ASPI

Introduction

ASPI is an abbreviation meaning “Advanced SCSI Programming Interface”. It is a software interface and a API (or application program interface) for the operating system Windows, giving access the peripherals SCSI, Windows (until Windows XP) not offering any API standard to reach these peripherals.

ASPI is mainly used to control peripherals of the readers type or engravers of CD/DVD.

Library ASPI is developed and distributed free by the Adaptec company. It remains however the property of Adaptec. If a documentation (brief) is provided, the sources are not published.

Many a software of engraving and/or diagnosis, even commercial, uses interface ASPI.

Services offered by the interface

The services offered by this API are the following:

to enumerate the peripheral SCSI present in the system.
to reach the peripheral SCSI, low the level (reading or writing of sectors).
to reach the peripheral SCSI, with more an high level of service (for example: extraction of the FAKE of a CD Audio).

It should be noted that ASPI deals with the peripheral peripherals SCSI, but also physically connected on a bus other than SCSI (ATA, S-ATA) but controllable via orders (software) SCSI. It is the case of the quasi-majority of the engravers of CD/DVD used under Windows.

A virtual reader (for example Demon Tools) will be seen and listed by ASPI, like a peripheral physical.

Installation

It is possible to download a file free containing all the files necessary, as well as a software of installation.

Under Windows XP the files of interface ASPI (after installation) are the following:

\system\winaspi.dll \system\wnaspi32.dll \ system32 \ drivers \ aspi32.sys

Alternative solutions

Some software of engraving, for example Nero, install their own software SCSI.
The solution of Adaptec, although it is free, is nevertheless a solution owner. This is why one saw appearing solutions known as free, like frogAspi.

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