SUMMARY: Ext Zip Drive - AS255 Cable?

From: Kenneth Jacker <khj_at_cs.cs.appstate.edu>
Date: Wed, 05 Aug 1998 09:51:18 -0400 (EDT)

Thanks to everyone that replied!

-Kenneth H Jacker Internet: khj_at_cs.appstate.edu
-Computer Science Dept Bitnet: jackerkh_at_appstate
-Appalachian State Univ
-Boone, NC 28608 URL: http://www.cs.appstate.edu/u/khj/


Original request
===============

  From: Kenneth Jacker <khj_at_cs.appstate.edu>
  Subject: Ext Zip Drive - AS255 Cable?
  To: alpha-osf-managers_at_ornl.gov
  Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1998 18:30:41 -0400
  
  Without checking the back of my AlphaStation 255/300, I went ahead
  and ordered an external, SCSI Iomega Zip drive. Attempting to
  connect it, I realized that the SCSI connector on the back of the
  AS255 was not compatible with the received cable (larger,
  PC/Macintosh connector).
  
  Could anyone suggest a supplier of the correct cable? General
  comments describing your solution would be of interest as well.
  

Brief summary
=============

Buy either a new cable or adapter that has a male DB-25 connector on
one end, and a mini-DB50 (HD50, ...) connector on the other from Black
Box, local Wal-Mart, etc ...


Responses
=========

**From ssides_at_goblin.wr.usgs.gov Fri Jul 31 18:56:43 1998
  
  There is a cable configuration page from Adaptec at:
  
    http://buynow.adaptec.com
  
  It may give you some info into names of cables you are looking
  for. You can also buy cable from them, they have always been of good
  quality.

-- 
  Stuart C. Sides
  U.S. Geological Survey
  2255 N. Gemini Dr.
  Flagstaff, AZ 86001
  ssides_at_TerraWeb.wr.usgs.gov
  
  
**From Alex_Nord_at_Jabil.com Fri Jul 31 19:18:29 1998
  
  They're available at just about any computer show.  Usually for a
  couple bucks or less...
  
  
**From brock_at_cs.unca.edu Sat Aug  1 13:30:34 1998
  
  You can get the cables from most suppliers of SCSI cables.  I think
  we bought our from APC.  You'll need to get on the Internet to get
  some new tools to make ZIP drive work on an Alpha.  I can't remember
  exactly what they are, but the ZIP drives come preformatted with a
  label that Digital Unix just refuses to read, so you can't just
  disklabel a ZIP disk right out of the case.
  
  By the way, we found using the ZIP drive on the Alpha to be such a
  pain, that we ended up just running samba on the Alpha and copying
  files to/from ZIP drives attached to PCs.
  
**From izaak_bozof_at_ins.com Sun Aug  2 14:49:51 1998
  
  check out Computer Gate International for various config's of
  cables.. I think what you need is a SCSI-2 DIN male to DB25 male
  cable...
  
  www.computergate.com
  
**From Thomas.Hopfner_at_lpr.e-technik.tu-muenchen.de Mon Aug  3 09:32:28 1998
  
  it should be possible to get the cable you need in any computer
  store, as it is a common problem. Only some Mac's have the connector
  as you already mentioned. You need a 50pin HD (High Density) SCSI-II
  connector to 25 pin D-Sub. It should be about 20 to 40 US$ and
  available in a computer store selling external SCSI-ZIP for
  PCs. Nothing special about your AlphaStation. ;)
  
  There's also a program to write a disklabel:
  ftp://ftp.eece.maine.edu/pub/src/alpha/util/ZIP_disklabel_1.0.tar.gz
  (I believe it's from Andy Sheaff (sheaff_at_eece.maine.edu)).
  
  But on my AlphaStation 255/233 running DU4.0d it was not
  necessary. The standard procedure (disklabel -rw rzX foobar) did it.
  
  Hope this helps,
  	  Tom.
  -- 
  Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Hopfner                [http://www.lpr.ei.tum.de/~hopfner]
  Lab. for Process Control and Real-Time Systems (LPR) Phone: +49-89-289-23554
  TU M"unchen, D-80290 M"unchen, Germany               Fax  : +49-89-289-23555
  PGP: Look at my Web-Pages or ``finger hopfner_at_lpr.e-technik.tu-muenchen.de''
  
**From tpb_at_zk3.dec.com Mon Aug  3 09:32:34 1998
  
  Your local PC store should be able to help; for some reason, Iomega
  assumes incorrectly that everyone who cares about SCSI must have an
  Apple Macintosh; the cable you received is compatible with the
  Macintosh DB25 SCSI port, but few other systems in the world use
  that style of SCSI connection.
  
  Companies like Black Box and most of the PC superstores (like
  CompUSA) and, I believe, even Iomega have an adapter cable for DB25
  to (probably) mini- D50 (the more common current fast narrow SCSI
  connection).  I have purchased such cables at Computer City (now
  owned by CompUSA), but I don't know what you have in your local
  area.
  
  Tom
   
   Dr. Thomas P. Blinn + UNIX Software Group + Compaq Computer Corporation
    110 Spit Brook Road, MS ZKO3-2/U20   Nashua, New Hampshire 03062-2698
     Technology Partnership Engineering           Phone:  (603) 884-0646
      Internet: tpb_at_zk3.dec.com           Digital's Easynet: alpha::tpb
       ACM Member: tpblinn_at_acm.org         PC_at_Home: tom_at_felines.mv.net
  
  
**From NathanG_at_UTS.Itron.com Mon Aug  3 12:16:26 1998
  
  All you need is a TYPE to TYPE connector.  Once you know what type
  of connector is on your specific Alpha and the type on the drive you
  should be able to walk into WalMart, K-Mart or CompUSA and pick one
  up for $5...
  
**From jim.williams_at_mail.alaska.edu Mon Aug  3 18:47:35 1998
  
  Most likely, the connector on the back of the AS255 is a high
  density 50 pin (HD50) or high density 68 pin (HD68) SCSI2/SCSI3
  connector.  DEC makes cables in this configuration.  I needed one to
  connect an external cd to a BA362 (HS68 - 50 pin Centronix).  I
  don't have part numbers, but I just called 1800DIGITAL and described
  what I needed.  Any fairly knowledgeable person on the other end
  should be able to figure out what you'll need.  make sure that you
  know what sex the HD end is (M/F).  check the archives for
  particulars on labeling the zip drive.
  
  -- 
  Jim Williams
  Network Systems Programer
  Statewide Office of Network Services
  University of Alaska
  
  http://decpc.sons.alaska.edu
  Email				Snail Mail
  jim.williams_at_alaska.edu		P. O. Box 755320
  Phone: (907) 474-6290		910 Yukon Dr.,  Suite 102
  Fax:   (907) 474-6964		Fairbanks, AK  99775-5320
  See web page for PGP fingerprint & public key
  
  
Received on Wed Aug 05 1998 - 13:52:17 NZST

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