Specifications

ATAPI For Streaming Tape QIC-157 Rev B

6.8.11.27. Sense-key and Sense Code Definitions

Table 6-66 Sense Key Descriptions

Sense key Description

0h NO SENSE. Indicates that there is no specific Sense Key information to be reported. This would be the

case for a successful command.

1h RECOVERED ERROR. Indicates that the last command completed successfully with some recovery

action performed by the Device. Details may be determinable by examining the additional sense bytes

and the Information field. When multiple recovered errors occur during one command, the choice of

which error to report (first, last, most severe, etc.) is Device specific.

2h NOT READY. Indicates that the Device cannot be accessed. Operator intervention may be required to

correct this condition.

3h MEDIUM ERROR. Indicates that the command terminated with a non-recovered error condition that

was probably caused by a flaw in the medium or an error in the recorded data. This Sense Key may

also be returned if the Device is unable to distinguish between a flaw in the medium and a specific

hardware failure (Sense Key 4h).

4h HARDWARE ERROR. Indicates that the Device detected a non-recoverable hardware failure (for

example, controller failure, Device failure, parity error, etc.) while performing the command or during

a self test.

5h ILLEGAL REQUEST. Indicates that there was an illegal parameter in the Command Packet or in the

additional parameters supplied as data for some commands. If the Device detects an invalid parameter

in the Command Packet, then it shall terminate the command without altering the medium. If the

Device detects an invalid parameter in the additional parameters supplied as data, then the Device may

have already altered the medium.

6h UNIT ATTENTION. Indicates that the removable medium may have been changed or the Device has

been reset.

7h DATA PROTECT. Indicates that a command that reads or writes the medium was attempted on a block

that is protected from this operation. The read or write operation is not performed.

BLANK CHECK. Indicates that while reading either blank medium or format defined end-of-data was

encountered or, for a write-once device while writing, non-blank medium was encountered.

9h - Ah Reserved

Bh ABORTED COMMAND. Indicates that the Device has aborted the command. The Host may be able to

recover by trying the command again. This error is reported for conditions such as an overrun etc.

Dh VOLUME OVERFLOW. Indicates a write operation was unable to complete a transfer.

Eh - Fh Reserved

6.8.11.29. Using the REQUEST SENSE Command

Whenever an Error is reported, the Host should issue a REQUEST SENSE command to receive the

sense data describing what caused the Error condition. If the Host issues some other command, the

sense data is lost.