How to setup SCSI

[VFAA]

Ok, so I decided to invest some money into SCSI and see how it performs in my server. So I went out and bought myself a IBM 9.1GB 10020RPM SCSI (Type: DGVS09Y) hard drive along with a Tekram DC-395UW PCI SCSI card and of course who could forget the Plextor 32X SCSI CD-ROM (Model: PX-32TSi). I though the setup would be just like another walk in the park but on that walk, I've got robbed. I can't seem to get it working. Before I continue, here's the specs of my server:

• CPU: Intel Celeron 500MHz
• Motherboard: Intel® CA810
• Memory: 512 MB of Kingston PC133
• Video Card: Intel® 82810 (Integraded)
• Hard Drive: IBM 9.1 GB @ 10020 RPMS
• CD-ROM: Plextor PX-32TSi
• Sound Card: Integraded
• LAN: 10/100 Integraded
• Other Components: Tekram DC-395UW SCSI PCI

I should also mention that I know not much about SCSI so please go easy on me. I read manuals and instructions but I still don't get it. I can't find any friendly web sites that explain what every component is in simple, basic words. I'm frustrated.

Here's how I set it up:

1. The HD needs a 80pin to 68pin adapter so I went out and got one too. I set the HD SCSI ID to #2 with a pin on the 68pin adapter. Is there anything else I need to put a pin on?
2. Plextor CD-ROM was already preset on SCSI ID #3 so I just installed it in my tower and connected it with 80pin SCSI cable to my Tekram SCSI card.
3. After that I installed the HD in my 5'25 bay, w/ cooling of course, and connected it with a 68pin SCSI cable to my Tekram SCSI card.
4. Turned on my PC and went inside the Tekram BIOS. I only changed the CD-ROM boot up feature. That's all. Everything else stays default.
5. Restarted my PC and it has some trouble either detecting or running or recognizing the IBM HD on SCSI ID#2.
6. No problems with the CD-ROM though. When I bypass detection of the HD, the CD-ROM is recognized on SCSI ID #3.
7. Now a friend tells me about terminators (???). I'm really in the dark about what it is. Is terminator a physical thing that you attach to a SCSI cable and than to the SCSI device or is it just a feature that I enable with a pin? If someone could enlighten me more about what the Terminators are maybe I could see the light.
8. Just to confirm, the HD looks like it gets stuck while detecting as the LED light goes on for about 20 seconds and than disappears with no progress.

I'm cluless, maybe stupid. Maybe SCSI ain't for me. But I would very much appreciate any help, any web sites, anything that could get my server up and running with my current components

Thanks

 

[bacillus]

firstly set your boot drive to ID0 which usually means that you don't jumper the hdd. make sure the scsi card ID is 7.
you should put a terminator at the end of the scsi cable on which you have the hdd.
I assume you're putting the cdrom on a 50 pin seperate cable. the cdrom needs to be terminated using the jumper at the rear of the drive as it's the only device on that cable.
finally is your 80pin to 68pin adapter a generic one. these can cause odd problems at the best of times!

 

[bozo1]

You have to terminate both buses.

The one you have the hard drive on, needs to be terminated. Either by having a cable with a terminator on the end or by a jumper setting on the 68-pin to SCA adapter you purchased. Some SCA adapters have this feature, some do not. If yours doesn't, you need a cable with a terminator on the end.

Your bus with the CD drive on it needs to be terminated as well, there will be a jumper on the drive to do that if you haven't set it already.

You should also realize that the drive and adapter you got uses an UltraWide interface. A current model 7200rpm IDE drive will probably be just as fast for you.

 

[VFAA]

Thanks guys but I would really appreciate if someone explained to me what a 'terminator' is. I know that both devices must be terminated... Can anyone provide any pics of how a 'terminator' looks like and approx how much it costs?

Also here are the Defaults in my SCSI card BIOS:

Adapter SCSI ID = 7
Boot Device ID = 0
Boot Device LUN = 0
Boot From CD-ROM = Disabled

So basically all I need is a couple of 'terminators'? 1 for my HD and 1 for my CD-ROM?
Also, if I set the 'Boot Device ID to 0', I won't have to put any jumpers on the HD, correct?
Please elaborate a little more on terminators.

