computer

150
SATA
eSATA
GLOSSARY
Printer connection method
The printer interface concept was developed in the seventies by the market cableer at the time,
centronics. It was a quicker variant of the serial interface as it was able to achieve the parallel
transfer of 8 sets of data and the matrix printer could already process up to approx “150 Kbyte/sec”.
In 1991, IBM ® , Lexmark ® und TI amongst others, developed rapid and powerful protocols with the
IEEE connection and transfer techniques via this interface, that allowed the faster printers to be
connected along with many other external equipments, such as scanners, streamers and cameras.
In the meantime, this type of connection has largely been superseded by the USB system. It is only
needed for older equipment or operating systems.
Serial ATA / extern Serial ATA
Serial ATA, or SATA for short (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) is the technical successor
of the former ATA hard drive connection. In comparison to previous standards (parallel) ATA 100
or ATA 133, SATA has considerable advantages. On the one hand the data transfer rate could be
increased from 133 Mbps to 150 Mbps. On the other hand the specification incorporates significant
mechanical and electrical alterations. Pivotal is the serial data transfer procedure. Increasing
speed and the resultant synchronisation problems with parallel operation now make it impossible
to continue with the parallel transfer system.
In comparison to the 40/80-pin cable, the 7-pin SATA cable is considerably thinner and more
flexible, meaning that the airflow in modern high-performance computers is less adversely
affected. Another significant characteristic is the ability to connect and disconnect peripheral
equipment whilst the computer is operating (hot plugging).
Since 2004, using SATA II data transfer rate of 300 Mbps has been achieved by 2007 a rate of
600 Mbps should have been achieved. The SATA interface is downwards compatible to the ATA
standard, meaning that ATA hard drives can be operated using an active adapter. SATA will be on
even greater significance, once the new serial SCSI standard (SAS) has become more widely
used. SAS hard drives will be able to be operated using SATA interfaces..
SATA power supply will continue to be provided via a separate power supply cable that will require
new specification.
The SATA standard was designed for use inside the computer and therefore does not have the
necessary shielding to protect it from electromagnetic interference and the plugs do not meet the
requirements for external use. In order to be able to connect external hard drives using the
highspeed SATA standard, an upgrade of the SATA standard was designed, the External Serial
ATA (eSATA).
The upgrade is related to the shielding of the entire cable and the geometric shape of the plug
and sockets. The shielding makes external operation possible. The newly developed plug/socket
geometry prevents unintentional internal use of an eSATA cable and improves the mechanical stability
of the plugs to prevent them from being pulled out by accident.