SCSI cable question

[Jeffrey Davis_1]

This should be easy. I'm just looking for some clarification on the matter. I want to hand a scsi-hard disk off of my system and use it for simple stuff. The hard disk in question has amphonal style connectors on the back of it. The only cables I have to match this are amphonal to narrow (40p). How would I connect this to a wide scsi (non-differential) bus? Do I need anything special to go from narrow to wide (or fast wide ??)
All advise welcome.

[A. Clay Stephenson · Accepted solution]

Blackbox makes a cable that will go from your Amphenol (Centronics) to either 68 pin or 50 pin.

Check them out at www.blackbox.com.

The best source I have found for SCSI connectivity questions is: http://fieldnet.ne.mediaone.net:9080/scsi_faq/

[Bill Hassell]

Be very careful! Wide SCSI to narrow SCSI only works with single-ended and low-voltage differential disks! Sadly, the fast-wide high-voltage differential connectors are identical to the SE fast-wide and LVD fast-wide disks and they are NOT compatible. Since you did not mention your 'system', that will help in identifying the old disk. HP 9000 computers used fast-wide high-voltage differential for many years so there is a high probability that this is a FW-HVD disk.

[A. Clay Stephenson]

You are right Bill. I did assume that he knew that he was using a SE controller. If he must go between the HVD and SE-SCSI then a bus converter is necessary, which probably makes this project really questionable since any drive with an old Centronics connector is almost certainly going to be a dog.

[Volker Borowski]

Hey Clay,

what a link. Real top gun SCSI stuff.
IMO worthy 10 pts alone for the link.
Just clicked "Add to favorites".

Thanks a lot, although this is not my thread.

Volker

[Vincent Fleming]

There used to be HVD to SE SCSI converters... I've used them many times. I don't know if anyone still makes them. The problem is they weren't cheap a few years ago. You may be able to find one used, however.

PS: when going from Wide SCSI to Narrow SCSI, you can use a simple cable - as long as there are no devices on the bus other than the narrow ones. Otherwise, you need to terminate the high pins when you drop them. There used to be terminators specifically made for this purpose - they look pretty much like a pass-thru terminator (aka like a gender-bender)

Good luck.