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 SMALL COMPUTER SYSTEM INTERFACE (SCSI) OVERVIEW
Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) was the most common interface used on legacy enterprise-class rotating hard drives. While traditional SCSI is a parallel interface, the trend in the storage industry is to serial these interfaces; thus were born Serial-Attached SCSI (SAS) and Serial ATA (SATA).

When the SCSI Trade Association introduced the SAS standard, it was designed to meet the ever-demanding needs of enterprise storage for high performance, high reliability and high manageability. SATA was designed to be the replacement drive interface for the high-volume desktop and mobile markets.

Both SATA and SAS use the same physical and electrical interface, and therefore, SATA drives can be physically connected to SAS host controllers. Because of additional command support, SATA host controllers will not support SAS devices. The three software protocols that can run on top of this interface are:

 • Serial SCSI Protocol (SSP) - supports SAS drives
 • SATA Tunneling Protocol (STP) - supports SATA drives
 • Serial Management Protocol (SMP) - supports SAS expanders

The SAS standard currently supports up to 3Gbit/sec data transfer speeds, with future rates planned for 6Gbit/sec and even 12Gbit/sec at the end of this decade.

Key end-user benefits of the standard include an enterprise-class command set, investment protection in compatible SCSI software and middleware, and the choice of direct-attach storage devices (SAS or SATA). In addition, longer cabling distances, smaller form factors and greater ease of device addressing will all lead to a new level of flexibility. Since SAS is based on the foundation of the industry-leading SCSI specification, it will satisfy users' needs for continuity in mission-critical applications.

COMPARISON CHART
SCSI SAS
SCSI is a parallel interface
SAS is a serial interface with less overhead for higher speeds
SCSI is a multdrop in the all devices share the same set of wires and share the bandwidth
SAS is a point-to-point interface where each device is connected to a dedicated initiator. Each device has full bandwidth
SCSI uses terminators
SAS has not termination issues
SCSI supports 8, 16, or 32 device per bus
SAS supports 16,384 devices
A SCSI controller supports only SCSI devices
A SAS controller supports both SAS and SATA devices
Maximum bus speed is 320 MB/sec
Currently, SAS supports 3Gb (300 MB/sec) speeds with a roadmap to 6Gb and 12Gb
 SCSI ALTERNATIVES / SAS INTERFACE SOLUTION
ZeusIOPS SSD

STEC ZeusIOPS Solid State Drives are elite high performance advanced data storage solutions. Built for speed, the ZeusIOPS is over two hundred times faster at random I/O than standard disk drives. One ZeusIOPS drive can replace multiple hard drives or eliminate the need to purchase additional servers to overcome performance bottlenecks, resulting in reduced cost and space requirements.

• Over 200 times faster at random transactional performance than a 15K RPM enterprise hard disk drive
• Lower cost per transaction
• Enables higher performing systems with far less hardware costs
• Low power consumption

ZEUS SSD

STEC's Zeus Solid State Drives (SSDs) are rugged, high-capacity, and high-throughput memory and mass storage solutions for mission-critical systems in a variety of industries. Applications include data recorders, oil pipeline inspection guides, industrial automation robots and scientific equipment.

• Non-volatile flash memory, no moving parts
• Drop-in replacement for mechanical hard drives, no drivers required
• Built and tested to MIL-STD-810
• Advanced secure erase features that comply with government security guidance
• Low power consumption

MACH8 SSD

STEC MACH8 Solid State Drive is revolutionizing the storage world by delivering to the users the ultimate level of reliability and performance in a fully integrated device.

At the heart of the Mach8 SSD there is STEC's leading edge controller able to address multiple flash chips simultaneously to achieve up to 100MB/s sustainable Read/Write speed.

• Industriy leading Solid State Disk
• Non-volatile memory and no moving parts
• Patented Full Data Path Protection
• Sustainable Sequential Read and Write speed up to 100MB/s
• Optional Mach8IOPS version for IOPS hungry applications

MACH2 SSD

The STEC MACH2 family is a new platform of solid state drives offered in different form factors and interfaces. All the MACH2 SSD are equipped with an extremely fast and cost optimized Multi channel controller capable of doubling the performance of flash components.

• Solid State Drive with Parallel ATA and Serial ATA interfaces
• Drop-in replacement for rotating HDD
• Built in Static and Dynamic Wear Leveling
• Industry Standard 1.8", 2.5" form factor
• High Speed Perfomance: 35MB/s read and 25MB/s write

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