User Manual

SCSI Commands Reference Manual, Rev. J 80

www.seagate.com Direct Access Block commands (SPC-5 and SBC-4)

3.3.4 Initialization pattern descriptor

The initialization pattern descriptor specifies that the device server initialize logical blocks to a specified pattern. The

initialization pattern descriptor (see table 42) is sent to the device server as part of the FORMAT UNIT parameter list.

SI (Security Initialize) bit

This bit is not supported on Seagate products. Customers should use the SANITIZE command to satisfy secure initialization requirements.

INITIALIZATION PATTERN TYPE field

The INITIALIZATION PATTERN TYPE field (see table 43) specifies the type of pattern the device server shall use to initialize each logical block

within the application client accessible part of the medium. All bytes within a logical block shall be written with the initialization pattern. The

initialization pattern is modified by the IP MODIFIER field as described in

table 43.

INITIALIZATION PATTERN LENGTH field

The INITIALIZATION PATTERN LENGTH field specifies the number of bytes contained in the INITIALIZATION PATTERN field. If the initialization

pattern length exceeds the current block length the device server shall terminate the command with CHECK CONDITION status with the sense

key set to ILLEGAL REQUEST and the additional sense code set to INVALID FIELD IN PARAMETER LIST.

INITIALIZATION PATTERN field

The INITIALIZATION PATTERN field specifies the initialization pattern.

Table 42 Initialization pattern descriptor

Bit

Byte

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

OBSOLETE SI Reserved

INITIALIZATION PATTERN TYPE

(MSB)

INITIALIZATION PATTERN LENGTH (n - 3)

(LSB)

INITIALIZATION PATTERN

. . .

Table 43 INITIALIZATION PATTERN TYPE field

Code Description

00h

Use a default initialization pattern [a]

01h

Repeat the pattern specified in the INITIALIZATION PATTERN field as required to fill the logical block [b]

02h - 7Fh

Reserved

80h - FFh

Vendor-specific

[a] If the INITIALIZATION PATTERN LENGTH field is not set to zero, the device server shall terminate the command with CHECK CONDI-

TION status with the sense key set to ILLEGAL REQUEST and the additional sense code set to INVALID FIELD IN PARAMETER LIST.

[b] If the INITIALIZATION PATTERN LENGTH field is set to zero, the device server shall terminate the command with CHECK CONDITION

status with the sense key set to ILLEGAL REQUEST and the additional sense code set to INVALID FIELD IN PARAMETER LIST.