Hardware Features & Specifications
Atola TaskForce Hardware Unit
To support multiple simultaneous imaging sessions and other processes running on its 18 ports at top speeds, the TaskForce unit is
built on extremely robust, high-capacity components that include a server grade motherboard, 8-core Xeon CPU 3.7 GHz and ECC RAM.
The device can be used in standalone mode with the touch screen on top of the device.
Ports:
- 6x SATA for SATA I/II/III
- 6x SATA/SAS for SATA I/II/III + SAS3 (12Gb)
- 4x USB for USB 2.0/3.0
- IDE
- Extension slot (for Thunderbolt, Apple PCIe- and M.2 PCIe/SATA -SSD extension modules)
- Flash card support with card reader attached to any USB port
- 2x 10Gb Ethernet
Other ports:
Serial RS232, IDE power, VGA, DC IN 24V
Switches:
1x Power switch at the rear corner next to the power jack for the power supply.
18x Source/target switch for each of 18 ports enabling write protection in source mode.
LED indicators:
Two indicators for each of 18 ports:
One indicator is located next to the port’s source/target switch and lights up when source mode is enabled.
The 2nd indicator located on the front panel reflects busy/idle status of the attached device with its blinking.
Displays
Main display: Microsoft Surface Pro 4 with
- 12.3" PixelSense Display
- Resolution: 2736 x 1824 (267 PPI)
- Touch: 10 point multi-touch
IP display: OLED (20x2 characters)
Physical / Environmental
- Dimensions (including screen): 12x10x3 inches (30x25x7,5 cm)
- Weight (including screen): 4.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
- TaskForce working temperature range: 0°C – 40°C (32°F – 104°F)
- Screen working temperature range: 0° – 35°C (32° – 95°F)
- Power consumption: 60 Watt average, 280 Watt peak
- Supply Voltage: 100 - 240 VAC, 50 - 60 Hz
Other specs
- Internal OS: Linux running a custom kernel
- Control interface: web-based TaskForce application
- Detachable 250 GB SSD for internal case management database
- WiFi 802.11n 150 Mb/s adapter in access point mode for easy connectivity
Inside TaskForce
TaskForce hardware unit is essentially a small server grade computer. But because no BIOS or OS is designed to handle hard
disk failures, we have invested a significant amount of research and development efforts to fully overcomes these issues.
Additionally, it features:
- Full low-level control over SATA, USB and IDE ports
- Full native SATA support
- Reset and SATA PHY control for best handling of severely damaged hard drives
- High-speed DMA data transfers, 500+ MB/s
- All BIOS and standard kernel functions are disabled
- TaskForce also features Atola's proprietary circuitry for ultimate drive's power control:
Current sensor for in-depth hard disk diagnosis
- Automatic overcurrent and short-circuit protection
- Overvoltage protection
- These features are a must for proper handling of damaged drives.
For instance, low-level control of the SATA, USB and IDE ports allows TaskForce to deal with devices that do not properly initialize,
have many bad sectors, or frequently freeze due to internal (mechanical) failures. SATA PHY control allows resetting a frozen hard
drive without a power cycle which saves quite a bit of time while imaging, and reduces the chances of further hard disk degradation
and failure. Current sensing allows TaskForce to diagnose a failed drive even if it has electronic or mechanical damage.
Overcurrent protection detects when the drive draws abnormal current and stops it to prevent any further damage. Overvoltage
protection circuit ensures that in the unlikely event of the TaskForce unit malfunction, the attached drives are not damaged in any
way. TaskForce unit is fully controlled by the software via Chrome browser, therefore no Linux experience is required to operate it.