arp@pdp.cs.OHIOU.EDU (John Gordos) (11/30/88)
After all the chatter about trying to make scsi cables to connect the controllers and drives, I'm suddenly frightened. My wife, (Bless her heart!) is buying me a hard drive for Christmas. I've ordered the GVP impact/2-0 controller mail order, and she's trying to decide what drive to buy me. I'm leaning toward the ST277N, but she may go smaller. I've given her an ad from the November "Computer Shopper" from LYCO COMPUTER BLAH BLAH (big blue add in the middle) on page 3 of 16, they list a series of Seagate drives. Anyway, I've indicated the SCSI drives, and she's free to choose from the list. My tips to her were to make sure it's in stock, AMEX it and ASK FOR CABLES. Herein lies the rub. Am I being naive? Is it impossible to have any Commodore Product use a NORMAL (yeah, define that!) cable? If she does call and ask for cables, what is the likelyhood that they'll work properly? As a software type, I've got little hardware experience, and what I do have is with VAXen, and other CBM products (Can you say $600 VIC-20?). Please, tell me this isn't going to be as difficult as I fear. John -- ======================= ==================== John A. Gordos, III cbatt!oucs!arp SAMI/Burke -or- oucs!crta!gordos
thad@cup.portal.com (Thad P Floryan) (12/04/88)
Re: John Gordos' concern about cables for his (pending! :-) SCSI drive ... I can see why you're apprehensive; there's NO need to be. With the exception of the Centronics-connectored 50-wire cables that come in lengths of 3', 6' and 12', and the "Mac-type" system cables that adapt the 25-pin DB-25 host adapter connector to the 50-wire Centronics plug, everything else is "custom" since every installation is fairly unique. Rephrasing: 1) MOST people purchase a drive that's already mounted in a box having a power supply and fan. The ONLY cable needed in this situation is one that will connect the drive box to your system (i.e. the host adapter). Cables to perform this task are COMMON and readily available. 2) most the discussion here recently focussed on the "internal" box connection between the case-mounted Centronics connector and the 50-pin, dual row connector that is physically on the disk drive (or a translator, such as Adaptec's 4000A or 4070). Most of the 3rd party manufacturers of SCSI disk drive "sub-systems" sell a box that contains everything; all you need is the cable from that box to your computer, and such cables are readily available at walk-in computer and electronics stores (approx. price from $15 to $50 depending on length). If you don't mind getting electrons all over your hands (:-) and want to make your own disk sub-system to save a few $$$, THEN you have to make your own (internal) cables. Making such cables is really straightforward; in terms of the skill level involved, I'd equate it with, say, being able to replace the oil and filter in one's car (though, obviously, not as messy). A recent article I posted here detailed the CORRECT method to wire the box to remain compliant with SCSI standards and assure proper expansion capability. Thad Floryan [ thad@cup.portal.com (OR) ..!sun!portal.!cup.portal.com!thad ]