Which of these interfaces is often seen on CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Zip drives, and tape drives?
A) SATA
B) PATA
C) IDE
D) ATAPI
E) Barbed wire and duct tape
The answer: D) ATAPI
Because ATA was designed exclusively for hard drives, it was difficult to interface other devices to the computer. Prior to ATAPI, most of these devices used SCSI as their primary interface. ATAPI (ATA Packet Interface) was designed as an electrical connection that used the ATA interface but “spoke” SCSI commands across the interface. It was a well-executed blending of technologies that works seamlessly without any additional drivers or complex connections.
 |
Want to know more? Watch “PATA and SATA.”The PATA and SATA standards are the most common hard drive interface types that you’ll find in today’s personal computers. In this video, you’ll learn about the details of these popular hard drive technologies and the basics of cabling and connecting the drives to your computer. |