---
title: Introduction to SCSI Architecture Model Device Interface Guide
framework: devicedrivers
role: article
path: apple-archive/documentation/DeviceDrivers/Conceptual/WorkingWithSAM/WWS_Intro
---

# Introduction to SCSI Architecture Model Device Interface Guide

Explains how to develop applications that communicate with or control SCSI Architecture Model devices.

## Organization of This Document

This document contains the following chapters:

- [Accessing SCSI Parallel Devices](../WWS_ParaSCSI/WWS_ParallelSCSI.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30000386-SW1) describes how to use both the SCSI Architecture Model family APIs and the deprecated SCSI family APIs to look up a SCSI Parallel device. It then shows how to access the device using the deprecated SCSI family API. To access a device using the SCSI Architecture Model family API, see [Accessing SCSI Architecture Model Devices](../WWS_SAMDevInt/WWS_SAM_DevInt.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30000387-SW1). - [Accessing SCSI Architecture Model Devices](../WWS_SAMDevInt/WWS_SAM_DevInt.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30000387-SW1) describes how to use the SCSI Architecture Model family device interfaces to access and control devices that conform to the SCSI Architecture Model specifications and declare a peripheral device type other than $00, $05, $07, or $0E. This chapter also contains a section on creating a universal binary version of your device access application. - [Document Revision History](../WWS_RevHistory/WWS_RevHistory.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40002649-SW1) lists the revisions of this document.

## See Also

The ADC Reference Library contains several documents on device driver development for OS X and numerous sample drivers and applications.

- *[Accessing Hardware From Applications](../../AccessingHardware/AH_Intro/AH_Intro.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30000376)* describes various ways to access devices from outside the kernel, including the device interface mechanism provided by the I/O Kit. For an overview of the I/O Kit terms and concepts used in this document, read the chapter [Device Access and the I/O Kit](../../AccessingHardware/AH_Device_Access_IOKit/AH_Device_Access_IOKit.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30000378). - *[Audio, FireWire, SCSI, Storage, USB Device Access Reference](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/iokit)* contains API reference for I/O Kit methods and functions and for specific device families. - [Sample Code > Hardware & Drivers > SCSI](../../../../../navigation/redirect.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP30000925-TP40003576-TP30000567) includes both application-level and in-kernel code samples. Of particular relevancy to this document is the *[SCSIOldAndNew](../../../../../samplecode/SCSIOldAndNew/Introduction/Intro.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/DTS10000448)* sample project. - Additional application-level code samples are included as part of the OS X Developer Tools installation package in `/Developer/Examples/IOKit/scsi`. - OS X Man Pages provides access to existing reference documentation for BSD and POSIX functions and tools in a convenient HTML format. - The [ata-scsi-dev](http://lists.apple.com/mailman/listinfo/ata-scsi-dev) mailing list provides a forum for discussing OS X development related to devices based on ATA and SCSI technology.

If you're ready to create a universal binary version of your SCSI device-access application to run in an Intel-based Macintosh, see *[Universal Binary Programming Guidelines, Second Edition](../../../../MacOSX/Conceptual/universal_binary/universal_binary_intro/universal_binary_intro.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40002217)*. The *Universal Binary Programming Guidelines* describes the differences between the Intel and PowerPC architectures and provides tips for developing a universal binary.

A detailed description of the SCSI Architecture Model specifications is beyond the scope of this document—for more information, see [http://t10.org](http://t10.org) .

[Next](../WWS_ParaSCSI/WWS_ParallelSCSI.html)

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