Volume Deployment of 12Gb SAS Products in 2013, Said SCSI Trade Association

In a digital world where data can quickly become business critical for server and storage OEMs, system builders and end-users, the SCSI Trade Association (STA) announced two developments in the advancement of the 12Gb SAS storage interface.

SAS is a storage interface based on the SCSI protocol that has the stability to tackle the most critical storage demands, without unnecessary complexities and integration challenges.

INCITS T10 Committee Releases SAS-3 Letter Ballot
STA, a member-run industry association established to support and promote SCSI technology, first announced the InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS) Technical Committee T10 is finalizing its work on the SAS-3 specification which includes 12Gb SAS and has completed letter ballot. It is expected to be forwarded to INCITS shortly after comments have been resolved.

A letter ballot marks a milestone in the standardization process. In addition to the significance of this event in formalizing the specification, it also marks the beginning of the implementation phase of 12Gb SAS during which companies will finalize their designs.

STA expects volume deployment of 12Gb SAS products in 2013.

STA Holds Second 12Gb SAS Plugfest
STA also announced the completion of the 14th SAS Plugfest, the second for 12Gb SAS, held February 18-22, 2013, at the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL). Eighteen companies, including both STA members and non-members, participated in the Plugfest event.

"This Plugfest was notable for not only the impressive number of participants, but for the increased presence of solid state disk drive suppliers demonstrating the performance advantages that are obtainable with 12Gb SAS technology," said Mike Fitzpatrick, engineering fellow, Toshiba America Electronic Components and chairperson of the SAS Plugfest Technical Committee. "Another point of emphasis was the testing of at least two generations of backward compatibility to ensure new SAS devices can be adopted as necessary."

14th STA Plugfest Highlights:
All Plugfests have provided a verification method to preserve existing storage investments, deliver a favorable end-user experience, demonstrate interoperability and support both forward and backward compatibility.

The 14th STA Plugfest was also highlighted
by the following activities:

Physical level testing of 12Gb SAS technology
Testing of different lengths and types of cables between the initiator and the target
Interoperability testing of SAS products, including SAS Initiators, Expanders and SAS Targets
Compatibility testing of hosts with SSDs and HDDs running at 12Gb SAS
Interoperability ramifications of the transmitter and receiver training algorithms inherent in the specification
Testing of SFF-8630 MultiLink SAS and the SAS portion of the SFF-8639 multi-function backplane connector.

"These important advancements of the 12Gb SAS storage standard are further proof points that SAS has a robust roadmap with a history of execution," said Marty Czekalski, president of the SCSI Trade Association and Interface and Emerging Architecture Program manager, Seagate Technology. "SAS is both innovative and enterprise hardened and assures investment protection with a guarantee of generational interoperability."

The following companies
attended the February, 2013 Plugfest: