Serial ATA II Server, Networked Storage Features To Extend Serial ATA 1.0 For Next-Generation Storage Connection

Founding of Serial ATA II Working Group to Develop Spec Announced at IDF

INTEL DEVELOPER FORUM, SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 25, 2002 - Server and networked storage features along with next generation signaling speed are being added to a specification that enhances Serial ATA 1.0 technology, which was released in August 2001 amid broad industry support.

At Intel Developer Forum, Spring 2002, which opens today in San Francisco, the formation of the Serial ATA II Working Group was announced. The group's charge is to develop a Serial ATA II specification that will enhance the existing Serial ATA spec for the server and networked storage market segments, as well as deliver second-generation signaling speed. These features are expected to build on the momentum of Serial ATA in those segments. Serial ATA will be used to connect such internal storage devices as hard disks, DVDs and CD-R/Ws to the motherboard in desktop and mobile PCs, cost-sensitive servers and networked storage.

Promoters for the Serial ATA II Working Group are the same as Serial ATA 1.0: APT Technologies Inc., Dell Computer Corporation, Intel Corporation, Maxtor Corporation and Seagate Technology. In addition to the promoter companies, members of the Working Group include Adaptec, EMC, Eurologic, Fujitsu, IBM, Infineon Technologies North America Corp., LSI Logic, Marvell, Molex, NEC, Promise, QLogic, Sierra Logic, Silicon Image and Western Digital.

The Serial ATA II spec will be completed in two phases: Server and networked storage features are expected to be defined in the second half of this year, with product deployment slated for 2003; the faster signaling rate is expected to be defined by the second half of 2003 for product deployment in the second half of 2004.

Serial ATA II products will be fully compatible with Serial ATA 1.0 products in addition to maintaining software compatibility with today's operating systems.

"The Serial ATA II spec builds on the momentum of Serial ATA 1.0, which is expected to have first products in the marketplace by the second quarter of this year," said Jason Ziller, chairman of the Serial ATA Working Group and Intel technology initiatives manager.

Also at IDF

A number of other Serial ATA-related announcements at IDF will highlight the momentum of Serial ATA 1.0 in the industry. These include:

• Adaptec will announce an ASIC that will serve as the core of a family of Serial ATA controllers and PCI RAID cards.
• Computer Access Technology Corporation will announce the availability of its Serial ATA Protocol Analyzer, SATracer*.
• Eurologic will demonstrate its multi-drive enclosure designed for Serial ATA devices.
• Maxtor will give demonstrations of in-form factor Serial ATA 1.0 hard drives.
• Molex will announce a Serial ATA connector line with support for 1.8-inch, 2.5- inch and 3.5-inch form factors with both cabled and direct docking systems.
• NEC will announce the development of its Serial ATA macro, an IP core that implements the physical storage interface.
• Promise will demonstrate its Serial ATA RAID host adapter at its IDF exhibitor booth.
• Seagate Technology will unveil the first full-speed native Serial ATA hard drive solution, in- form factor and ready to integrate into future products.
• Silicon Image will announce its new SATALink* family of end-to-end Serial ATA solutions spanning desktops and enterprise servers, including the industry's first fully integrated Serial ATA host controller.

Serial ATA is an evolutionary replacement of the parallel ATA physical storage interface in the desktop as well as the cost-sensitive server and network storage market segments. The spec allows for thinner, more flexible cables and lower pin counts. This will allow computer manufacturers to design systems with cables that are simpler to route and install, improving thermal designs and facilitating smaller form factor systems. It also enables easier, more flexible motherboard routing and the use of smaller connectors than is possible with the existing parallel ATA technology. The technology, enhanced by the benefits of the Serial ATA II spec, will provide a storage interface that meets the needs of computers for the next decade.

The Serial ATA Working Group is now more than 80 members strong, representing leaders in the silicon design, cable/connector, storage and systems industries. More information about the Serial ATA and Serial ATA II working groups, is available at www.serialata.org.

*Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. All products, dates and figures are preliminary, for planning purposes only and are subject to change without notice.