Help for the SCSI CD-ROM Expert Tool
The SCSI CD-ROM Expert Tool provides access to low-level device functions to test or examine a CD-ROM device in depth. The SCSI CD-ROM Expert Tool is fully interactive, with its own set of menus.
The SCSI CD-ROM Expert Tool allows low-level access to SCSI CD-ROM devices by issuing SCSI commands.
Although this tool uses the term "SCSI", the real name for the protocol is SCSI-2. SCSI-2 is a popular standard protocol for a class of devices such as disks and tapes. SCSI-2 includes:
If you experience problems, consult the Troubleshooting Tool-Related Problems help topic.
To run the SCSI CD-ROM Expert Tool on a device:
If you want to test several drives simultaneously, select a drive, start an instance of the expert tool, select another drive, start another instance of the expert tool, and so forth.
The following procedure is one possible method for troubleshooting CD-ROM devices. The idea is to perform quick tests first to find easy problems then to perform more time-consuming tests to find less obvious problems.
To troubleshoot a suspect drive:
Alternately, you can do stress testing from within the expert tool, for example:
If you run into problems, see the Troubleshooting Tool-Related Problems help topic.
Consult the Failure Log (for failures) and the Test Activity Log, accessible from the STM main window.
Make sure the device is connected, powered on, and on-line. You could try running the verifier on the device to see why the device is not responding.
The SCSI CD-ROM Expert Expert Tool may be waiting for you to respond to a query message it is displaying. Look underneath the windows on your workstation for a query message. Also, de-iconize any windows related to stm or the expert tool.
The SCSI CD-ROM Expert Tool requires a license to operate. Install the license at the main STM window and try to run the tool again.
The SCSI CD-ROM Expert Tool offers the following commands and buttons:
Use the Exit command to leave the SCSI CD-ROM Expert Tool and return to the main STM window.
The Capacity command displays the following information for the selected device:
Running this command is a quick way to check if the device is responding.
Full path: Info | Capacity
The Inquiry command displays the following information for the selected drive:
Running this command is a quick way to check if the device is responding.
Full path: Info | Inquiry
The Selftest command starts the internal power-on selftest for the selected device. Tests are device-dependent and are described in the support documentation for each drive.
After selecting the test, you are queried for the number of loops for the test to execute (default is 1).
Full path: Tests | Selftest
The Alternate Seek command causes the drive to perform seeks between two specified addresses. The command is useful for testing the servo circuitry (head positioning mechanism).
After selecting the test, you are queried for the addresses of the two blocks between which the seek is performed. You are also queried for the number of loops for the test to execute (default is 1).
Full path: Tests | Seek Tests | Alternate
The Butterfly command causes the drive to perform a series of seeks over the entire CD-ROM surface. The test moves the drive heads between the innermost track and the outmost track, then works its way towards the center of the tracks. The command is useful for testing the servo circuitry (head positioning mechanism).
NOTE: The Butterfly command can take a long time to execute.
Full path: Tests | Seek Tests | Butterfly
The Random command causes the drive to perform a seek to a random address. The command is useful for testing the servo circuitry (head positioning mechanism).
After selecting the test, you are queried for the number of loops for the test to execute (default is 1).
Full path: Tests | Seek Tests | Random
The Verify command verifies the data on a selected or random area on the surface of the media.
After you start the test, you are queried for:
If you choose "Random Area" option, the tool randomly generates a start address and an end address for verification. All blocks in this range are tested sequentially. This option is useful when you want to exercise the drive but are not concerned about a specific area.
If you choose "Selected Area" option, you specify a "Start Block Address" and an "End Block Address" for verification. All blocks in this range are tested sequentially.
For each loop (iteration), the Verify command sequentially verifies the range of blocks randomly selected or that you have selected.
Full path: Tests | Verify
The Read command reads any block of data on the selected device into a buffer for examination.
By default, the data is displayed in both hexadecimal and its ASCII equivalent. You can optionally choose to turn off the display of data.
The command only buffers one block of data at a time, so multiple read operations overwrite the previous content of the buffer.
Full path: Utility ! Read
The Read Long command reads any long block on the selected CD-ROM into a buffer for examination. A "long" block contains the standard data field and the additional header field on each block. This header field also contains the ECC information for the given block of data.
By default, the data is displayed in both hexadecimal and its ASCII equivalent. You can optionally choose to turn off the display of data.
The command only buffers one block of data at a time, so multiple read operations overwrite the previous content of the buffer.
Full path: Utility | Read Long
The Interpreted command causes device information and log data to be displayed or printed in an interpreted (ASCII) format.
Full path: Options | Display Format | Interpreted
/Interpreted
The Hex/Interpreted command causes device information and log data to be displayed or printed in both hexadecimal and interpreted format.
Full path: Options | Display Format | Hex/Interpreted
The General Help command displays online help for the SCSI CD-ROM Expert Tool (the help system you are currently viewing).
For information on using the help system, select the "Using Help..." command in the Help menu in the Help window.
For online help on STM as a whole, use the Help menu in the STM main window.
The Version command displays version and copyright information for the SCSI CD-ROM Expert Tool.
The Abort button allows you to abort the SCSI CD-ROM Expert Tool, halting its execution and returning to the STM main window.
The tool will be requested to abort and the state of the tool execution in the system map will be set to ABORT_PENDING. When the tool actually exits, its state will be set to ABORTED.
The Interrupt button allows you to interrupt the tool. When the tool receives the interrupt, it will prompt you if you want to continue with the operation. If the reply is "Continue", the tool resumes what it was doing at the time of the interrupt. If the reply is "Abort", it terminates the operation and returns to the window for the SCSI CD-ROM Expert Tool.