2006 INCITS Technical Committee Officers Symposium Washington DC T13 ATA Storage Interface Dan Colegrove, Chairman

1. TC Scope T13 develops standards describing the ATA/ATAPI disk drive interface. The ATA/ATAPI interface is used on all desktop and laptop computer systems for both ATA hard disk drives and ATAPI optical disk drives. ATA and ATAPI drives are being used in new applications: large scale storage servers and consumer electronics. This is driving new features and functions that need standardization. T13 develops standards describing the ATA/ATAPI disk drive interface. The ATA/ATAPI interface is used on all desktop and laptop computer systems for both ATA hard disk drives and ATAPI optical disk drives. ATA and ATAPI drives are being used in new applications: large scale storage servers and consumer electronics. This is driving new features and functions that need standardization. T13 also develops standards for disk drive BIOS and Host Adapters.

2. Significant Accomplishments T13 is at the midpoint of the development of the ATA8 series of ATA/ATAPI disk drive interface standards T13 is at the midpoint of the development of the ATA8 series of ATA/ATAPI disk drive interface standards The ATA8 series has four projects The ATA8 series has four projects ATA/ATAPI Architecture Model ATA/ATAPI Architecture Model ATA/ATAPI Command Set ATA/ATAPI Command Set ATA/ATAPI Parallel Transport ATA/ATAPI Parallel Transport ATA/ATAPI Serial Transport ATA/ATAPI Serial Transport

3. Significant Challenges Liaison Activities Liaison Activities Communication with multiple working groups and trade associations that use T13 developed standards as the basis of their extensions is a time consuming and sometimes contentious activity. Communication with multiple working groups and trade associations that use T13 developed standards as the basis of their extensions is a time consuming and sometimes contentious activity. SATA-IO, CE-ATA, Compact Flash, Trusted Computing Group, and others require liaison activity SATA-IO, CE-ATA, Compact Flash, Trusted Computing Group, and others require liaison activity

3. Significant Challenges (continued) Copyright and Confidentiality issues Copyright and Confidentiality issues SATA-IO Requested a license to use their material in ATA8 SATA-IO Requested a license to use their material in ATA8 The negotiations have been going on for a year The negotiations have been going on for a year INCITS policy on use of INCITS material is not clear INCITS policy on use of INCITS material is not clear Working Groups and Trade Associations have confidentiality rules Working Groups and Trade Associations have confidentiality rules Discussions are covered by non-disclosure agreements Discussions are covered by non-disclosure agreements How should proposals discussed at T13 and at other organizations be handled? How should proposals discussed at T13 and at other organizations be handled?

4. Expected Challenges Other Organizations Other Organizations A number of industry organizations such as SATA-IO, TCG, CFA, and CE-ATA have extended the ATA interface. A number of industry organizations such as SATA-IO, TCG, CFA, and CE-ATA have extended the ATA interface. T13 has been reserving command codes and other resources for use by these specification writing organizations. T13 has been reserving command codes and other resources for use by these specification writing organizations. T13 does not want to have a confrontational relationship with these organizations but at the same time there is a concern that T13 is endorsing specifications that are not reviewed by T13. T13 does not want to have a confrontational relationship with these organizations but at the same time there is a concern that T13 is endorsing specifications that are not reviewed by T13. T13 may need to develop criteria for liaison relationships, such as commitment to allow review and comment by TC’s of the referenced specifications. T13 may need to develop criteria for liaison relationships, such as commitment to allow review and comment by TC’s of the referenced specifications.

