[H-GEN] USB on Linux

David Makepeace zzdmakep at uqconnect.net
Tue Apr 16 23:39:08 EDT 2002


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On Mon, 15 Apr 2002, Christopher Biggs wrote:

> "Frank Brand" <fbrand at uq.net.au> moved upon the face of the 'Net and spake thusly:
> >
> > The propensity for Linux to treat IDE, Floppy and USB etc devices as SCSI is
> > archaic.
>
> Actually, it's not.
>
> It's a laudable piece of code re-use on the part of the ATAPI and USB
> committees.

... which is fully taken advantage of by both Windows and Linux.

> The USB mass-storage profile operates by sending command packets over
> the USB which are in fact standard SCSI packets wrapped in the USB baggage.

This also applies to 1394 (firewire) devices which implement Serial Bus
Protocol 2 (SBP2).  SBP2 is just standard SCSI packets wrapped in the 1394
baggage.  All firewire hard disks, CD burners and IDE->1394 bridges I have
seen implement SBP2.  Even the Apple iPod is a SBP2 device.

> ATAPI devices operate in the same fashion (using SCSI-over-ATA).

Yes.  Have a look in Control Panel -> SCSI Adapters on Windows NT or 2000.
That's where ATAPI devices appear.

David.


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