7K320 SATA OEM Specification
Page 31 of 176
6.3.6.4
Test considerations
Start/stop testing is classically performed to verify head/disk durability. The heads do not land on the disk,
so this type of test should be viewed as a test of the load/unload function.
Start/Stop testing should be done by commands
through the interface, not by power cycling
the drive.
Simple power cycling of the drive invokes the emergency unload mechanism and subjects the HDD to
nontypical mechanical stress.
Power cycling testing may be required to test the boot-up function of the system. In this case HItachi
recommends that the power-off portion of the cycle contain the sequence specified in section 6.4.6.2,
"Required Power-Off Sequence” on page 29. If this is not done, the emergency unload function is
invoked and nontypical stress results.