Methods and systems for asynchronously testing a plurality of disk drives

Abstract

An asynchronous system for testing disk drives includes a test platform that includes a plurality of slots for receiving and for providing communication with drives. The slots are segregated into a plurality of groups configured to satisfy predetermined environmental, communication bandwidth and test schedule requirements of the drives to be loaded therein. An automated loader/unloader is configured to selectively load drives into and out of the platform and to move drives between the plurality of groups. A module controller is assigned to each group of slots, each module controller being coupled to the slots of its assigned group and configured to administer at least one test to drives loaded in its assigned group while insuring that the predetermined environmental, communication bandwidth and test schedule requirements of its assigned group remain satisfied. A test matrix controller controls the loader/unloader to asynchronously move each drive that passes the test(s) administered in one group to a selected empty slot of another group for administration of a next test, to asynchronously move each drive that completes or fails the series of tests out of the platform. The moving steps are carried out without compromising the respective environmental, communication bandwidth and test schedule requirements of the plurality of groups.