5. Liaison Activities INCITS TC T10 There are three primary liaison missions with T10. INCITS TC T10 There are three primary liaison missions with T10. The SAS standard contains a SATA Tunneling Protocol, or STP. Changes to SATA may impact STP. The SAS standard contains a SATA Tunneling Protocol, or STP. Changes to SATA may impact STP. T10 is developing a SCSI to ATA translation standard to facilitate storage systems which appear to be SCSI at a higher level but which use SATA drives. T10 is developing a SCSI to ATA translation standard to facilitate storage systems which appear to be SCSI at a higher level but which use SATA drives. Optical media drives, such as DVD’s, use the ATAPI protocol defined by T13 and the MMC command set developed in T10. Optical media drives, such as DVD’s, use the ATAPI protocol defined by T13 and the MMC command set developed in T10. Compact Flash Association (CFA) The Compact Flash form factor devices use the ATA command set. CFA refers to down level ATA standards so T13 will encourage CFA to migrate to later ATA standards. Compact Flash Association (CFA) The Compact Flash form factor devices use the ATA command set. CFA refers to down level ATA standards so T13 will encourage CFA to migrate to later ATA standards. IDEMA (International Disk Drive Equipment and Materials Association) T13 is working with IDMEA on longer physical sector issues and consumer electronics issues. IDEMA (International Disk Drive Equipment and Materials Association) T13 is working with IDMEA on longer physical sector issues and consumer electronics issues. SATA-IO (Serial ATA International Organization) SATA-IO controls the ATA serial transport SATA-IO (Serial ATA International Organization) SATA-IO controls the ATA serial transport

5. Liaison Activities (continued) Trusted Computing Group (TCG) T13 has allocated command codes for the TCG trusted send and receive commands. The TCG has not presented a first draft of their command functions to T13 yet. Trusted Computing Group (TCG) T13 has allocated command codes for the TCG trusted send and receive commands. The TCG has not presented a first draft of their command functions to T13 yet. SFF (Small Form Factor) SFF develops specifications for drive form factors and connectors. Once incorporated in T13 documents SFF makes their specifications obsolete and refer to T13 standards. SFF (Small Form Factor) SFF develops specifications for drive form factors and connectors. Once incorporated in T13 documents SFF makes their specifications obsolete and refer to T13 standards. MMCA (Multi Media Card Association) The Multi Media Card Association is considering methods of transporting ATA commands using their electrical interface. MMCA (Multi Media Card Association) The Multi Media Card Association is considering methods of transporting ATA commands using their electrical interface. CE-ATA A new industry consortium has been formed to develop a version of ATA called CE-ATA for flash and disk drives. T13 has not formed a liaison relationship with CE-ATA. T13 will attempt to do so at least to allow misdirected inquires to be forwarded to the correct organization. CE-ATA A new industry consortium has been formed to develop a version of ATA called CE-ATA for flash and disk drives. T13 has not formed a liaison relationship with CE-ATA. T13 will attempt to do so at least to allow misdirected inquires to be forwarded to the correct organization.

6. Future Trends and Related Technical Activities All indications are that the ATA disk drive interface will continue to be the predominant hard disk drive and optical disk drive interface. T13 will continue to develop the ATA interface standard for the foreseeable future. All indications are that the ATA disk drive interface will continue to be the predominant hard disk drive and optical disk drive interface. T13 will continue to develop the ATA interface standard for the foreseeable future. Membership will remain a necessity for hard disk drive makers and highly desirable for system and disk related electronics makers. Membership will remain a necessity for hard disk drive makers and highly desirable for system and disk related electronics makers.

7. How Can We Help? Membership Policy The current membership policy suits T13. T13 likes having non-members comment on our message reflector and attend the meetings to get outside perspectives on our work. Membership Policy The current membership policy suits T13. T13 likes having non-members comment on our message reflector and attend the meetings to get outside perspectives on our work. Promotion of INCITS There are an increasing number of industry organizations which are not standards organizations that wish to extend the ATA disk drive interface. Because these organizations promote themselves they are often more familiar to people than the core INCITS TC that established the standard. INCITS may need to do more to promote the benefits of standards to the computer industry. Promotion of INCITS There are an increasing number of industry organizations which are not standards organizations that wish to extend the ATA disk drive interface. Because these organizations promote themselves they are often more familiar to people than the core INCITS TC that established the standard. INCITS may need to do more to promote the benefits of standards to the computer industry. Promote INCITS, National and International Standards as the primary industry agreements on technology. Promote INCITS, National and International Standards as the primary industry agreements on technology. Publicize TC to Industry Organization liaisons when established, and subsequent activity. Publicize TC to Industry Organization liaisons when established, and subsequent activity.