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Seagate – Serial Port Diagnostic Modes and

Commands

 Seagate Modes

/
 ESLIP Mode

ASCII Online Mode

ASCII Diagnostic Mode

Seagate Serial Port Diagnostic Command



All Levels

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

Level 6

Level 7

Level 8

Level A

Level C

Level E
/
 Level F

Level G

Level H

Level L

Level T

Level Online

SD&D

Level N

Level O

The Serial Port interface for Seagate drives operates in the following three modes:

1. ESLIP Mode

Power-on default, This mode is enabled by Control-T.

In this mode, the drive will respond only to ESLIP encoded packets received over the
serial port interface. The ASCII diagnostic commands described in this document are
not available in this mode. In this mode, the native interface (SATA, SCSI, SAS, FC)
is alive. This is the default power on mode for the serial port interface.

– Entering a Control-T character from HDD Serial Commander (or any similar host serial port
program) while the drive serial port is in ASCII Online mode or ASCII
Diagnostic mode will switch the serial port to ESLIP mode.

– Entering a Control-R character while the drive serial port is in ESLIP mode
will switch the serial port to ASCII Online mode.

– Entering a Control-Z character while the drive serial port is in ESLIP mode
will switch the serial port to ASCII Diagnostic mode. /
2. ASCII Online Mode

This mode is enabled by Control-R.

In this mode, the drive will respond only to the ASCII Online commands described in
this document. It will not respond to ESLIP encoded packets received over the serial
port interface. In this mode, the native interface (SATA, SCSI, SAS, FC) is alive.

– Entering a Control-R character from HDD Serial Commander (or any similar host serial port
program) while the drive serial port is in ESLIP mode or ASCII Diagnostic
mode will switch the serial port to ASCII Online mode.

– Entering a Control-Z character while the drive serial port is in ASCII Online
mode will switch the serial port to ASCII Diagnostic mode.

– Entering a Control-T character while the drive serial port is in ASCII Online
mode will switch the serial port to ESLIP mode.

3. ASCII Diagnostic Mode

This mode is enabled by Control-Z.

In this mode, the drive will respond to all ASCII commands described in this document.
It will not respond to ESLIP encoded packets received over the serial port interface.
In this mode, the native interface (SATA, SCSI, SAS, FC) is not alive.

– Entering a Control-Z character from HDD Serial Commander (or any similar host serial port
program) while the drive serial port is in ESLIP mode or ASCII Online mode will
switch the serial port to ASCII Diagnostic mode.

– Entering a Control-R character while the drive serial port is in ASCII Diagnostic
mode will switch the serial port to ASCII Online mode.

– Entering a Control-T character while the drive serial port is in ASCII Diagnostic
mode will switch the serial port to ESLIP mode.

Seagate Serial Port Diagnostic Command Levels

All Level Commands

Carriage Return Command: Abort

‘/’ – Command: Change Diagnostic Command Level

This command selects the speci ed Diagnostic Level.

/
‘+’ – Command: Peek Memory Byte

‘-‘ – Command: Peek Memory Word

‘=’ – Command: Poke Memory Byte

‘@’ – Command: Batch File Label

This command places a label in a Batch File that can be the destination for Batch File branch instructions. See the
Special Batch File Function command (All Levels ‘*’) for a description of the available branch instructions.

‘|’ – Command: Batch File Terminator

This command terminates the entry and execution of a Batch File.

‘*’ – Command: Special Batch File Function

‘A’ – Command: Set Test Space

‘L’ – Command: Enable Looping

Level 1 Commands

‘B’ – Command: Buffer Display

The Buffer Display command reads and displays the contents of the speci ed buffer blocks. Optionally, the
buffer data being displayed can be compared to a speci ed compare buffer blocks.

‘D’ – Command: Memory Block Display

‘G’ – Command: Generic Read/Write Request

‘I’ – Command: Buffer DLL Tune

This command exercises the DRAM read clock DLL tuning routines.

‘N’ – Command: SMART Control

‘S’ – Command: Edit Processor Memory Byte

‘U’ – Command: Edit Buffer Memory Byte

‘c’ – Command: Buffer Compare

The Buffer Compare command compares the contents of the speci ed source buffer block(s) to the speci ed
reference buffer block(s) and returns an error if a miscompare is detected.

