SCSI Help

[MisterKeeks]

Just picked up an old UMAX SCSI Scanner (Powerlook 2100XL) because it can scan 32 slides at once. The issue is, I know nothing about SCSI. It has a DB-25 connector and a 50 pin connector that resemble the parallel connector on older printers. I have uploaded a picture to illustrate this. What I need to know: What SCSI card should I get? I would either put this in a PCI MDD or a PCI-X G5. Cheaper is better. Do I need to know anything about SCSI IDs, or do I just leave it at 6, like the manual says?

 

[bunnspecial]

Any generic Adaptec-brand PCI card should work in your MDD. These can be found for a few bucks on Ebay. I'd look for one with a DB-25 connector on the back.

I researched SCSI cards for my G5, but the answer I found was that many Adaptec cards are unreliable in the PCI-X slots in the G5, and only a few specific will work reliably(or at all). These tend to be higher priced.

You should be able to get away with either a DB-25 to DB-25 cable, or otherwise a DB-25 to Centronix 50 pin connector(this is a different connector than the old PC standard parallel port, even though the connectors look similar). Either of these should be easy to find and inexpensive.

Since this(presumably) will be the only SCSI device connected to your computer, you don't need to worry about setting an ID number. Be sure termination switch on the back of your scanner is set to "On."

I'd strongly encourage you to splurge and invest in a copy of Vuescan, which should reliably "talk" to your scanner(double check on this, though!) and makes scanning a breeze.

I too use a SCSI slide scanner. Since many folks are intimidated by them, as well as the fact they are often cantankerous under newer versions of Windows, they can often be had very inexpensively.

If you'd like, I can get you the p/n of the SCSI card I'm using in my Quicksilver to operate my scanner tomorrow. I know that one works great for me and would for you also, although there are plenty of other SCSI cards out there that will work also.

 

[Alimar]

Just picked up an old UMAX SCSI Scanner (Powerlook 2100XL) because it can scan 32 slides at once. The issue is, I know nothing about SCSI. It has a DB-25 connector and a 50 pin connector that resemble the parallel connector on older printers. I have uploaded a picture to illustrate this. What I need to know: What SCSI card should I get? I would either put this in a PCI MDD or a PCI-X G5. Cheaper is better. Do I need to know anything about SCSI IDs, or do I just leave it at 6, like the manual says?

Read This from UMAX

SCSi works on XP, it won't run on Windows 7. They can convert it to USB... at the cost of shipping it to UMAX and then some.

 

[MisterKeeks]

Read This from UMAX

SCSi works on XP, it won't run on Windows 7. They can convert it to USB... at the cost of shipping it to UMAX and then some.

I saw that. Shouldn't be an issue, as I am using it on an older, supported Mac.

----------

If you'd like, I can get you the p/n of the SCSI card I'm using in my Quicksilver to operate my scanner tomorrow. I know that one works great for me and would for you also, although there are plenty of other SCSI cards out there that will work also.

Thanks for the advice! P/N would be excellent.

 

[MisterKeeks]

So I've decided to get my act together this spring break and finally play around with this scanner. I was having no luck at all with the SCSI drivers in 10.4, so I went to OS 9. I'm using an Adaptec AVA-2906 PCI card. I copied the extension for the card into the extensions folder. However, the card isn't recognized in the System Profiler. Under PCI, in devices and Volums, it says that it there is something in slot 5.

It says:

• Card type: not available
• card name: pci9004,7850
• card model: -1
• card rom: not available
• card revision: 3
• card vendor id: 9004

The fact that it doesn't show up as a SCSI card makes me think that the extension is not working. However, if I open the PowerDomain control utility, it finds the card at ID 07. I can adjust the speed from Asynchronous to Standard SCSI to Fast SCSI. It also gives me info about the card:

• Family: SCSI CArd
• SIM vendor: Adaptec
• SIM version: 1.3
• Initiator ID: 7
• Max SCSI ID: 7
• Bus No.: 0
• Bus Types: Internal, external
• bus options: fast, synchronous
• type: 2906
• HBA vendor: Adaptec
• HBA verison: 1.0.4a95
• HBA location: PCI Slot SLOT-5
• Max SCSI LUN: 7

Finally, I donloaded VueScan 7.6.64 for OS 9. It does not find the scanner.


Anyone have any ideas to try?

 

[bunnspecial]

I never got you the adapter number as promised. I'm sorry about that! In any case, I'm actually no longer using the adapter card I was when I wrote my last post. Instead, I'm using one that actually shipped as a BTO option with my Quicksilver(it's on the sticker). I'll check that later this evening, although it also requires a high-density 50 pin Centronics connector to plug into the card which may be difficult to find.

In any case, I downloaded an OS X driver last week trying to get my Adaptec 3906 working with internal SCSI drives. The drivers I downloaded actually wouldn't work with my 3906, but claimed to work with the 2906.

You might try those in OS X 10.4 again, along with VueScan just to see if you can find the scanner.

You do have termination turned on, correct?

