Adaptec I O solution first to combine bus mastering and plug and play technology; Industry-standard AHA-1540 Host Adapter Combines SCSI Performance and Compatibility With Plug and Play Simplicity.MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 13, 1995--Adaptec (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :ADPT ADPT Automated Data Processing/Telecommunications ADPT Adaptec Corporation (stock symbol) ADPT Adaptive Prediction ADPT Auger Depth Profiling Technique ADPT Automated Data Processing Telecommunications ADPT Adapter ), an industry leader in input/output (I/O (Input/Output) The transfer of data between the CPU and a peripheral device. Every transfer is an output from one device and an input to another. See PC input/output. I/O - Input/Output ) technology, today introduced the next generation of the company's market-leading AHA-1540 host adapter Also called a "controller" or "host bus adapter," it is a device that connects one or more peripheral units to a computer. It is typically an expansion card that plugs into the bus. IDE and SCSI are examples of peripheral interfaces that call their controllers host adapters. See host. series - the AHA-1540CP. The AHA-1540CP is the first Small Computer System Interface (SCSI SCSI in full Small Computer System Interface Once common standard for connecting peripheral devices (disks, modems, printers, etc.) to small and medium-sized computers. SCSI has given way to faster standards, such as Firewire and USB. ) host adapter with bus mastering A bus design that allows the peripheral controllers (plug-in boards) to access the computer's memory independently of the CPU. It allows data transfers to take place between the peripheral device and memory while the CPU is performing other tasks. bus mastering - bus master that is fully Plug and Play (PnP)-compliant. The AHA-1540CP adapter provides a bus mastering architecture for optimal multitasking multitasking Mode of computer operation in which the computer works on multiple tasks at the same time. A task is a computer program (or part of a program) that can be run as a separate entity. performance, plus PnP functionality for truly easy installation. The AHA-1540 series of host adapters has become the industry's de facto [Latin, In fact.] In fact, in deed, actually. This phrase is used to characterize an officer, a government, a past action, or a state of affairs that must be accepted for all practical purposes, but is illegal or illegitimate. SCSI standard by providing powerful SCSI performance and ease of use for all major operating systems. Adaptec's new AHA-1540CP adapter combines full compliance with both the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA (1) (Instruction Set Architecture) See instruction set. (2) (Interactive Services Association) See Internet Alliance. (3) (Internet Security and Acceleration) See .NET. ) and SCSI PnP specifications. "Adaptec strives to bring the convenience of Plug and Play and the performance advantages of multitasking to desktop computing," said S. Sundaresh, vice president and general manager of Adaptec's Personal I/O Business Unit. "Adaptec is committed to state-of-the-art I/O technology while reducing the complexity to the user. With the AHA-1540CP host adapter, users get true multitasking from the combination of multithreaded multithreaded - multithreading I/O and multitasking operating systems such as Windows 95 and OS/2 Warp. At the same time, configuration and installation are virtually automatic thanks to both ISA and SCSI Plug and Play technology." Maximum Performance for True Multitasking: Bus Mastering Desktop applications have evolved from those that merely handled text to those that incorporate graphics, audio and video data. Today, applications such as desktop publishing, document imaging and multimedia authoring demand not only faster data throughput, but also higher overall system performance. Multitasking allows users to run one or more of these applications while simultaneously downloading a file, receiving a fax and backing up a drive. The result is greater productivity from the desktop computer. True multitasking requires not only a multitasking operating system but also a multithreaded I/O interface like SCSI. A single-threaded I/O interface such as EIDE (Enhanced IDE) An extension to the IDE interface that supports the ATA-2 and ATAPI standards. ATA-2 (Fast ATA) provides faster transfer rates (see IDE for details) and allows for multiple channels, each connecting two devices. is unable to process more than one I/O request at a time, forcing the PC to operate in a single-tasking manner even when running a multitasking operating system. Bus master Direct Memory Access (DMA (1) (Digital Media Adapter) See digital media hub. (2) (Document Management Alliance) A specification that provides a common interface for accessing and searching document databases. ) makes true multitasking efficient. Bus mastering liberates processing power, making the central processing unit See CPU. (architecture, processor) central processing unit - (CPU, processor) The part of a computer which controls all the other parts. Designs vary widely but the CPU generally consists of the control unit, the arithmetic and logic unit (ALU), registers, temporary buffers (CPU CPU in full central processing unit Principal component of a digital computer, composed of a control unit, an instruction-decoding unit, and an arithmetic-logic unit. ) available for other concurrent tasks. The combination of bus master DMA with SCSI is a powerful technology that makes multitasking useable on the desktop. Hassle Free Installation and Configuration: Plug and Play "Plug and Play technology will make computers much easier to use," said Ted Julian, editor of International Data Corporation's Gray Sheet newsletter. "In fact, users will become so accustomed to the benefits of Plug and Play, they will soon forget there was ever any other way." The AHA-1540CP host adapter meets all requirements for both the ISA bus and SCSI bus PnP specifications. Under the SCSI PnP protocol, the AHA-1540CP adapter automatically locates all connected SCSI devices and resolves SCSI resource conflicts in seconds. SCSI PnP manages these issues during the boot-up cycle by assigning IDs and determining termination requirements without user intervention. ISA PnP manages installation of the host adapter itself into the ISA bus. ISA PnP automatically assigns resources such as the interrupt request line, DMA channel and port address. This relieves users from having to make the most common and frustrating resource allocation resource allocation Managed care The constellation of activities and decisions which form the basis for prioritizing health care needs decisions when installing a board. With the combination of SCSI PnP and ISA PnP, installation of the AHA-1540CP adapter and up to seven SCSI devices is hassle free. Adaptec continues to provide ease-of-use features that augment PnP by eliminating many of the difficulties encountered during installation and configuration. SCSISelect configuration software allows users to quickly modify their host adapter's configuration settings from the keyboard. Adaptec EZ-SCSI software makes device installation under DOS and Windows fast and easy. Users simply insert the software diskettes and follow the menu-driven instructions. The software detects which SCSI peripherals are present and automatically loads drivers and modifies system files to support these devices. Adaptec EZ-SCSI software supports most popular SCSI peripherals and includes the following I/O applications: 32-Bit Disk Access, Advanced Power Management, Graphical Disk Partitioning, SCSI Tape Backup, SCSI Benchmark, CD Player, Photo CD Viewer, Scanner application and SCSITutor. Unmatched Compatibility In line with Adaptec's long-standing commitment to compatibility, the AHA-1540CP host adapter offers unmatched compatibility with major operating systems, third-party software and peripheral devices. With well over two million units sold, the AHA-1540 series of adapters continues to be the industry standard for SCSI compatibility. Pricing and Availability The new AHA-1540CP host adapter is available now to OEMs at a sample price of $269. Adaptec, Inc., designs, manufactures and markets IOware solutions to eliminate performance bottlenecks between microcomputers, networks, and peripherals. Solutions range from simple connectivity products for single-user and small-office desktops, to intelligent subsystem, high-performance SCSI, RAID and ATM products for enterprise-wide computing and networked environments. Adaptec I/O solutions are incorporated into the products of virtually all the major computer and peripheral manufacturers around the world. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Milpitas, Calif., Adaptec is a recognized market leader in high-performance I/O technology. Adaptec currently employs approximately 1,700 people, and with its global distribution network, serves customers worldwide. -0- Note to Editors: Adaptec, AHA, EZ-SCSI, SCSISelect , SCSITutor and IOware are trademarks of Adaptec, Inc., which may be registered in some jurisdictions. All other trademarks used are owned by their respective owners. CONTACT: Adaptec Deanna L. Perez, 408/957-7816 For Product Information: Literature, 800/934-2766 Presales, 800/959-SCSI |
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