SerialTek Enhances SATA Data Capture and Analysis Capability

SerialTek, LLC announces the availability of the the BusXpert Logic Adapter which allows simultaneous capture of both serial data and logic signals such as SATA DEVSLP.

Used in conjunction with the SerialTek BusXpert Analyzer, the self-contained Logic Adapter converts logic signals into a serial data stream which can be displayed side by side with captured serial data.

The Logic Adapter can support up to 24 independent logic signals with user-set threshold values. These inputs are serialized by the Logic Adapter and transmitted over a SATA cable to the input channel of a BusXpert Analyzer.

The entire capture and analysis capabilities offered by SerialTek’s BusXpert software, such as triggers, searches and filters, are available to the captured logic signals as well as normal serial data. Special circuitry is built in to the Logic Adapter to support the newly defined SATA DEVSLP signal. DEVSLP is a slow rising logic signal intended to place storage devices into an extreme low-power state and is targeted for mobile and portable devices.

"SerialTek is proud to be the first company to offer simultaneous capture and display of both logic signals and serial data with a serial analyzer," said Dale Smith, SerialTek president and CTO. "SATA DEVSLP is an important standard in the low-power storage arena and developers need tools that allow them to view DEVSLP activity. The Logic Adapter provides such a tool that allows low-power storage developers to work with external logic signals such as DEVSLP alongside serial data."

"End users want as much battery life as they can get, and standards like DEVSLP will help lower SSD power consumption and allow consumers to get the most out of their mobile and portable computing devices," said Ross Stenfort, director of Storage Solutions, Flash Components Division, LSI Corporation. "Through the LSI SandForce Trusted program, LSI and SerialTek have worked closely to ensure that our mutual customers can easily integrate the power-saving features of DEVSLP into their new system designs."

Serialtek’s line of BusXpert protocol analyzers is a powerful triggering, high-speed search, and fast save and display capabilities. The SerialTek BusXpert Logic Adapter compliments the the BusXpert Protocol Analyzer by allowing simultaneous capture of serial data and logic signals such as SATA DEVSLP.