 

[MisterKeeks]

I never got you the adapter number as promised. I'm sorry about that! In any case, I'm actually no longer using the adapter card I was when I wrote my last post. Instead, I'm using one that actually shipped as a BTO option with my Quicksilver(it's on the sticker). I'll check that later this evening, although it also requires a high-density 50 pin Centronics connector to plug into the card which may be difficult to find.

In any case, I downloaded an OS X driver last week trying to get my Adaptec 3906 working with internal SCSI drives. The drivers I downloaded actually wouldn't work with my 3906, but claimed to work with the 2906.

You might try those in OS X 10.4 again, along with VueScan just to see if you can find the scanner.

You do have termination turned on, correct?

I can't find the 3906 drivers, could you possibly link to them?

I will try to use Tiger again.

As it turns out, this MDD also came with SCSI, but it no longer has it.

 

[bunnspecial]

I'll look again this evening. If nothing else, if I can just find where I put my downloads, I could upload them to my Dropbox.

 

[MisterKeeks]

I'll look again this evening. If nothing else, if I can just find where I put my downloads, I could upload them to my Dropbox.

Are you sure the card that you are mentioning is a 3906? It seems like that card doesn't exist, or is at least extremely rare/unsupported. I do know that the Adaptec 2906 and the Adaptec PowerDomain 2930U driver is the same, maybe that's what you are using? That shared driver is the one that I tried already though.

 

[bunnspecial]

I may have the p/n wrong-perhaps it's a 3960. It's a sort of high end 64 bit card with two separate 68-pin ultra SCSI busses. I can confirm when I get home in a little while.

 

[bunnspecial]

39160 is the card I have. Here's the Adaptec page, although the Mac drivers took a bit of digging. I'll keep looking.

http://www.adaptec.com/en-us/support/scsi/u160/asc-39160/

 

[archtopshop]

Deleted

 

[MisterKeeks]

I may have the p/n wrong-perhaps it's a 3960. It's a sort of high end 64 bit card with two separate 68-pin ultra SCSI busses. I can confirm when I get home in a little while.

Would I be able to use an adapter to connect that to the scanner? Looking on eBay, these are really inexpensive, but I can't find an adapter to either DB-25 or the centronix type connector on the scanner.

 

[bunnspecial]

Would I be able to use an adapter to connect that to the scanner? Looking on eBay, these are really inexpensive, but I can't find an adapter to either DB-25 or the centronix type connector on the scanner.

Normally, with external SCSI, you don't actually use adapters but rather use cables with the terminations you desire.

The external connectors on that particular card are 68 pin, and are known as either HPDB68 or LVD/SE 68. Here's one-albeit short-with a 50 pin Centronics on the end that will plug into your scanner.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3ft-D-Submi...223?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4adb02d2b7

And, to counteract my earlier point about adapters, here's one that will turn it into a 50-pin Centronics. 50 pin Centronics cables are relatively easy to find.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-ADAPTER-SCSI-1-CENTRONICS-FEMALE-50PIN-TO-SCSI-3-HD68-PIN-MALE-/151

 

[MisterKeeks]

Normally, with external SCSI, you don't actually use adapters but rather use cables with the terminations you desire.

The external connectors on that particular card are 68 pin, and are known as either HPDB68 or LVD/SE 68. Here's one-albeit short-with a 50 pin Centronics on the end that will plug into your scanner.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3ft-D-Submi...223?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4adb02d2b7

And, to counteract my earlier point about adapters, here's one that will turn it into a 50-pin Centronics. 50 pin Centronics cables are relatively easy to find.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-ADAPTER-SCSI-1-CENTRONICS-FEMALE-50PIN-TO-SCSI-3-HD68-PIN-MALE-/151

I want to make sure, this is the card that you have?

Also, I have found an HPBD68 - DB25 converter at a lower price, here it is, this is the correct one for the card/scanner? Is there an advantage to using centronics vs. DB25?

 

[bunnspecial]

That is in fact the exact card I have.

Give me until tomorrow, though, and I'll give you the p/n of the BTO card that Apple sold. It's probably going to be less expensive and I know it will work. I've had a bit of trouble with the 39160(in all honesty it's overkill for what you're trying to do-I use it to run internal 68 pin drives), but the Apple BTO card works without issue.

 

[MisterKeeks]

That is in fact the exact card I have.

Give me until tomorrow, though, and I'll give you the p/n of the BTO card that Apple sold. It's probably going to be less expensive and I know it will work. I've had a bit of trouble with the 39160(in all honesty it's overkill for what you're trying to do-I use it to run internal 68 pin drives), but the Apple BTO card works without issue.

I think it might be this one.

ATTO UL3D

 

[bunnspecial]

I think it might be this one.

ATTO UL3D

That's not the card I'm thinking of. The Apple BTO is single channel with an internal 50 pin connector and a big external connector(maybe 80 pin?).

The first 39160 you linked-I think-would be a safer bet than the one you just linked.

 

[MisterKeeks]

That's not the card I'm thinking of. The Apple BTO is single channel with an internal 50 pin connector and a big external connector(maybe 80 pin?).

