Sony SDX-800V/R User Manual

SONY AIT-3Ex drive SDX-800V series Ver.1.1 

5-3 

This example describes the typical SCSI bus sequence between the host and the drive. 

1.   After waiting for the bus clear time the Host arbitrates for the SCSI bus. It does this by asserting BSY and the 

data line corresponding to its bus ID. If any other devices wish to compete for the bus, they also assert BSY 
and the appropriate data line. Each arbitrating device then inspects the data bus. The device with the highest 
ID wins the bus. All the other devices must release BSY and their data lines. 

 

2.   The Host attempts to select the target by asserting SEL and releasing BSY. The Host maintains its ID and 

asserts the target’s ID on the data bus. Each target then checks the data lines. If the target’s ID matches that 
on the data bus, it accepts selection by asserting BSY. Once the Host has detected BSY being asserted, it 
asserts ATN to indicate that it wants the target to go to the MESSAGE OUT phase. The Host releases SEL. 

3.   The target now has control of the SCSI bus and it is the target which switches between phases. The target 

responds to the ATTENTION condition and initiates the MESSAGE OUT phase. The Host sends an IDENTIFY 
message which tells the target which logical unit the Host wishes to talk to. The fact that the target responds to 
the ATN indicates to the Host that the target can accommodate more than just a COMMAND COMPLETE 
message. 

4.   The target initiates the COMMAND phase and transfers the Command Descriptor Block from the Host. In the 

COMMAND phase, the target decodes the command and either executes the command (TEST UNIT READY) 
or sets itself up for a data transfer to the Host (READ, WRITE, and INQUIRY etc.). The target then either 
switches to the STATUS phase, if the command is complete, or if it is ready to transfer data, the DATA phase. 

5.   The data transfer length is set by the Host in the Command Descriptor Block. The target will remain in the 

DATA phase until all the data is transferred. 

6.   The target then initiates a STATUS phase and transfers one byte to the Host to indicate whether the target has 

successfully completed the command. If the target has detected an error, the next command that the Host is 
expected to send is REQUEST SENSE. This allows the target to return further status information to the Host. 

7.   The target completes the SCSI sequence by going to the MESSAGE IN phase and transferring a COMMAND 

COMPLETE message to the Host. The target then releases BSY allowing the bus to go to the BUS FREE 
state. 

In order to improve bus usage and performance, the unit is capable of temporarily disconnecting from the bus, 
consequently allowing other initiator-target communications to take place. To do so, however, the Host needs to 
support Disconnect/ Re-select. The mechanism for performing the Disconnect/ Re-select procedure is implemented 
as follows: 

1.   The Host arbitrates for the SCSI bus and upon winning the bus it proceeds to select target device. Prior to 

releasing SEL and completing the selection phase, the Host asserts the ATN line. The Host then releases SEL 
and BSY to allow the target to assume control of the SCSI bus. By asserting ATN, the host indicates that the 
target should go to a MESSAGE OUT phase. 

2.   At this point, the target responds to the Host ATTENTION condition by initiating a MESSAGE OUT phase and 

receiving a message from the Host which tells it whether or not the Host allows Disconnects for the desired 
logical unit on the target. 

3.   If the Host does not send an Identify message, the target assumes that Disconnects are not permitted.