
Functional Description
SDMS: The Total SCSI Solution
2-2
SYM53C810A Data Manual
SDMS: T he Total SCSI
Solution
For users who do not need to develop custom driv-
ers, Symbios Logic provides a total SCSI solution
in PC environments with the SCSI Device Man-
agement System (SDMS). SDMS provides BIOS
and driver support for hard disk, tape, and remov-
able media peripherals for the major PC-based
operating systems.
SDMS includes a SCSI BIOS to manage all SCSI
functions related to the device. It also provides a
series of SCSI device drivers that support most
major operating systems. SDMS supports a multi-
threaded I/O application programming interface
(API) for user-developed SCSI applications.
SDMS supports both the ASPI and CAM SCSI
software specifications.
Prefetching SCRIPT S
Instructions
When enabled (by setting the Prefetch Enable bit
in the DCNT L register), the prefetch logic in the
SYM53C810A fetches 4 or 8 dwords of instruc-
tions. T he prefetch logic automatically determines
the maximum burst size that it can perform, based
on the burst length as determined by the values in
the DMODE register and the PCI Cache Line Size
register (if cache mode is enabled). If the unit can-
not perform bursts of at least four dwords, it will
disable itself.
T he SYM53C810A may flush the contents of the
prefetch unit under certain conditions, listed
below, to ensure that the chip always operates from
the most current version of the software. When one
of these conditions apply, the contents of the
prefetch unit are flushed automatically.
1. On every Memory Move instruction. T he
Memory Move (MMOV) instruction is often
used to place modified code directly into
memory. To make sure that the chip executes
all recent modifications, the prefetch unit
flushes its contents and loads the modified
code every time a MMOV instruction is issued.
To avoid inadvertently flushing the prefetch
unit contents, use the No Flush Memory to
Memory Move (NFMMOV) instruction for all
MMOV operations that do not modify code
within the next 4 to 8 dwords. For more
information on this instruction, refer to
Chapter 6.
2. On every Store instruction. T he Store
instruction may also be used to place modified
code directly into memory. To avoid
inadvertently flushing the prefetch unit
contents, use the No Flush option for all Store
operations that do not modify code within the
next 8 dwords.
3. On every write to the DSP register.
4. On all Transfer Control instructions when the
transfer conditions are met. T his is necessary
because the next instruction to be executed is
not the sequential next instruction in the
prefetch unit.
5. When the Pre-Fetch Flush bit (DCNT L bit 5)
is set. T he unit flushes whenever this bit is set.
T he bit is self-clearing.
Op Code Fetch
Burst Capability
Setting the Burst Op Code Fetch Enable bit in the
DMODE register (38h) causes the SYM53C810A
to burst in the first two dwords of all instruction
fetches. If the instruction is a memory-to-memory
move, the third dword will be accessed in a sepa-
rate ownership. If the instruction is an indirect
type, the additional dword will be accessed in a
subsequent bus ownership. If the instruction is a
table indirect Block Move, the SYM53C810A will
use two accesses to obtain the four dwords
required, in two bursts of two dwords each.
Note: this feature can only be used if SCRIPT S
pre-fetching is disabled.