‘e’ – Command: Spin Down and Reset Drive

‘m’ – Command: Edit Processor Memory Word

Level 2 Commands
/
‘B’ Command: Buffer Display
The Buffer Display command reads and displays the contents of the speci ed buffer blocks. Optionally, the
buffer data being displayed can be compared to a speci ed compare buffer blocks.

‘C’ Command: Buffer Copy

The Buffer Copy command copies the contents of the speci ed source buffer block(s) to the speci ed
destination buffer block(s).

‘E’ Command: Display / Edit Log

‘F’ Command: Modify Track Defect List

‘H’ Command: Select Logical Head

‘I’ Command: Display / Modify Adaptive Parameter

‘I,0’ Command: Display / Modify CAP

‘I,1’ Command: Display / Modify RAP revision 02

‘I,1’ Command: Display / Modify RAP revision 10

‘I,1’ Command: Display / Modify RAP revision 11

‘I,1’ Command: Display / Modify RAP revision 14

‘I,2’ Command: Display / Modify SAP

‘I,3’ Command: Display / Modify RW Working Parameters

‘J’ Command: Particle Sweep

‘K’ Command: Set Tracking Offset

‘M’ Command: Set Diag Idle Mode

‘N’ Command: Set Direct Write Mode

‘O’ Command: Seek Repeatedly Between Physical Cylinders

‘P’ Command: Set Buffer Pattern

‘Q’ Command: Write, Read, Read CHS

‘R’ Command: Read CHS

‘S’ Command: Seek to Logical Cylinder and Head

/
‘T’ Command: Measure Throughput

‘U’ Command: Spin Up Drive

‘V’ Command: Read Verify CHS

‘W’ Command: Write CHS

‘X’ Command: Display Track Information

‘Y’ Command: Set Retries – Non-DERP

‘Y’ Command: Set Retries – DERP

‘Z’ Command: Spin Down Drive

‘c’ Command: Buffer Compare

The Buffer Compare command compares the contents of the speci ed source buffer block(s) to the speci ed
reference buffer block(s) and returns an error if a miscompare is detected.

‘h’ Command: Translate Physical Sector

‘i’ Command: Display Defects On Current Track

‘j’ Command: Read Wedge

‘l’ Command: Translate Logical Sector

‘o’ Command: Corrupt LBA

‘r’ Command: Read Long CHS or Read System CHS

‘s’ Command: Seek to Physical Cylinder and Head

‘t’ Command: Translate Wedge

‘u’ Command: Enable/Disable Channel/Preamp Register Display

‘v’ Command: Convert Data Track Percentage To Servo Offset Count

‘w’ Command: Write Long CHS or Write System CHS

‘x’ Command: Display Zone Information

‘y’ Command: Set DERP Retry State

‘z’ Command: Write Wedge

/
‘7’ Command: Write Verify CHS

Level 3 Commands

‘D’ Command: Measure Seek Access Time

‘E’ Command: Display / Edit Log

‘H’ Command: Select Logical Head

‘O’ Command: Seek Repeatedly Between Physical Cylinders

‘Q’ Command: Write, Read, Write, Read CHS

‘R’ Command: Read Current Servo Destination

‘S’ Command: Seek to Logical Cylinder and Head

‘U’ Command: Spin Up Drive

‘V’ Command: Read or Write Power ASIC Register

‘Z’ Command: Spin Down Drive

‘b’ Command: Load/Unload Heads

‘c’ Command: Measure Latch Force

‘f’ Command: Real Time Servo Trace

‘p’ Command: Translate Physical Sector

‘q’ Command: Translate Logical Sector

‘s’ Command: Seek to Physical Cylinder and Head

Level 4 Commands

‘B’ Command: Enable / Disable RVFF

‘D’ Command: Measure Seek Access Time

‘E’ Command: Display / Edit Log

‘H’ Command: Select Logical Head

‘K’ Command: Set Tracking Offset

‘O’ Command: Display Micro Jog for Logical Cylinder and Head /
‘S’ Command: Seek to Logical Cylinder and Head

‘U’ Command: Servo Batch Test sub commands

‘e’ Command: Enable / Disable PES Output

‘l’ Command: Scan Track for Servo Defects and ZAP

‘t’ Command: Display / Modify ZAP Table

‘u’ Command: Set Seek Speed

‘v’ Command: Butter y Seek Test

The Butter y Seek Test command performs the following seeks on the speci ed head:

1. Seek to speci ed 1st cylinder ( minimum cyl addr , OD ) , then to speci ed 2nd cylinder ( maximum cyl addr ,
ID ) .
2. Increment 1st cyl, decrement 2nd cyl , seek to 1st , then 2nd .
3. Repeat 2) until seek has again reached original OD and ID cylinders,but in opposite order of original seek.
4. Decrement 1st cyl, increment 2nd cyl , seek to 1st , then 2nd .
5. Repeat 4) until seek has again reached original OD and ID cylinders.
6. Repeat Steps 2) through 5) until test duration or desired number
seeks is complete.

