IDE Device Info Box

Previous  Top  Next

Select on any IDE device or controller by pointing to it and clicking with the mouse. Then you may press the button labeled, "Show Disk or Adapter Details a Perform Advanced Functions".

General Information Window
All of the following fields are derived from polling the disk drive, and not from looking at registry variables. This insures that incorrect registry information does not provide you with bad information:

·	Model Number: Corresponds to the model number of the disk drive.

·	Serial Number: Corresponds to the serial number of the disk drive.

·

Interface: This field returns the revision level of IDE interface used by the disk drive. This field is important when trying to diagnose compatibility or performance problems between disk drives and IDE controllers. Possible values are: ATA-1 X3T9.2 781D prior/rev4; ATA-1 ANSI X3.221 - 1994; ATA-1 X3T9.2 781D rev 4; ATA-1 ANSI X3.279 - 1996; ATA-2 X3T10 948D prior/rev 2k; ATA-2 X3T10 948D rev 4; ATA-2 X3T10 948D rev 2k; ATA-2 X3T10 2008D rev 0; ATA-2 X3T10 948D rev 3; ATA-3 ANSI X3.298 - 199x; ATA-3 X3T10 2008D rev 6; ATA-3 X3T10 2008D rev 7/7a ; ATA/ATAPI-4 X3T13 1153D rev 6; ATA/ATAPI-4 T13 1153D rev 13; ATA/ATAPI-4 X3T13 1153D rev 7; ATA/ATAPI-4 X3T13 1153D rev 15; ATA/ATAPI-4 X3T13 1153D rev 14; and ATA/ATAPI-4 X3T13 1153D rev 17.

·	Firmware: This field returns the firmware revision level.

·	Logical Cylinders: The number of cylinders that the disk drive reports to your operating system. This is not necessarily the actual number of cylinders in the disk drive.

·	Logical Heads: The number of heads that the disk drive reports to your operating system. This is not necessarily the actual number of heads in the disk drive.

·	Logical Sect/Trk: The number of sectors per track that the disk drive reports to your operating system. This is not necessarily the actual number of sectors per track in the disk drive.

·	S.M.A.R.T. Threshold and Status Attribute Values

Modern IDE disk drives are able to report additional data which provide insight into specific degenerative conditions. SMARTMon is able to report this information. This box contains up to five columns which define this information. Some parameters are defined by the IDE specification, and others are vendor-defined. Those defined by the specification will have the appropriate description. Other values will report unknown, but the parameter number will be correct. When talking to your manufacturer, they will only need the parameter number. It is important to note that the values in this grid are specific to the make and model of a disk drive, and you should not assume that there is a problem if a value reports below a threshold. You should, however, contact your disk vendor and discuss the readings with them. They are qualified to determine what action, if any is required.

Also notice that you have a reason for concern if a value is BELOW a threshold, not ABOVE a threshold!

ATTRIBUTES
Attributes are the specific performance or calibration parameters that are used in analyzing the status of the device. Attributes selected by the device manufacturer based on that attribute's ability to contribute to the prediction of degrading or faulty conditions for that particular device. The specific set of attributes being used and the identity of those attributes is vendor-specific and proprietary.

ATTRIBUTE VALUES
Attribute values are used to represent the relative reliability of individual performance or calibration attributes. Higher attribute values indicate that the analysis algorithms being used by the device are predicting a lower probability of a degrading or fault condition existing. Accordingly, lower attribute values indicate that the analysis algorithms being used by the device are predicting a higher probability of a degrading or fault condition existing. There is no implied linear reliability relationship corresponding to the numerical relationship between different attribute values for any particular attribute.

ATTRIBUTE THRESHOLDS
Each attribute value has a corresponding attribute threshold limit which is used for direct comparison to the attribute value to indicate the existence of a degrading or faulty condition. The numerical value of the attribute thresholds are determined by the device manufacturer through design and reliability testing and analysis. Each attribute threshold represents the lowest limit to which its corresponding attribute value can equal, while still retaining positive reliability status. Attribute thresholds are set at the device manufacturer's factory and cannot be changed in the field.

If one or more attribute values is less than or equal to their corresponding attribute thresholds, the device reliability status is negative, indicating an impending degrading or faulty condition.