Thanks;

 

[mastertech01]

faq

 

[ChefJoe]

My adaptec 2940AU card had an option which looks like the card could enable termination... I also think there were some jumpers on one of my HDs which would do termination. I didn't trust either and just plopped a terminator on the end of the cable in my scsi side tower, but there might be other options. search for scsi termintor on newegg, there's at least one there.

 

[bozo1]

Termination can be done many ways but it must be done on both ends of the cable.

As the above post mentioned, the card does termination, but that is only for the card end. You can enable it at the card, disable it, or set it to 'auto' on most controllers. If you have no external SCSI devices, the card should have termination enabled or set to auto. If you have an external SCSI device as well as internal, the card should have its termination set to disabled or auto. Remember to terminate both ends of the chain. In the SCSI world, the host adapter is nothing more than another device on the chain and should be terminated or not terminated depending on whether it is or is not at the end of the chain.

In addition to that, you need to terminate the other end of the cable which is where your hard drive is. On an LVD drive (Ultra2 or Ultra160), this is done via a terminator at the end of the cable. The top picture on this page shows what an internal SCSI cable with terminator on the end looks like. Basically, instead of another drive connector at the end of the cable, there is a small circuit board or a molded plastic thingie that has the terminators inside. On older SE drives (Single-Ended - SCSI, SCSI2, Fast-Wide, UltraWide, etc.), termination normally is done via a jumper on the hard drive.

You purchased an SCA hard drive which throws another kink into the picture. SCA drives, whether newer Ultra2/Ultra160, or older SE drives, do not have any termination available on the drive via a jumper. You have to terminate it either via a cable with a terminator on the end or via a switch or jumper on the SCA adapter. (Some adapters support termination, some don't.) To throw yet another kink into this, if you purchase an Ultra2 or Ultra160 SCA drive, you need to be sure that your SCA adapter supports LVD, which MANY don't. (regardless of how they are advertised) And as yet another kink, if you have an LVD drive, you have to have an LVD cable.

People around here seem to have problems with SCSI which I don't understand - it really is very simple:

- Know what you are doing, ask questions before buying.

- Avoid SCA drives. Unless you are 100% confident that the adapter you buy is LVD compliant, regardless of what the reseller states, you're probably going to have problems. SCA drives are designed for use in a server or external chassis that supports pluggable drives. The busses on these servers/chassis are designed to use these drives, take care of termination and SCSI ID's, power and all that. This is not what home users have so you are jury rigging the drive to do something it wasn't designed for.

- Know what type cable you need. A non-LVD cable will not support an LVD drive at Ultra2/160 speeds, even though it may look 100% identical to an LVD cable.

- Understand termination. The overwhelming amount of problems people have with SCSI are due to incorrect termination, the rest are wrong cables and/or wrong adapters.

- Realize that unless you plan on doing a *current* model 10K or 15K drive at Ultra2 or better speeds, a current 7200 RPM IDE drive will perform as well for most people. (Yes, seek time will be faster on the SCSI drive and CPU utilization will be lower, but for everyday type activities, you will probably not notice a difference.)

- Avoid SCA drives/adapters - or did I mention that?

 

[RPB]

there is alot to learn about scsi (as your finding out) and one setting or jumper or drive setting can cause the system behave strange or not run at all.

the plextor should be jumpered for termiation and at the of the cable and the hardrive in the middle.

hardrive id 0 lun 0 ok

cd id 6 lun 0

if your going to boot from the scsi hardrive your mainboard bios must be set to boot from scsi.

i too was confused setting up scsi at first but keep at it and you will win.

 

[Instagib]

<< faq >>




Very nice!

 

[mandrake88]

try this site:
http://scsifaq.org:9080/scsi_faq/

 

[VFAA]

Thanks guys, that really helped me... I'll get a few terminators just in case and terminate both ends of the 68pin cable... same for the CD-ROM which is on a 50pin cable...

 

[bacillus]

<< I'll get a few terminators just in case and terminate both ends of the 68pin cable >>


you'll only need one terminator at the end of the cable & not at both ends.

 

[VFAA]

ahh man I feel stupid... thx!

 

[mastertech01]

SCSI is always a little confusing when first trying it out. The rules of SCSI take a bit getting used to, but once you get it down, its a great subsystem. Ive been foraging through these forums for over 2 years and the same thing happens virtually to everyone.