Level 5 Commands

‘B’ Command: Servo Bode Plot

‘C’ Command: Generic Servo Command

‘D’ Command: Read / Unlock DDR Buffer

‘E’ Command: Measure Disc Eccentricity

‘F’ Command: Drive Free Fall Protection

‘G’ Command: Select Servo Controller

‘R’ Command: Read Servo RAM at Address

‘S’ Command: Enter Servo Matlab Shell

‘U’ Command: Enable / Disable Servo Updates

‘W’ Command: Write Servo RAM at Address

‘Z’ Command: Read Zap from Disc to Table

/
‘d’ Command: Disable / Enable Servo ZAP coef cients and ZAP read

‘i’ Command: Read Servo Symbol Table at Index

‘r’ Command: Read Servo RAM at Index

‘w’ Command: Write Servo RAM at Index

Level 6 Commands

‘B’ Command: Run Batch File

‘D’ Command: Display Batch File

‘E’ Command: Enter Batch File

Level 7 Commands

‘B’ Command: Buffer Display

The Buffer Display command reads and displays the contents of the speci ed buffer blocks. Optionally, the
buffer data being displayed can be compared to a speci ed compare buffer blocks.

‘C’ Command: Buffer Copy

The Buffer Copy command copies the contents of the speci ed source buffer block(s) to the speci ed
destination buffer block(s).

