SCSI Terms, SCSI specifications - SCSI cable length specs
The Connectors:
IDC50
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CN50
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Centronics C50 sometimes referred to as CN50, Cent50 (External connector on many SCSI-1 and some SCSI-2 Controllers) The controller connector and peripherals connectors should be females, and the cables male. |
DB25
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HD50
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HD68
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VHDCI
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HDI-30
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HDI-30 is for Apple Macintosh PowerBooks. |
HPCN50
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Used in
|
DB50
DB37
HDCN60
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Mini Centronics 60 “HDCN60” (old IBM RS6000)
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The SCSI Types Bus lengths,
devices supported, etc.
Much more info on SCSI Cable lengths
and "gotchas" below the chart
|
STA (SCSI Trade Association)
-Endorsed Terms & Terminology for SCSI Parallel Interface Technology.
|
|
STA Terms |
Bus Speed, MBytes/Sec. Max. |
Bus Width, bits |
Max. Bus Lengths, Meters (1) |
Max. Device Support | ||
|
Single- ended |
LVD |
HVD | ||||
|
SCSI-1(2) |
5 |
8 |
6 |
(3) |
25 |
8 |
|
Fast SCSI (2) |
10 |
8 |
3 |
(3) |
25 |
8 |
|
Fast Wide SCSI |
20 |
16 |
3 |
(3) |
25 |
16 |
|
Ultra SCSI (2) |
20 |
8 |
1.5 |
(3) |
25 |
8 |
|
Ultra SCSI (2) |
20 |
8 |
3 |
- |
- |
4 |
|
Wide Ultra SCSI |
40 |
16 |
- |
(3) |
25 |
16 |
|
Wide Ultra SCSI |
40 |
16 |
1.5 |
- |
- |
8 |
|
Wide Ultra SCSI |
40 |
16 |
3 |
- |
- |
4 |
|
Ultra2 SCSI (2,4) |
40 |
8 |
(4) |
12 |
25 |
8 |
|
Wide Ultra2 SCSI (4) |
80 |
16 |
(4) |
12 |
25 |
16 |
|
Ultra3 SCSI or Ultra160 SCSI (6) |
160 |
16 |
(4) |
12 |
(5) |
16 |
|
Ultra320 SCSI (6) |
320 |
16 |
(4) |
12 |
(5) |
16 |
|
Notes: |
(In case you're not confused
yet)
A short simplified guide
to scsi cable
lengths.
|
Type of SCSI |
"Single-ended" (Regular) SCSI bus length |
"Differential" SCSI bus length |
LVD SCSI bus length
†† |
|
5 MHz (SCSI-1) |
6 meters |
25 meters |
- |
|
10 MHz (SCSI-2 FAST, Fast / Wide SCSI) |
3 meters |
25 meters |
- |
|
20 MHz (Ultra SCSI, Ultra Wide SCSI or "Fast20") |
3 meters (3 devices + host adapter) or 1.5 meters (4 devices + host adapter)* |
25 meters |
- |
|
40 MHz (Ultra2 SCSI or "Fast40") |
- |
- |
12 meters |
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*please note: "Ultra" SCSI cable lengths are severely limited! The maximum cable length is ten feet when four devices (including the host adapter) or less are on the bus. If five devices are used (four devices and your host adapter), then the maximum bus length is 1.5 meters (five feet!). ††Knocking Ultra2 or U160 chains out of LVD mode by putting "Legacy" Single Ended (regular Ultra scsi, etc) devices on the chain will give you the same cable length restrictions as Ultra scsi. Watch it!! | |||
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Note: Remember, the "bus" is the entire cable chain! This is not some kind of "each cable" can be this length kind of deal. Bear in mind that you need to use good quality cable and active termination to acheive even these results! There are some specs that are mostly related to internal cables, for example, the SCSI-2 specs state that there should be 12" of cable between connectors. This spacing however, is not always possible, depending on the number of connectors. Another limit to be aware of is the "stub length" (sort of like the length from the cable "bus" to the device) is limited to 4", so don't chain adapters together if you can help it and never think you can do some kind of "Y" cable setup! Another possible enhancement involves using different spacing between the connectors to limit reflective resonance. There's some debate about whether this does, in fact, have any benefits. You can get extremely carried away with making "the perfect" cable, but you will generally pay far more than you get back. So, basically, remember that excess cable length is a bad thing, and if it works, and works reliably, it's just fine, even if it bends a rule or two. |