Hard Disk Drive

ATA/ATAPI-1 — the first ATA standard released in 1994

This is the first ATA/ATAPI standard. Released in 1994.

The standard defines the AT Attachment Interface. The standard defines an integrated bus interface between disk drives and host processors. It provides a common point of attachment for systems manufacturers, system integrators, and suppliers of intelligent peripherals.

Note: there is no practical use of this document. This is a history now.

Download: d0791r4c — ATA/ATAPI-1 (PDF)


ATA/ATAPI-2 — the second revision of the ATA standard released in 1996

This is the second ATA/ATAPI standard. Released in 1996.

This standard extends the AT Attachment Interface with the addition of new commands, and defines improved interface transfer rates. In addition, general improvements have been made in content for completeness and to improve clarity.

This standard defines the AT Attachment Interface and integrated interfaces between devices and host processors. It provides a common point of attachment for systems manufacturers, system integrators, and suppliers of intelligent devices.

The application environment for the AT Attachment Interface is any device which uses internal storage.

The PC AT Bus(TM) is a widely used and implemented interface for which a variety of devices have been manufactured. As a means of reducing size and cost, a class of products has emerged which embed the controller functionality in the device. Because of their compatibility with existing AT hardware and software this interface quickly became a de facto industry standard. While the AT Attachment Interface has its roots in the PC AT Bus(TM), its use has extended to many other systems.

Note: there is no practical use of this document. This is a history now.

Download: d0948r4c — ATA/ATAPI-2 (PDF)

ATA/ATAPI-5 — the fifth revision of the ATA standard released in 2000

This is the fifth ATA/ATAPI standard. Released in 2000.

This standard specifies the AT Attachment Interface between host systems and storage devices. It provides a common attachment interface for systems manufacturers, system integrators, software suppliers, and suppliers of intelligent storage devices.

The application environment for the AT Attachment Interface is any host system that has storage devices contained within the processor enclosure.

This standard defines the connectors and cables for physical interconnection between host and storage device, as well as, the electrical and logical characteristics of the interconnecting signals. It also defines the operational registers within the storage device, and the commands and protocols for the operation of the storage device.

This standard maintains a high degree of compatibility with the AT Attachment with Packet Interface Extensions standard (ATA/ATAPI-4), NCITS 317-1998, and while providing additional functions, is not intended to require changes to presently installed devices or existing software.

Download: ATA/ATAPI-5 (PDF)

ATA/ATAPI-6 — the sixth revision of the ATA standard released in 2001

This is the sixth ATA/ATAPI standard. Released in 2001.

This standard specifies the AT Attachment Interface between host systems and storage devices. It provides a common attachment interface for systems manufacturers, system integrators, software suppliers, and suppliers of intelligent storage devices.

The application environment for the AT Attachment Interface is any host system that has storage devices contained within the processor enclosure.

This standard defines the connectors and cables for physical interconnection between host and storage device, as well as the electrical and logical characteristics of the interconnecting signals. It also defines the operational registers within the storage device, and the commands and protocols for the operation of the storage device.

This standard maintains a high degree of compatibility with the AT Attachment with Packet Interface - 5 standard (ATA/ATAPI-5), NCITS 340-2000, and while providing additional functions, is not intended to require changes to presently installed devices or existing software.

Download: ATA/ATAPI-6 (PDF)

ATA/ATAPI-7 — the seventh revision of the ATA standard released in 2003

This is the seventh ATA/ATAPI standard. Released in 2003.

This standard specifies the AT Attachment Interface between host systems and storage devices. It provides a common attachment interface for systems manufacturers, system integrators, software suppliers, and suppliers of intelligent storage devices.

The application environment for the AT Attachment Interface is any host system that has storage devices contained within the processor enclosure.

Volume 1 defines the register delivered commands used by devices implementing the standard.

Volume 2 defines the connectors and cables for physical interconnection between host and storage device, the electrical and logical characteristics of the interconnecting signals, and the protocols for the transporting commands, data, and status over the interface for the parallel interface.

Volume 3 defines the connectors and cables for physical interconnection between host and storage device, the electrical and logical characteristics of the interconnecting signals, and the protocols for the transporting commands, data, and status over the interface for the serial interface.

Download: d1532v1r4b — ATA/ATAPI-7, Volume 1 (PDF)
Download: d1532v2r4b — ATA/ATAPI-7, Volume 2 (PDF)
Download: d1532v3r4b — ATA/ATAPI-7, Volume 3 (PDF)

ATA/ATAPI-8 revision 2b — AT Attachment — 8 ATA/ATAPI Command Set (January 10, 2006)

ATA/ATAPI-8 revision 2b — AT Attachment — 8 ATA/ATAPI Command Set (January 10, 2006, draft)

The set of AT Attachment standards consists of this standard and the ATA implementation standards described in ATA8-AAM. The AT Attachment ATA Command Set (ATA8-ACS) specifies the command set host systems use to access storage devices. It provides a common command set for systems manufacturers, system integrators, software suppliers, and suppliers of intelligent storage devices.

Download: d1699r2b — ATA/ATAPI-8, Command Set (PDF)
Download: d1700r2 — ATA/ATAPI-8, Architecture Model (PDF)