Internal and External SATA Port Configuration
Updated: September 29, 2009
This paper provides information about support for internal and external serial attached ATA (SATA) ports in Windows. It describes how hardware controllers should configure their devices to support external SATA ports, how Windows and drivers identify internal and external SATA ports, and how system builders can work around a known incompatibility between the SATA 3.0 specification and link power management (LPM) to ensure a good user experience.
The paper provides guidelines and best practices for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), independent hardware vendors (IHVs), and software developers who design and ship system BIOS, device hardware, and drivers.
This information applies to the following operating systems.
Windows 7
Windows Server 20008 R2
Included in this white paper:
| • | Characteristics of SATA Ports |
| • | Industry Standard SATA Requirements |
| • | How Windows Identifies an External SATA Port |
| • | Design Issues for SATA Ports |
| • | Best Practices |
