Visual SCSI Explorer overview
Application can run on Windows 2000/XP/2003 operating system platforms and is
intended for carrying out of various complex test tasks for SCSI devices of
generally all types.
Application shows window with two-level hardware configuration tree. Upper level
consists of currently present SCSI, FC, iSCSI and SAS HBAs. Lower level consists
of currently visible devices. Each device sub item is related to certain adapter
item. Properties of selected adapter or device are show on the right side of
hardware configuration window.
Application is using SCSI pass through native Windows 2000/XP interface to access
adapters and devices.
One can rescan all SCSI buses of selected adapter and application dynamically
adds newly connected devices and removes disconnected ones. One can execute
SCSI commands manually using menu commands. During manual execution of SCSI
command one can specify different values for command parameters if command has
ones. In manual mode all commands are being executed asynchronously. It means
that it is possible to queue several SCSI commands for certain device and they
will be executed serially in the same order.
It is possible to run JScript or VBScript scripts for each device. It is
possible to run several scripts for single device or for different devices at
the same time. Scripting simplifies complex test procedures. If application
does not originally support some vendor specific types of command parameters,
special scripts could be written to parse vendor specific command data formats.
Process of command execution is displayed in log window that can be show in docked
state. If command transfers data, it is possible to log binary dump and to parse
certain types of command data. Each device has its own log. Log window displays
log data for currently selected device. If script puts trace message during its
execution, this messages is also displayed in log window.
Raw CDB application feature allows user to execute theoretically any SCSI
command manually or from script. It is possible to make invalid CDB, when one
or more reserved bits are set to non-zero values.
Summary of main application features:
- Representation of adapter-device tree and adapter/device properties.
- Ability to rescan SCSI bus of selected adapter and immediate update of device list.
- Manual and automated (scripting) modes of SCSI command execution.
- Ability to execute SCSI commands in asynchronous mode and to queue several commands for each device.
- SCSI-2 command set support.
- Raw CDB support for manual and automated (scripting) SCSI command modes.
- Shared SCSI command set support for manual and automated (scripting) SCSI command modes.
- Medium Changer SCSI command set support for manual and automated (scripting) SCSI command modes.
- Ability to run JScript and VBScript SCSI scripts.
- Ability to run several scripts in parallel for single or multiple devices.
- Detailed logging of various types of information during SCSI command execution and ability to save log data to text file. Each device has its own message log.
- Text editor for script editing.
- Hardware configuration and log windows can be switched between child window and docking view modes.
Application design is based solely on SCSI-2 standard. It is recommended to download the draft of SCSI-2 specification from T10 technical committee.
Computer the application is installed on must meet the following minimal hardware requirements:
- Pentium processor 200 MHz.
- 128 MB of RAM.
- SVGA monitor.
- Hard disk 10 GB.
- One or more SCSI, FC, iSCSI or SAS host bus adapters.
Windows 2000 operating system must have the following software installed:
- Windows 2000 Service pack 3 or higher.
- Internet Explorer version 5.5 or higher.
2.0 version of product is under development. This version begins series of 2.x
versions. Each 2.x product version will have two subversions: base and advanced.
The main difference between base and advanced versions is that scripting support
and the rest of script related functionality will be present only in the advanced
version. Base version of product will also have simplified user interface.
Release date for version 2.0 is not determined yet.
More detailed description of product features for each product subversion follows.
Generally new versions of product inherit all appropriate features of previous
versions. Some minor enhancements will also be implemented and reflected in
readme.txt file that is included in product installation package.
Base product version
Following major features are scheduled for implementation in 2.x series of base
product versions. Base product version will continue to use SCSI pass through
native Windows 2000/XP interface to access adapters and devices. Version number
the feature is scheduled for is pointed out in round parenthesis.
- SDI user interface. Main application window will be split in three views: hardware tree, hardware properties and device log. (2.0)
- SCSI-3 shared command set support. (2.0)
- Medium Changer SCSI-3 command set support. (2.0)
- Tape Drive SCSI-3 command set support. (2.1)
- ASPI interface support. (2.1)
- Integrated SCSI device test procedures. For Medium Changer device type these procedures will include random move test and element status verification test. For Tape Drive device type the test procedures are not defined yet. (2.0)
Base demonstration version of product will be available for download soon.
Advanced product version
Following major features are scheduled for implementation in 2.x series of advanced product versions. Version number the feature is scheduled for is pointed out in round parenthesis.
- MDI user interface with ability to switch some child windows (hardware tree, hardware properties, device log) into the docking panels. (2.0)
- SCSI-3 shared command set support. (2.0)
- Medium Changer SCSI-3 command set support. (2.0)
- Tape Drive SCSI-3 command set support. (2.1)
- Use of special helper driver to access adapters and devices. (2.0)
- Huge buffer support. It will be possible to allocate huge buffers with size that is only limited by actual amount of physical memory. (2.0)
- Ability to send various SCSI messages and task management functions to the SCSI device. (2.1)
- Script will be able to enumerate all host bus adapters and all SCSI devices on the computer. This will make possible to handle all SCSI devices in the single script and to perform complex test procedures. (2.2)
- Perl script support. (2.2)
- Script debugging. (2.2)
- Customizable tools menu. This menu will have multiple levels of items. Each item will be associated with the script. (2.0)
- Integrated SCSI device test procedures. For Medium Changer device type these procedures will include random move test and element status verification test. For Tape Drive device type the test procedures are not defined yet (2.1)
If you need additional specific functionality that is not scheduled yet for future versions, feel free to express your needs.