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SCSI Troubles

C

Chris9450

n00b
Joined
Apr 30, 2005
Messages
11
First off I'd like to say hello to everyone. I'm a bit of a lurker as I read lots of posts but just never really make any. I've come across a problem I cannot find a solution for, after searching through the Hardforum archives, as well as a few other general computer forums, SCSI guides, etc. I have a secondary computer that was relatively low budget, put together with some cheaply bought parts and some I already have. Mainly used to host game servers at lans and stuff, but I'll get into my problem. Current Specs:

Intel STL2 Server Board
2X PIII 866
640 MB PC133 ECC Ram
2 WD 5 GB in a Mirrored Raid
2 Quantum Atlas 10k 9.1 GB Ultra Wide SCSI in a Striped Array

After reading through the "Top Technical Issues" for this particular board, it has 2 SCSI connectors, one labeled "Ultra SCSI Connector", the other "Ultra160 SCSI Connector". I've read that Ultra160 transfers up to 160mb/sec, so at first I connected the drive to them. When the board posts and displays the SCSI info, Drive0 runs at 160, Drive 1 runs at 40. This is beyond me, I have no idea what's causing it. I can swap them around and then Drive 0 runs at 40, Drive1 runs at 160. These hard drives are identical. They are from some type of HP server, but the serial numbers match on them and all, so I don't see why would run at 40 and the other at 160. There are no extra jumpers on these drives besides the one drive ID jumper and an extra jumper that I read was needed for the terminator on the end of the cable to work. I'm sure this is an easy fix, though I have yet to find it. The only reason I'm using SCSI is that I needed something faster than the ata hard drives I had for applications, and it was a cheaper alternative to SATA since the connectors were already there, and they only cost me about 20 bucks on ebay shipped. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated and helpful, this is my first experience with SCSI so I'd like for it to be a good one. I'd really like some suggestions to the problem at hand, not a reply similar to "What you NEED to do is buy...". I'd really like to get them both working at 160, any help would be awesome.

Edit: I'd also like to mention that when I hook the drives up to the other SCSI connector(labeled 'Ultra SCSI') the drive running at 160 will run at 40, and the other will run at 20.
 
Welcome to SCSI ;)

Few questions, are these drives 80 pin using an adapter to 68?
Are you sure the drives are U160? (part/model #?)
What specific controller?
Are you using a good cable?
 
Thanks for the quick reply, everything is 68 pin. Since they are from an hp server they are branded with both hp and quantum numbers. I took a picture, might be easier. The HP Part number is D8608-60103 . It was advertised as "Ultra-Wide" and I've seen other stores online advertising it as "Ultra 160". The Controller is an onboard Adaptec AIC-7899 controller. The Cable was brand new, Ultra 160/320, 2 device w/ LVD/SE terminator. I was assuming they were 160 because of the one showing up as 160. Here's a pic of the label:

4.jpg

and a pic of the cable:
70_1.jpg



Edit: I've tried some more random things tonight. Seems that whatever drive is hooked to the second plug on the cable will read as running at 160, while whichever drive is hooked to the first plug will read as running 40. Does that mean something's wrong with the cable?
 
Yeah - it sounds like a bad cable to me in that case or potentially a bad connector. See any bent pins in the connector that always runs a drive at 40? Not likely but you may be able to bend it back. I'd just get another cable to try and see if the problem goes away. If any drive connected to that particualr connector runs slow though I can only guess its a cable or connector problem.
 
lawl after further inspection of the 40 mb rogue plug has only 66 pins. It seems two of the holes were only partially stamped in the plug, so I imagine there was nothing for the pins to slide into. I've studied this with a magnifying glass for about 20 minutes, and realized something was wrong with that connector. I've contacted the seller and they've agreed to send me a replacement, hopefully that'll get here before our big lan or I just might have to deal with 40 mb goodness. Amazing what 2 pins would do. I'll gladly receive a Dunce award for assuming they were all there :). Thanks for the help guys, fire away with the puns I deserve them.
 
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