Many businesses still rely on critical legacy systems that require SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) connectivity. Data storage arrays, industrial control systems, and a wide array of specialized medical and scientific equipment fall into this category; system replacement is either impractical or prohibitively costly to maintain these functions. As a manufacturer focused specifically on legacy connectivity solutions, we understand the near-absolute importance of operational continuity. Equipment may be fully functional, but the interface is the only actual ‘missing’ piece to its operation.
We manufacture SCSI connectors tailored to the exacting requirements of legacy systems. Our product range spans internal ribbon connectors and various external shielded connectors. SCSI-1 (8-bit), SCSI-2 Fast/Wide, and, to a large extent, SCSI-3 Ultra specifications are all supported. Precision engineering is a key part of our design process; proper pin configurations and some form of impedance matching across the bus are maintained. Daisy chaining multiple devices is one of the more sensitive aspects of reliable SCSI communication.
Internal applications benefit from our high-density ribbon connectors—host adapter-to-storage type connections are the prime example. Proper termination is essential to prevent unwanted signal reflection. External connectors are built for repeated maintenance cycles, and robust shielding is a primary concern. HD50, HD68, and other VHDCI-style connectors are all part of our current offering.
What distinguishes our SCSI connectors is the overall quality we strive for in a market where nearly all alternatives have seen a decline in manufacturing standards. Original specifications are our guide. Contact resistance, small-scale shielding, and near-permanent durability are all important. Connector failure in any critical application means lost time, data, or both—we take that seriously.
IT managers and/or OEMs of long-lifecycle equipment will always have a place for SCSI or near-legacy connectivity. Essential systems will never be replaced entirely; we see a future for our connectors as part of that legacy.
Products By Features
Data Storage System
Many organizations maintain legacy SCSI storage arrays, critical data archives, and various backup systems, which are prime examples. Our SCSI connectors offer reliable terminations, preserving the inherent data integrity within these crucial repositories. The correct pin configuration and shielding form prevent signal degradation—resulting in data corruption—within multi-device SCSI chains.
Compatibility of Medical Equipment
Critical medical imaging and diagnostic equipment frequently uses SCSI interfaces for near-real-time data transfer. Medically compatible SCSI connectors are required for such patient-based diagnostics; safety and simple reliability are the primary healthcare facility-driven requirements these connectors meet.
Customized Solutions
Standard SCSI configurations often do not meet the unique requirements of specialized equipment. We excel at custom solutions. We provide specific pinouts, specialized shielding, and near-perfectly defined connectivity (physical and otherwise); legacy systems in every industry benefit from these tailored connectivity efforts.
Active Technology
Due to analog signal reflection at the line ends, SCSI buses had to be terminated correctly at both the first and last devices on the bus. Voltage regulation-supported active terminators’ performance was superior to passive termination (above all, at high speeds of Wide and Ultra SCSI). Awareness of termination requirements was necessary to ensure the proper operation of the SCSI bus.
Maintenance of Industrial and Medical Systems
Some industrial control systems and medical imaging equipment developed during the SCSI era are still in use today. The following considerations will help you maintain these systems, but they assume some basic familiarity with SCSI connector types and their uses. Choosing the right connector and termination is as essential as ever in supporting these valuable legacy systems.
The SCSI cable connectors are the 50-pin (SCSI-1) and high-density 50-pin (SCSI-2), the 68-pin high-density (Wide SCSI), and the very high-density 68-pin connector. All of them were intended for use with certain SCSI generations and had their own performance options.
SCSI connectors can be distinguished by their physical size, shape (number of pins), and pinout. The 68-pin high-density connector is dual-row, unlike the VHDC, which is a much smaller single-row interface. Engraving and paperwork from the manufacturer can also aid in identification.
Internal SCSI connectors usually employ straight 0.1″ pitch (2.54 mm) pin headers on the motherboard or drive backplane, while external connectors have other arrangements involving shielded cables and terminators that are easily inserted/removed from devices to ensure a good connection; they may also incorporate retention devices in the form of screws made for not only panel mounting but also latching the plugs together. The signal requirements are the same, but there are physical differences due to the operating environments.
Ending an SCSI bus prevents signal reflection at the end of the cable (SCSI bus). For best performance with more recent SCSI versions, both ends of any SCSI chain must be terminated correctly, typically with active terminators.
The general rule of thumb is to stick with one type throughout your SCSI chain and terminate properly for it to work right.
Serial Attached SCSI (SAS). In new equipment, parallel SCSI is generally replaced by SAS, which is faster and more reliable. SAS features different connectors, higher speed, and more scalability, and is device-agnostic like SATA. Unfortunately, SAS does not support parallel SCSI connectors.
SCSI connectors aren’t used in new consumer equipment but are still the choice for legacy systems in many sectors. Many industrial control systems, medical devices, and specialized equipment from the SCSI era still work and need good care when recommending the appropriate connector.
SCSI-1 uses 50-pin connectors supporting 5MB/s; SCSI-2 added 68-pin connectors and faster speeds (fast to 10MB/s, wide-reaching 20MB/s); and SCSI-3 (Ultra SCSI) is pushing speeds much higher, up to at least 40MB/s.
Yes, but a special adapter is required to connect them.
It depends on the SCSI type and the number of devices. Single-ended should not exceed 6 meters, while differential can reach 25. Checking the specific SCSI specifications is always the best practice.
Termination prevents near-perfect signal reflection; data corruption can and will occur without it. For reliable operation, both bus ends must be correctly terminated (resistance-wise).
Our standard connectors are single-ended. Differential SCSI applications require our specially designed connectors, which consider shielding and all related specifications.
Passive uses simple resistors, and active uses some form of voltage regulator. The connectors we make are compatible with either. The controller or end devices will dictate which method is used.
Yes, backward compatibility is built into SCSI. Lower speed will be the new ‘maximum’ speed of the chain.
VHDCI is a prevalent high-density SCSI requirement—we do it and have been asked to provide it many times.
We can offer as few as 50 units of standard or near-standard customizations. However, high-density or very special cases are still custom-made.
