QUOTE
ASPI for Win32 Overview
The architecture of SCSI makes it possible to access a wide variety of devices using a single bus linked to a host
computer with a SCSI host adapter. Support for peripheral devices in Windows (98, ME, NT, 2000 and Windows
XP (32-bit)) is normally achieved through device specific drivers layered on top of the operating systems’ native
SCSI support.
Because of the tremendous diversity of SCSI devices, no driver can support all SCSI peripherals. Instead,
separate drivers are needed for each major class of installed SCSI device. These drivers share the host adapter
hardware through the operating systems’ native SCSI support. The native SCSI layers are different between
Windows 98/ME and Windows NT/2000/XP (32-bit). In addition, development and debugging of VxDs or kernel
mode drivers can be very difficult. The need for a standard SCSI programming interface to simplify SCSI
application development and ease the porting of SCSI applications from one Win32 platform to another brought
ASPI for Win32 into existence.
The Advanced SCSI Programming Interface (ASPI) for Win32 was designed to increase compatibility and
simplify the connection of SCSI peripheral devices like tape, CD-ROM, WORM, magneto-optical, scanners, and
other devices. It defines a protocol for SCSI applications (called ASPI modules) to submit I/O requests to a
single operating system driver (called the ASPI manager). Access to the operating system driver is made
through a Dynamic Link Library named WNASPI32.DLL.
Apparently. That's from the aspi32.pdf included with the original installer. For the rest, all I know is that the Adaptec ASPI layer is as close to 'the standard' as you can get. I don't know how it compares to Nero's.