SureStore DLT40e

[Kyle Crane]

I have an external drive that has the SCSI SE label on the rear. I have been trying to find a controller that will work with it. I have an AHA-2940UW which I thought was the right card. However I can't get the card to talk to the drive. It simply comes back and says there are no devices attached.

If I play around with the settings. I can even cause the scan to hang. The drive came with 50pin terminator. When the SCSI cable is not attached it has a green light. As soon as I attach the cable the light goes out. If I leave it (terminator) on the SCSI scan times out. I never needed it other systems they were terminated internally.

I'm just at a loss. Should this work with the card defaults? Are there settings I need to tweak? A special terminator I need?

Any help is appreciated.

[CA713937]

The 2940UW is a single ended card, so it should work with a SE drive. It sounds like you are trying to use an autosensing LVDS/SE terminator.

All you really need is an active SE terminator.

[Kyle Crane]

The terminator I have has "SCSI ALT.2 ACTIVE" printed on it and has "Amphenol" stamped on the other side.

I don't have any others to test and I'm worried about spending a fortune on cables cards and such trying all different combinations. But I take you are saying that an external terminator *is* nessisary with the 2940 then right?

Thanks for the tip.

Ahhh... I love SCSI.

[CA713937]

The 2940UW should be set to "automatic" termination by default. It will enable termination when it senses something connected to the external connector. I assume you don't have any devices attached to the internal (ribbon cable) connector.

That takes care of terminating the host end of the bus. On the DLT40e drive, you put a terminator on the second connector.

I'm assuming you have a 68HD to 50LD converter cable that you are using to connect the drive to the HBA.

Regarding your terminator, get a part number off of it and look it up with the manufacturer. You want an active SE terminator.

[Kyle Crane]

Well,

I just bought I new terminator and still no go. I've put enough money into this now. The new terminator acts just like the old one. Plug it in green light, plug in the SCSI cable to the PC green light goes out, and now the drive reboots whenever the cable is attached. I attached the drive to the Compaq 5000r that it used to operate with. Dead. Locks the bus just to have it attached.

I think I'll just splurge for a DLT70e drive and forget this drive. I've purchased two cables, two cards, two terminators. I think it's safe to say it's the drive at this point.

[Munir_1]

Make sure you but the SCSI card on the first 2 PCI Slot â Make sure its on bus mastering slotâ and also check for bent pins on the cables â both endsâ , and the terminators.
Change the SCSI ID on the tape drive, lower Number, â avoid 0, and 1â
, you can also go into the SCSI bios, and

[CA713937]

The "green light" means you have an autosensing LVD/SE connector. The green means it's running in LVDS mode. No light means it sensed single single ended. The card you are using is single ended.

It is certainly possible that the drive has SCSI problems. Does the drive otherwise behave normally (e.g. loads and unloads tapes)?

[Kyle Crane]

It does load and unload properly. Goes green and beeps when it powers up. I have tried all SCSI IDs from 0 to 7 with the sames results. Now, as for what slot the PCI card is in I have not tried to vary that. I already have a bid out on a 35/70 drive to replace this unit. If that doesn't work with this card then I might just burst into flame in my basement!

I'll just have to purchase a 68 pin to 68 pin cable for the SureStore 70e I'm bidding on. Nothing too tricky with setting up I'd assume.

Thanks for all the helpful tips though. I appreciate the help!

[CA713937]

When the system boots up, does the tape drive banner? The SCSI card BIOS should list the devices it finds on the bus.

If you tried two different cards, and were using proper cabling and termination, it would be a fair bet that the drive's SCSI interface is messed up (might want to check that the internal ribbon cable is fully connected).

On a replacement 35/70 drive (aka DLT7000) be aware that they come in two flavors - Single ended (wide), and High Voltage Diff (wide).

The SE drive will work with your 2940UW. The HVDS drive will not (you would need a 2944).

[BR664511]

Ky;e,

Do not use SCSI ID 7 this is usually reserved for the SCSI card ID.

Regards,
Barry.