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Conference ssag::ask_ssag

Title:Ask the Storage Architecture Group
Notice:Check out our web page at http://www-starch.shr.dec.com
Moderator:SSAG::TERZAN
Created:Wed Oct 15 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:6756
Total number of notes:25276

6378.0. "BA356-wide to 50 pin centronics tape adapter?" by MQOOA::LEDOUX (Vincent -- DTN 632-7908) Thu Feb 06 1997 09:20

        I have a customer that received his 8200 rackmount with
        a BA356-SB/ 16 bit personality module (BA35X-MH?).
        
        The disk in there are all narrow and the controler in
        the 8200 is narrow as well.  
        
        It works fine, but when he tries to hook-up a narrow external
        tape drive using a 17-04154-02 (BN31V?) the whole SCSI
        bus hangs. The tape is a TZK62 using the old centronics
        50 pins connectors and the output connector on the
        BA356 is a 68 pin connector.
        
        Besides replacing the personality for a 8 bit (BA35X-MG)
        is there an other solution less expensive, like a cable,
        adapter or something?  Or is he doing something wrong?
        
    Regards,
    Vince.
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6378.1Some commmentsMS3100::SCHELLNT and VMS PartnerThu Feb 13 1997 20:5841
>
>        I have a customer that received his 8200 rackmount with
>        a BA356-SB/ 16 bit personality module (BA35X-MH?).
>        
>        The disk in there are all narrow and the controler in
>        the 8200 is narrow as well.  

Let's see - a narrow controller and a wide personality module.
What kind of cable is run between the controller and the personality
module?

My guess is that you actually have a wide controller, a BN21K cable, and the
wide personality module.

>        
>        It works fine, but when he tries to hook-up a narrow external
>        tape drive using a 17-04154-02 (BN31V?) the whole SCSI
>        bus hangs. The tape is a TZK62 using the old centronics
>        50 pins connectors and the output connector on the
>        BA356 is a 68 pin connector.

A BN21V probably doesn't terminate the high 8 bits of the wide SCSI channel.
This messes up the addressing of the BA356 drives, and they might conflict with
the tape drive.

You need to get a cable that terminate the high bits before you send the SCSI
bus to the tape drive...I think there is a BN36A adapter, but I'm not sure the
gender of the calbes is right...

>        
>        Besides replacing the personality for a 8 bit (BA35X-MG)
>        is there an other solution less expensive, like a cable,
>        adapter or something?  Or is he doing something wrong?
>        
>    Regards,
>    Vince.

The 8 bit personality module has a 50 pin high-density connector, so it won't
work if you have a wide controller...

Mark
6378.2MQOOA::LEDOUXVincent [email protected]Mon Feb 17 1997 07:1847
    re: -.1
    
    Hi Mark,
    
> Let's see - a narrow controller and a wide personality module.
> What kind of cable is run between the controller and the personality
> module?

He get his cable made by a cable making company, according to the
specs (so he says?).  They have been using them for all sort of
configuration.  

> My guess is that you actually have a wide controller, a BN21K cable, and the
> wide personality module.

No, the system SCSI bus off a 8200 rackmounts has 50 pins,
Can you get a wide on a 50 pins?.


> A BN21V probably doesn't terminate the high 8 bits of the wide SCSI channel.
> This messes up the addressing of the BA356 drives, and they might conflict with
> the tape drive.

> You need to get a cable that terminate the high bits before you send the SCSI
> bus to the tape drive...I think there is a BN36A adapter, but I'm not sure the
> gender of the calbes is right...

We lent him a narrow personality board and I believe it works fine,
so it sounds like you are right.

> The 8 bit personality module has a 50 pin high-density connector, so it won't
> work if you have a wide controller...

I am quite positive I don't have a wide controler.

There are 3 wide adpaters on the KFTIA, but they are used for
Hitach RAID drives (many gigs).

The "Standard" way to plug an external tape drive on these systems
is to use one of the 3 wide adapters of the KFTIA with a DWZZA.

> Mark

Thanks,

Vince.