The SCSI CD-ROM Expert Tool provides low-level device functions to test or examine a CD-ROM device in depth. The SCSI CD-ROM Expert Tool is fully interactive.
File Commands
Exit (EX) - Exits tool and returns to main cstm prompt
Info Commands
Capacity (CA) - Displays the characteristics and capacity of the medium
Inquiry (IN) - Displays product information for the device
Tests Commands
Selftest (ST) - Starts the internal power-on selftest for the device
SeekAlter (SA)-Causes the drive to perform seeks between two specified addresses
SeekBfly (SB) - Causes the drive to perform seeks over the entire CD-ROM surface
SeekRand (SR) - Causes the drive to perform a seek to a random address
Verify (VE) - Verifies data on a selected or random area on the drive's media.
Utility Commands
Read (RE) - Reads and displays the contents of a logical block
ReadLong (RL) - Reads and displays the contents of a "long" logical block
Options Commands
displayInterpreted (DI) - Causes data or logs to be displayed in ASCII format
displayHex (DH) - Causes data or logs to be displayed in ASCII/hex formats
Help Commands
Help (HE) - Displays online help for the Expert_Tool_Template
Version (VERS)- Displays version and copyright information
Control-C - Interrupts the tool.
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 devices simultaneously, select a device, start an instance of the expert tool, select another device, start another instance of the expert tool, and so forth.
The following procedure is one possible method for troubleshooting device. 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 device:
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 cstm prompt.
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 Tool requires a license to operate. Install the license at the main cstm prompt and try to run the tool again.
The SCSI CD-ROM Expert Tool offers the following commands and buttons:
Exit (EX)
Use the "Exit" command to leave the SCSI CD-ROM Expert Tool and return to the cstm prompt.
Capacity (CA)
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.
Inquiry (IN)
The "Inquiry" command displays the following information for the selected device:
Running this command is a quick way to check if the device is responding.
Selftest (ST)
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).
SeekAlter (SA)
The "SeekAlter" 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).
SeekBfly (SB)
The "SeekBfly" command causes the drive to perform a series of seeks over the entire CD-ROM. 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.
SeekRand (SR)
The "SeekRand" 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).
Verify (VE)
The "Verify" command verifies the data on a selected or random area on the surface of the drive's 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.
Read (RE)
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.
ReadLong (RL)
The "ReadLong" command reads any long block on the selected device 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.
displayInterpreted (DI)
The "displayInterpreted" command causes internal status data or logs to be displayed or printed in an interpreted (ASCII) format.
displayHex (DH)
The "displayHex" command causes internal status data or logs to be displayed or printed in both an interpreted format and a hexadecimal format.
Help (HE)
The "Help" command displays online help for the SCSI CD-ROM Expert Tool (the help system you are currently viewing).
For online help on STM as a whole, use the "Help" command at the cstm prompt.
Version (VERS)
The "Version" command displays version and copyright information for the SCSI CD-ROM Expert Tool.
Control-C (Abort or Interrupt)
While a test is executing, you can press Control-C to abort or interrupt the text. When "Control-C" is detected, a list of choices will be displayed on the screen. The list includes "Abort", "Interrupt", "Escape" and "Continue".
Choosing "Abort" or "Escape" halts the tool's execution and returns to the cstm prompt.
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.
"Continue" causes the tool to continue with what it was doing at the time of Control-C.
Choosing "Interrupt" causes the tool to 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 tool's prompt.