output

Pressing F2 executes the read buffer command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the main screen.

Read (10)

Code Update can perform a SCSI read command. Select Read (10) from the main menu to open the Read (10) screen. The options are as follows :

Target ID	SCSI ID of the drive
LBA	Specifies which LBA the read operation is to begin.
Length	Indicates the number of blocks to transfer
File Type	Allows the user to choose the type of output file desired. If "Binary" is selected, the data will be output to a binary file. If "Codeupdt" is selected, the data will be output to an ASCII text file.
File Name	Indicates the file that stores the whole data output

Pressing F2 executes the read command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the main screen.

Single SCSI Command Menu Options

The Single SCSI Command menu can be accessed by selecting "Single SCSI Command" on the main menu.

Generic

Code Update allows a user to send a custom CDB to a drive. Select the Generic option from the Single SCSI Command screen to open the Generic screen. The options are as follows:

Target ID	SCSI ID of the drive
CDB Length	The length of the CDB to send--6 or 10 bytes.
CDB Fields	The CDB is entered in these fields. All entries are assumed to be in hexadecimal format.
Xfer Direction	The data transfer direction. The options are: IN, OUT, and NONE.
Xfer Length	The length of the data transfer. This value can be in bytes or blocks.
Units	The units of length assumed in the Xfer Length field--BYTES or BLOCKS
I/O File Type	Allows the user to choose the type of input file. If "Binary" is selected, the data will be taken as binary code. If "Codeupdt" is selected, a file created by a CODEUPDT Read operation must be used as input. The file will be scanned and written to the drive in the same manner is was retrieved using Read, Read Buffer, or Read Long.
I/O File Name	The name of the input file

Pressing F2 executes the Generic command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the Single SCSI Command screen.

Log Sense

Code Update can perform a SCSI log sense command. Select the Log Sense option from the Single SCSI Command screen to open the Log Sense screen. The options are as follows :

Target ID	SCSI ID of the drive
Page Control	The type of parameters to be selected--Default Cumulative or Current Cumulative values.
Page	The page to be requested
Pointer	The beginning field for the transfer
Length	The maximum number of bytes the initiator has allocated for returned Log Sense data
Filename	The filename for the data output

Pressing F2 executes the Log Sense command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the Single SCSI Command screen.

Pre-Fetch

Code Update can perform a SCSI pre-fetch command. Select the Pre-Fetch option from the Single SCSI Command screen to open the Pre-Fetch screen. The options are as follows :

Target ID	SCSI ID of the drive
Immed	If "No" is selected, the drive will return Good Status or Check Condition Status when the operation is complete. If "Yes" is selected, the drive will return Good Status as soon as the CDB is verified.
Length	The length of data (in blocks) that is to be transferred into the cache
LBA	The LBA where the transfer is to begin

Pressing F2 executes the Pre-Fetch command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the Single SCSI Command screen.

Read Long

Code Update can perform a SCSI read long command. Select the Read Long option from the Single SCSI Command screen to open the Read Long screen. The options are as follows :

Target ID	SCSI ID of the drive
LBA	The LBA where the transfer is to begin
File Type	Allows the user to choose the type of output file desired. If "Binary" is selected, the data will be output to a binary file. If "Codeupdt" is selected, the data will be output to an ASCII text file.
File Name	The name of the output file

Pressing F2 executes the Read Long command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the Single SCSI Command screen.

Release

Code Update can perform a SCSI release command. Select the Release option from the Single SCSI Command screen to open the Release screen. There is only one option for this command:

Target ID

SCSI ID of the drive

Pressing F2 executes the Release command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the Single SCSI Command screen.

Request Sense

Code Update can perform a SCSI request sense command. Select this option from the Single SCSI Command menu to open the Request Sense screen. The options are as follows

Target ID	SCSI ID of the drive
Length	The number of sense bytes to return. IBM 066x family drives define only the first 32 bytes, but lengths from 0 to 255 bytes are valid.

Pressing F2 executes the Request Sense command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the Single SCSI Command screen.

Reserve

Code Update can perform a SCSI read buffer command. Select the Read Buffer option from the Single SCSI Command screen to open the Read Buffer screen. There is only one option available for this command :

Target ID

SCSI ID of the drive

Pressing F2 executes the Reserve command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the Single SCSI Command screen.

Rezero Unit

Code Update can perform a SCSI read buffer command. Select the Read Buffer option from the Single SCSI Command screen to open the Read Buffer screen. There is only one option available for this command:

Target ID

SCSI ID of the drive

Pressing F2 executes the Rezero Unit command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the Single SCSI Command screen.

Seek

Code Update can perform a SCSI read buffer command. Select the Read Buffer option from the Single SCSI Command screen to open the Read Buffer screen. The options are as follows :

Target ID	SCSI ID of the drive
LBA	The LBA to seek

Pressing F2 executes the Seek command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the Single SCSI Command screen.

Synchronize Cache

Code Update can perform a SCSI read buffer command. Select the Read Buffer option from the Single SCSI Command screen to open the Read Buffer screen. The options are as follows :

Target ID	SCSI ID of the drive
Immed	If "Yes" is selected, the drive completes the operation before returning Good Status. If "No" is selected, the drive returns Good Status as soon as the CDB is verified.
Length	The number of blocks within the range
LBA	The LBA where the operation is to begin

Pressing F2 executes the Synchronize Cache command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the Single SCSI Command screen.

Verify

Code Update can perform a SCSI read buffer command. Select the Read Buffer option from the Single SCSI Command screen to open the Read Buffer screen. The options are as follows :

Target ID	SCSI ID of the drive
Length	The number of blocks to be verified
LBA	The LBA where the operation is to begin

Pressing F2 executes the Verify command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the Single SCSI Command screen.

Write

Code Update can perform a SCSI read buffer command. Select the Read Buffer option from the Single SCSI Command screen to open the Read Buffer screen. The options are as follows :

Target ID	SCSI ID of the drive
FUA (Force Unit Access)	If "Yes" is selected, the Target must write the logical blocks of data to the media before returning Good Status. If "No" is selected, the target may return Good Status before the operation is complete.
DPO (Disable Page Out)	If "Yes" is selected, the data written by this command is to be assigned the lowest priority for being written to or retained by the cache. If "No" is selected, the priority is determined by the retention priority.
Length	The number of blocks that will be written
LBA	The LBA where the operation is to begin
File Type	Allows the user to choose the type of input file. If "Binary" is selected, the data will be taken as binary code. If "Codeupdt" is selected, a file created by a CODEUPDT Read operation must be used as input. The file will be scanned and written to the drive in the same manner is was retrieved using Read, Read Buffer, or Read Long.
File Name	The name of the input file

Pressing F2 executes the Write command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the Single SCSI Command screen.

Write and Verify

Code Update can perform a SCSI read buffer command. Select the Read Buffer option from the Single SCSI Command screen to open the Read Buffer screen. The options are as follows :

Target ID	SCSI ID of the drive
Byte Check	If "No" is selected, the drive does an ECC check on the specified range after the write completes successfully. If "Yes" is selected, the drive will do a byte-by-byte compare of the data after it is written to the drive.
DPO (Disable Page Out)	If "Yes" is selected, the data written by this command is to be assigned the lowest priority for being written to or retained by the cache. If "No" is selected, the priority is determined by the retention priority.
Length	The number of blocks of data to be transferred
LBA	The LBA where the operation is to begin
File Type	Allows the user to choose the type of input file. If "Binary" is selected, the data will be taken as binary code. If "Codeupdt" is selected, a file created by a CODEUPDT Read operation must be used as input. The file will be scanned and written to the drive in the same manner is was retrieved using Read, Read Buffer, or Read Long.
Input File	The name of the input file

Pressing F2 executes the Write and Verify command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the Single SCSI Command screen.

Write Buffer

Code Update can perform a SCSI read buffer command. Select the Read Buffer option from the Single SCSI Command screen to open the Read Buffer screen. The options are as follows :

Target ID	SCSI ID of the drive
Mode (000/010/100/101)	This option refers to which of the mode parameters are to be written. "000" will writes a four byte header and the specified amount of data to the buffer. "010" writes the specified amount of data to the buffer at the specified offset. "100" downloads microcode to the target and stores it in volatile memory. "101" downloads microcode to the target and stores it in volatile and non-volatile memory, overwriting the original microcode.
Offset	Indicates the starting byte offset within the data buffer to which the data is transferred. This option is not used for mode "000"
Length	The length of the transfer in bytes
Buffer ID	Indicates which portion of the microcode is to be downloaded. Only used for modes "100" and "101".
File Type	Allows the user to choose the type of input file. If "Binary" is selected, the data will be taken as binary code. If "Codeupdt" is selected, a file created by a CODEUPDT Read operation must be used as input. The file will be scanned and written to the drive in the same manner is was retrieved using Read, Read Buffer, or Read Long.
File Name	The name of the input file

Pressing F2 executes the Write Buffer command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the Single SCSI Command screen.

Write Long

Code Update can perform a SCSI read buffer command. Select the Read Buffer option from the Single SCSI Command screen to open the Read Buffer screen. The options are as follows :

Target ID	SCSI ID of the drive
LBA	The LBA where the operation is to begin
File Type	Allows the user to choose the type of input file. If "Binary" is selected, the data will be taken as binary code. If "Codeupdt" is selected, a file created by a CODEUPDT Read operation must be used as input. The file will be scanned and written to the drive in the same manner is was retrieved using Read, Read Buffer, or Read Long.
File Name	The name of the input file

Pressing F2 executes the Write Long command. Pressing F3 returns CODEUPDT to the Single SCSI Command screen.

Limitations

Some of the functions of CODEUPDT cannot be used on certain drives.

The CODEUPDT program informs the user if an option is invalid for a certain type of drive.

CODEUPDT requires at least 500KB of conventional memory. To determine the amount of conventional memory available, type "mem" at the DOS prompt before executing CODEUPDT. The value for "Largest executable program size" indicates the amount of conventional memory available to CODEUPDT.

To increase the amount of available conventional memory, it is recommended to load device drivers in the "config.sys" file using "DEVICEHIGH". Programs executed in the "autoexec.bat" file should be invoked with "LOADHIGH", if possible. Consult your DOS manual for details. Conventional memory can also be increased through the use of a memory optimizer. PC-DOS users can execute "ramsetup.exe" to install RAMBOOST, and MS-DOS users can execute "memmaker.exe" to load drivers and programs in upper memory automatically.