Interfaces that have been in use include: ST-506, Enhanced Small Disk Interface (ESDI), Storage Module Device (SMD), Direct Memory Access (DMA), Serial Storage Architecture (SSA), High Performance Parallel Interface (HIPPI), Universal Serial Bus(USB), IEEE 1394 (‘Firewire’), Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) and Fibre Channel.
The ST-506 boasted top speeds of 7.5 megabits per second (mbit/s). The ESDI was able to reach data speeds of 10, 15 and 20 mbit/s. SMD; ran from disc drive to controller to computer, allowed data transfer speeds of 9.6 mbit/s. DMA keeps the Computer Processing Unit (CPU) from menial duties, allowing it to perform other tasks. SSA, the subsystems of which are connected via bi-directional cabling, detects interruptions in a loop, and is able to maintain connection while automatically reconfiguring itself. HIPPI delivered transfer rates of 100 megabytes per second (mb/s) fibre optic cable. Allowed 200 mb/s while HIPPI-6400 renamed GSN (Gigabyte System Network) had a duplex bandwidth of 800 mb/s in either direction.
USB allows data speeds of 40 mbit/s for USB 2 and 400 mbit/s for USB 3 and connects most peripherals. Firewire is used for audio and video equipment. It will support up to 63 peripherals, using peer to peer communications to free up system memory and the CPU.
Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) allows speeds of up to 6 gigabytes per second (gbit/s) and is common for Hard Disk Drives and Optical Disc Drives. SAS is used to move data to and from computer storage devices eg hard drives and tape drives. Fibre Channel is an interface used in the supercomputer field and is primarily used for storage, it is the standard for storage area networks.
Intergrated Drive Electronics (IDE) also known as Parallel ATA (PATA) are used for hard disks, solid state drives, floppy drives and optical disc drives. The technology although very popular is seemingly being superceded by SATA and SAS, the latter backwards compatible with 2nd generation SATA drives and boasting transfer speeds of up to 6 gbit/s while the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) is continuing to evolve and keep pace with it’s competitors, the development of iSCSI meaning the interface can now be used over internet connections.
The ST-506 boasted top speeds of 7.5 megabits per second (mbit/s). The ESDI was able to reach data speeds of 10, 15 and 20 mbit/s. SMD; ran from disc drive to controller to computer, allowed data transfer speeds of 9.6 mbit/s. DMA keeps the Computer Processing Unit (CPU) from menial duties, allowing it to perform other tasks. SSA, the subsystems of which are connected via bi-directional cabling, detects interruptions in a loop, and is able to maintain connection while automatically reconfiguring itself. HIPPI delivered transfer rates of 100 megabytes per second (mb/s) fibre optic cable. Allowed 200 mb/s while HIPPI-6400 renamed GSN (Gigabyte System Network) had a duplex bandwidth of 800 mb/s in either direction.
USB allows data speeds of 40 mbit/s for USB 2 and 400 mbit/s for USB 3 and connects most peripherals. Firewire is used for audio and video equipment. It will support up to 63 peripherals, using peer to peer communications to free up system memory and the CPU.
Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) allows speeds of up to 6 gigabytes per second (gbit/s) and is common for Hard Disk Drives and Optical Disc Drives. SAS is used to move data to and from computer storage devices eg hard drives and tape drives. Fibre Channel is an interface used in the supercomputer field and is primarily used for storage, it is the standard for storage area networks.
Intergrated Drive Electronics (IDE) also known as Parallel ATA (PATA) are used for hard disks, solid state drives, floppy drives and optical disc drives. The technology although very popular is seemingly being superceded by SATA and SAS, the latter backwards compatible with 2nd generation SATA drives and boasting transfer speeds of up to 6 gbit/s while the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) is continuing to evolve and keep pace with it’s competitors, the development of iSCSI meaning the interface can now be used over internet connections.
