Powerbook 165 SCSI connection (external) to a Sun Storedge S1

[Den2016]

I'm not too familiar with SCSI so I was hoping someone may know.

I've got a Sun Storedge S1 1U storage array that has got 3x SCSI drives.
On the outside of the array are, I believe, HD50 pin SCSI connectors.

I was wondering if it's possible to connect a Powerbook to the storage array?

What I've learned through Googling about SCSI is that the Powerbook
implements SCSI1 (SE, no termination power provided by cable).

The Storedge S1 has an LVD/SE interface but I'm not sure if it's 8 bit wide
or 16 bit wide interface? If I purchased (if it even exists) a DB25F to
HD50 adapter, would the Powerbook be able to use the disks on the storage array?
By the way, I do have an HDI30 to DB25M cable.

Thanks

 

[NeXT]

Assuming the RAID controller is able to masquerade as a physical volume, technically a patched copy of HD SC Setup would be able to see and format it but from what I'm seeing that's a 68 pin wide SCSI port. You will need several possible combinations of adapters to make that physically connect.
As for if it would work, I'm not going to judge but personally I have never tried plugging something that insane into a 68K powerbook so I don't know how to answer that part.

 

[Den2016]

Thanks NeXT, I think that answers my question.
I should have looked closer, 68 pin port is a 16 bit connection, whereas the 50 pin port is 8 bit.
SCSI1 is only 8 bits wide. I think the likelihood of success is very small.
I'll have to find another use for that storage array.
Thanks again NeXT.

 

[NeXT]

Well, I mean, there are a lot of 16-bit SCSI devices that will work on an older 8-bit bus. I still know people who use adapters to use high capacity SCA drives with older machines with only a 50 pin bus. The compatibility mode is purely up to the scsi device to support. Really the only way to know is plug it in and see.

 

[Den2016]

Hey NeXT,
I think I'll give it a try. I do see some HD68 to DB25 cables on eBay. Maybe I can find one at my local computer surplus store.

 

[glitch]

I believe the Sun StorEdge S1 is just a disk tray really, a quick look through PDFs seems to confirm that. In that case, it will almost certainly work as long as you can get the Mac to format the disk(s) in it. You can find SCSI cables that go directly from X to Y SCSI connectors for basically anything that ever existed (except maybe that funky 3-row D-SUB, but that's not relevant). I believe I've got a few in the box 'o SCSI that go from DB25 to HD68.

IMO using something like this with SCA drives is the easy/cheap way to keep old SCSI systems going, when it's practical. My personal favorite is the Sun UniDisk enclosure, which will take a SCA drive without an adapter, and provides 8- or 16-bit auto termination. You can still get new (zero hours on the counter) SCA drives for reasonable prices. I just put a pair of 300 GB SCA drives in my Sun Netra T1/105 a few months ago for under $50. As long as the disk says LVD/SE on it, it's very likely to work with your hardware, as long as the hardware is capable of talking to it.

One thing to watch out for is HVD (often just marked "Differential") gear, it's not compatible with LVD or SE. I've heard, but have never experienced personally, that it can damage equipment if you get a wrong combination.

 

[Juror22]

I think it would work... from the installation and maint manual.
"Note - The Sun StorEdge S1 array also supports single-ended drives. If single-ended drives are used, those drives default to single-ended speeds. The entire array defaults to single-ended mode if connected to a single-ended SCSI bus or to a single-ended host bus adapter."

As for cabling, you could use a SCSI chain as an adapter i.e use easily available cables to connect the PB165 to an intermediate SCSI device like a CD or a Zip drive and then on to the StorEdge S1, with its 68 pin connector. (might be easier or cheaper than finding a HDI30 to HD68 cable).

 

[Den2016]

I have a SCSI Zip disk I can use as part of the chain. But I didn't find a DB25M-HD68M cable at my local computer surplus store.
But I did find a HDI30M to HD50M cable there. And online, looks like a HD50F to HD68M dongle isn't too expensive.
So I can try that combination.