SCA-2 backplane

[chipy]

Hi,

I have a question concerning SCA-2, a physical implementation for high-end SCSI. SCA-2 allows SCSI harddrives to connect directly to a backplane so as to reduce internal harddrive cables. I have seen computers that use SCA-2 hotswappable harddrives... these computers have a motherboard and a backplane for the SCA-2 SCSI harddrives right? So my question is, how does the motherboard (w/ the processors and memory) connect to the backplane (that supports the SCSI harddrives)?

Thanx,
Mark (chipy)

 

[ScrewFace]

Welcome to the AnandTech Forums! I can't help you but i can bump this to the beginning. Someone here (106,000 members) should be able to help you, sooner or later.

 

[Sunner]

Most boxes just connect the mobo and backplane through a regular SCSI cable.
That allows you to hook up any SCSI adapter you want to the backplane(well within reason).

Some use proprietary connectors that hook right into the system board.

Just what I've seen on the servers we have around here(bunch of Compaq's and Sun's).

 

[Vegito]

exactly, my scsi card just connects a scsi cable to the backplane and the hdd racks plugs into the back plane. The backplane has the scsi id so you dont need to put it on the hdd like the 68 pins ones.

 

[chipy]

Hey, thanx a lot guys!! I've always wondered about that. Having built a couple of normal computers as a hobby, I started thinking about what goes into making the servers. BTW, what companies make these backplanes? Compaq and Sun? I suppose someone like me couldn't readily buy one unless it's on Ebay or something. Well, appreciate the help!

Thanx,
Chipy

 

[dejacky]

is scsi in my dell dockingstation electronically powered?

 

[Sunner]

There are probably lots of companies that make SCA backplanes, considdering how many small shops make relatively cheap servers with SCA disks.

I remember seeing one for sale somewhere, but that was quite a while ago, and it was damn expensive...
I guess maybe companies like Supermicro, Asus, etc might have them for sale, seeing as they make server barebones, not sure if they tell just the backplanes though.

If you really wanna pick one up, maybe you could ask some shop that makes their own servers where they pick up theirs.
Where I live there is at least one place that puts together their own servers, so they gotta get their backplanes somewhere