‘D’ Command: Display Temperature

‘E’ Command: Display / Edit Log

‘H’ Command: Select Logical Head

‘I’ Command: Display / Modify Adaptive Parameter

‘I,0’ Command: Display / Modify CAP

‘I,1’ Command: Display / Modify RAP revision 02

‘I,1’ Command: Display / Modify RAP revision 10

‘I,1’ Command: Display / Modify RAP revision 11

‘I,1’ Command: Display / Modify RAP revision 14

‘I,2’ Command: Display / Modify SAP

‘I,3’ Command: Display / Modify RW Working Parameters

/
‘K’ Command: Set Track Format

‘P’ Command: Set Buffer Pattern

‘Q’ Command: Write, Read, Read CHS

‘R’ Command: Read CHS

‘S’ Command: Seek to Logical Cylinder and Head

‘U’ Command: Channel Temperature Adjustment

‘W’ Command: Write CHS

‘X’ Command: Display Preamp Head Resistance

‘Y’ Command: Set Retries – Non-DERP

‘Y’ Command: Set Retries – DERP

‘Z’ Command: Spin Down Drive

‘b’ Command: Erase Track

‘c’ Command: Off Track Capability

‘h’ Command: Mark Media Flaw

‘i’ Command: Generic Read/Write Request

‘m’ Command: Display Directed Of ine Scan Information

‘r’ Command: Read Non-Volatile Adaptive Parameters

‘s’ Command: Write Peripheral Register – channel or preamp

‘t’ Command: Read Peripheral Register – channel or preamp

‘u’ Command: Enable / Disable Write Fault

‘w’ Command: Save Adaptives To Flash

‘x’ Command: Display Zone Information

‘y’ Command: Set DERP Retry State

Level 8 Commands

‘C’ Command: Servo Diagnostic Sub Commands /

‘R’ Command: Read Current Servo Destination

‘S’ Command: Seek to Logical Cylinder and Head

‘U’ Command: Spin Up Drive

‘Z’ Command: Spin Down Drive

‘d’ Command: Head Smash Test

Level A Commands

‘C’ Command: Translate PBA

‘D’ Command: Translate Symbols From Index

‘E’ Command: Display / Edit Log

‘F’ Command: Translate LBA

‘M’ Command: Set Controller Test Port

‘P’ Command: Merge Alternate List into Slip List

‘Q’ Command: Write, Read, Read LBA

‘R’ Command: Read LBA

‘S’ Command: Seek to LBA

‘W’ Command: Write LBA

‘Y’ Command: Set Retries – Non-DERP

‘Y’ Command: Set Retries – DERP

‘c’ Command: Translate Logical Cylinder, Logical Head and Logical Sector

‘d’ Command: Translate Physical Cylinder, Logical Head and Physical Sector

‘e’ Command: Translate Nominal Cylinder and Logical Head

‘f’ Command: Translate Physical Cylinder, Logical Head and Physical Wedge

‘l’ Command: Display Track Information

‘y’ Command: Set DERP Retry State

Level C Commands /
‘Q’ Command: Display ASCII Command Information

‘T’ Command: Goop Plot

Level E Commands

‘B’ Command: Write Wedge

‘C’ Command: Read Wedge

‘m’ Command: Fast MSESER Measurement

‘o’ Command: Fine RW Offset Measurement

‘w’ Command: Slow Write CHS

Level F Commands

‘B’ Command: Buffer Display

The Buffer Display command reads and displays the contents of the speci ed buffer blocks. Optionally, the
buffer data being displayed can be compared to a speci ed compare buffer blocks.

‘C’ Command: Buffer Copy

The Buffer Copy command copies the contents of the speci ed source buffer block(s) to the speci ed
destination buffer block(s).

‘D’ Command: Memory Block Display

‘P’ Command: Set Buffer Pattern

‘U’ Command: Spin Up Drive

‘V’ Command: Buffer Compare

The Buffer Compare command compares the contents of the speci ed source buffer block(s) to the speci ed
reference buffer block(s) and returns an error if a miscompare is detected.

‘Y’ Command: Set Retries – Non-DERP

‘Y’ Command: Set Retries – DERP

‘Z’ Command: Spin Down Drive

‘b’ Command: Set Baud Rate

‘r’ Command: Read System CHS

‘s’ Command: Seek to Physical Cylinder and Head

/
‘t’ Command: Write Peripheral Register – channel or preamp

‘y’ Command: Set DERP Retry State

‘z’ Command: SATA Debug Athos Shanghai 390

‘z’ Command: SATA Debug Athos MiPhy 365

‘z’ Command: SATA Debug SPI SSIP

Level G Commands

‘B’ Command: Fill Correction Buffer

‘C’ Command: Copy Correction Buffer

‘D’ Command: Display Correction Buffer

‘F’ Command: Fill Super Parity RAM

‘G’ Command: Display Super Parity RAM

Level H Commands

‘B’ Command: Buffer Display

The Buffer Display command reads and displays the contents of the speci ed buffer blocks. Optionally, the
buffer data being displayed can be compared to a speci ed compare buffer blocks.

‘P’ Command: Set Buffer Pattern

‘S’ Command: Seek to Logical Cylinder and Head

‘b’ Command: Contact Detect

Level L Commands

‘C’ Command: Copy Log File

‘D’ Command: Display Log File

‘E’ Command: Enable / Disable Logging

‘I’ Command: Display Log File Information

‘c’ Command: Create Log File

‘d’ Command: Delete Log File

/
‘i’ Command: Initialize Log File

Level T Commands

‘B’ Command: Set Baud Rate

‘E’ Command: Display / Edit Log

‘F’ Command: Set Congen Parameter

‘O’ Command: Select Data Output Mode

‘P’ Command: Download Generic File

‘R’ Command: Read Non-Volatile Adaptive Parameters

‘T’ Command: Odd Even Encroachment Test

‘V’ Command: Display Defect Lists

‘W’ Command: Save Adaptives To Flash

‘Z’ Command: Erase Seacos Data and Code

‘i’ Command: Initialize Defect List

‘m’ Command: Format Partition

‘[‘ Command: ASCII Log Control

This command performs various functions associated with the ASCII Log. The ASCII Log is used to capture ASCII
data transferred to the host over the Serial Port Interface.