The first 39160 you linked-I think-would be a safer bet than the one you just linked.

OK, and you have that working on OS X well? What issues did you have?

I came up with that card through some Googling, I found this:

Hello all,

Here is the recent history of Apple and high end SCSI HBAs.

Beige G3s: ATTO sold Apple our standard off-the-shelf PSC cards (Ultra wide SCSI) however, because of the price Apple was looking to buy the cards for we sold them the card only. Apple agreed that they would provide all support for this card AND they would write the firmware for this card. These cards can not be flashed with ATTO firmware.

B/W G3s: ATTO sold Apple our UL2D card (Ultra2 wide SCSI) however, because of the price Apple was looking to buy the cards for we removed some costly components including the NVRAM chip (which allows you to save configuration changes to the card) and one internal and one external SCSI connector. The internal connector is on one channel and the external is on the other. Apple agreed to purchase ATTO firmware with the cards so ATTO firmware can be flashed on to this card. However, Apple is responsible for all support of this card. This card has since been end-of-lifed.

G4s: ATTO sold Apple our UL3D card (Ultra3 wide SCSI) however, because of the price Apple was looking to buy the cards for we removed some costly components including the NVRAM chip (which allows you to save configuration changes to the card) and one internal and one external SCSI connector. The internal connector is on one channel and the external is on the other. Apple agreed to purchase ATTO firmware with the cards so ATTO firmware can be flashed on to this card. However, Apple is responsible for all support of this card.

So in summery... Yes, the ATTO cards you got from Apple are "fully functional" in that they fully support the SCSI standard that they where designed for but they do have more limited flexibility compared to the ATTO off-the-shelf cards (connectors and settings). And of course, if you have a problem with the cards ATTO will not provide any level of support for the card. You will need to call Apple.

-Victor Konshin
Application Engineer
ATTO Technology, Inc.

Also found this though, maybe it's the 2930:

These adapters include the Adaptec 2906, 2930 (which is also the $49 Ultra SCSI card option with the Power Mac G4), 29160, 29160N, and 39160 SCSI controllers.

 

[bunnspecial]

OK, and you have that working on OS X well? What issues did you have?

I've used the 39160 to run internal drives under Tiger, but it does not seem to be recognized under Leopard. I've never used it for internal applications.

The "issues" I was referring to are that I was having trouble the other day getting it to see a SCSI Zip drive...but I need to play with it some more. In general, I've found it to be pretty much plug in play(primarily in a Digital Audio G4) under Tiger with both 50 pin and 68 pin internal drives.

 

[bunnspecial]

I ran my scanner for a while on an Adaptec 2902. This is a pretty low-tech card, and just has a single DB-25 connector out the back.

Here are some pictures of the BTO card from my Quicksilver. I've been running my scanner in Tiger with Vuescan with this card for a while. I have another one that's basically identical this card, but was pulled from a PC and just carries the normal Adaptec markings. I can check this card tomorrow-I ran my scanner for a while on this card, too.

When I(finally) pick up my Yikes! tomorrow, I think it has a SCSI card in it also that looks to be identical to the below, but I will have to pull it to confirm.

All of the cards I've used with my scanner have been plug-and-play in Tiger. Basically, I just installed the card, connected the scanner, powered it up, powered the computer up, and Vuescan saw the scanner.

 

[MisterKeeks]

I ran my scanner for a while on an Adaptec 2902. This is a pretty low-tech card, and just has a single DB-25 connector out the back.

Here are some pictures of the BTO card from my Quicksilver. I've been running my scanner in Tiger with Vuescan with this card for a while. I have another one that's basically identical this card, but was pulled from a PC and just carries the normal Adaptec markings. I can check this card tomorrow-I ran my scanner for a while on this card, too.

When I(finally) pick up my Yikes! tomorrow, I think it has a SCSI card in it also that looks to be identical to the below, but I will have to pull it to confirm.

All of the cards I've used with my scanner have been plug-and-play in Tiger. Basically, I just installed the card, connected the scanner, powered it up, powered the computer up, and Vuescan saw the scanner.

Thanks for all of your help.
You haven't needed a driver for these cards? You just plug them in and it all works?

What do they show up as in the system profiler? I think that I'll try the 2930.

 

[bunnspecial]

No, I've never installed drivers for any of these.

They show up as a SCSI card in system profiler-I don't recall exactly what the text is, but Tiger never has had any trouble figuring out what they were.

Note that you need a 50 pin high density connector to connect to this card, not a 68 pin as with the 39160.

 

[MisterKeeks]

No, I've never installed drivers for any of these.

They show up as a SCSI card in system profiler-I don't recall exactly what the text is, but Tiger never has had any trouble figuring out what they were.

Note that you need a 50 pin high density connector to connect to this card, not a 68 pin as with the 39160.

Even for the 39160?

 

[bunnspecial]

I think the 39160 shows up as a generic SCSI card in system profiler under Tiger. I'll stick it in and check tonight.