Method for detecting a failure in a SAS/SATA topology

A method for error detection, comprising:

• sending a plurality of test patterns to a device, the device communicatively connected to an initiator in a serial topology;
• receiving a plurality of test results from the device in response to the plurality of test patterns;
• determining whether more than one of the plurality of test results have physical layer errors;
• reporting a cable failure when more than one of the plurality of test results have physical layer errors;
• and
• reporting a device failure when not more than one of the plurality of test results have physical layer errors.

A storage system, comprising:

• an initiator;
• a plurality of target devices communicatively connected to the initiator;
• and
• a diagnostic module communicatively coupled with the initiator, the diagnostic module configured for:
• sending a predetermined pattern to the plurality of target devices;
• receiving a return result from each of the plurality of target devices in response to the predetermined pattern;
• recognizing a problem associated with a particular device of the plurality of target devices, the problem being recognized based on the return result from the particular device;
• sending a plurality of test patterns to the particular device;
• receiving a plurality of test results from the particular device in response to the plurality of test patterns;
• and
• determining a cause of the problem based on the plurality of test results, the cause of the problem being at least one of:
• a cable failure and a device failure.