Online Commands

Carriage Return Command: Abort

ESCAPE Command: Abort Looping Command or Batch File

Space Command: Pause Output

‘!’ Command: Display Current Read Channel Settings

‘$’ Command: Display Read/Write Statistics By Zone

‘.’ Command: Display Active Status

‘`’ Command: Display Read/Write Statistics

/
‘<‘ Command: Decrement Read/Write Scope Sync ‘>’ Command: Increment Read/Write Scope Sync

‘?’ Command: Display Diagnostic Buffer Information

‘{‘ Command: Toggle EIB-Speci c R/W Tracing

‘~’ Command: Display Native Interface Command State

Control A Command: Display Firmware Revision

Control B Command: Get Thermistor Temperature

Control C Command: Firmware Reset

Control D Command: Toggle R/W Tracing

Control E Command: Display Native Interface Con guration

Control F Command: Display Native Interface Read Cache Information

Control I Command: Display Controller Registers

Control K Command: Display DST Status

Control L Command: Display Sign On Message

Control N Command: Toggle R/W Tracing

Control P Command: Toggle Diag Idle Mode

Control Q Command: Resume Interface Task

Control R Command: Enable ASCII Online Serial Port Mode

Control S Command: Pause Interface Task

Control T Command: Enable ESLIP Serial Port Mode

Control U Command: Display Congen

Control V Command: Toggle Interface Command Echo

Control W Command: Enable and Init RW Statistics

Control X Command: Display Native Interface and Read/Write Command History

Control Y Command: Display DST Status

Control Z Command: Enable ASCII Diagnostic Serial Port Mode /

Control Command: Toggle Debug Display Enable

As we continue with the development of HDD Serial Commander we will update this list and or make separate
posts for each command or set.
 
Seagate Secure® Download & Diagnostics | View PDF at Seagate Government Solutions
(http://www.seagategov.com/ les/www-content/datasheets/pdfs/seagate-secure-download-diagnostics-with-
maximize-sec-lock-down-hard-drive- rmware-tp684-1-1508us.pdf)

Since the Internet of Things (IoT) magni es the impact of security Seagate has developed the following security
technologies that protect the rmware in its drives whether they’re installed in a host computer or removed
from the system. Below is what we found at SGS website (link attached above)

• Cryptographic rmware signing: Uses encrypted signature in rmware that is required for the host computer
to launch (via Secure Boot) and to enable rmware downloads (via Locked Diagnostics Port and Firmware
Authenticity and Integrity Veri cation).
• Secure Boot: Prevents host computer’s OS from loading if the rmware’s encrypted signature has been
changed in any way; rmware signature is authenticated by the drive at host computer startup.
• Locked diagnostics port: Blocks unauthorized users from downloading rmware or accessing the drive’s
installed rmware;user authentication via Seagate® Secure Server required to unlock port. Prevents tampering
with rmware executables and system-level data.
• Firmware authenticity and integrity veri cation: Checks for encrypted signature in rmware that is being
attempted to be downloaded; rmware is rejected if not authenticated as an original Seagate rmware
download. Should malicious code be executed inside an authentic copy of an HDD’s rmware, SD&D’s tamper-
evident binary feature enables any altered code to be identi ed and the rmware blocked from download.
Furthermore, SD&D employs forensic logging to trace unauthorized attempts to load or manipulate rmware.
The net result is that SD&D prevents unauthorized access to the drive and thwarts attempts to tamper with the
rmware, while still allowing authorized service personnel to access the rmware for diagnostic testing, perform
eld upgrades and conduct other service procedures.
 

Level N – Command set to work with Non-Volatile Cache found at Solid-State hard drives.

B – Nvc Manage Bad Clumps

C – Nvc Copy Clumps
d – Nvc Dump Flash Metadata
E – Nvc Erase Flash
G – Nvc Read Write Long
h – Nvc Print Psm Cmd History
I – Nvc Initialize Flash I/O Driver
m – Nvc Display Memory
M – Nvc Modify Memory
r – Nvc Read Flash Data
/
V – Nvc Flash Veri cation Test
v – Nvc Hardware Information Command
W – Nvc Write Flash Data

Level O – Command set to deal with cache le systems found on Solid-State hard drives.

a – Cfs Return Active Clump

b – Cfs Concise Reli Display Command
c – Cfs Return Clump Node
C – Cfs Display Clump List
G – Read Write Long
I – Cfs Initialize Cache File System
j – Cfs Print Asd Journal
K – Copy Clumps Cmd
l – Cfs Load Cache File System
n – Cfs Return Cache Node
p – Cfs Display Clump For Index
r – Cfs Read Node Lba – not functional on Kahuna drives
s – Cfs Display Sentinel List
S – Cfs Save Cache File System
v – Cfs Verify Integrity

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