Difference between revisions of "Talk:Digital Storage Systems Interconnect"
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We do not (yet) have a [[:Category:DEC Mass Storage]] (although we do have [[:Category:DEC Storage Controllers]], as a sub-category of [[:Category:DEC Peripherals]]), which is why this is in [[:Category:DEC Peripherals]]. If I were energetic, I would set such a category up (and move a few other things into it, like MSCP). [[User:Jnc|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc|talk]]) 02:12, 17 July 2022 (CEST) | We do not (yet) have a [[:Category:DEC Mass Storage]] (although we do have [[:Category:DEC Storage Controllers]], as a sub-category of [[:Category:DEC Peripherals]]), which is why this is in [[:Category:DEC Peripherals]]. If I were energetic, I would set such a category up (and move a few other things into it, like MSCP). [[User:Jnc|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc|talk]]) 02:12, 17 July 2022 (CEST) | ||
− | Yes, please! - Or shall I do it? [[User:Vaxorcist|Vaxorcist]] ([[User talk:Vaxorcist|talk]]) 11:21, 17 July 2022 (CEST) | + | : Yes, please! - Or shall I do it? [[User:Vaxorcist|Vaxorcist]] ([[User talk:Vaxorcist|talk]]) 11:21, 17 July 2022 (CEST) |
+ | |||
+ | :: Done. [[User:Jnc|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc|talk]]) 18:01, 17 July 2022 (CEST) | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Connector image needed == | ||
+ | |||
+ | Anyone have anything with DSSI connectors (on either a cable, or a drive, etc) they can take some pictures of? I have some [[SDI]] cables, etc, so I will do the SDI ones. [[User:Jnc|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc|talk]]) 16:53, 1 September 2023 (CEST) | ||
+ | |||
+ | : My picture [[:File:HSD10 front.jpg]] shows the [[HSD10 DSSI-to-SCSI Bus Adapter]] with the typical (a little fragile) DSSI connectors. I could provide pictures of a DSSI cable, a DSSI terminator, and the (different) connector of a DSSI drive as well - what do you want? [[User:Vaxorcist|Vaxorcist]] ([[User talk:Vaxorcist|talk]]) 18:03, 1 September 2023 (CEST) | ||
+ | |||
+ | :: Oh, good; I did not know that was there. I can crop that down to the connector(s), and use that for one; I guess it would be good to have an image of the connector on a cable, too. Thank you! | ||
+ | :: What is the "the (different) connector of a DSSI drive"? [[User:Jnc|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc|talk]]) 20:03, 1 September 2023 (CEST) | ||
+ | |||
+ | ::: I'll take a photo of a DSSI cable & connector tomorrow. You can see a drive DSSI conector in [[:File:RF30_PCB_54-18247.jpg]] on the right side; looks like SCSI or the like. I'll take a frontal photo of that one as well. There might have been other drive DSSI conectors with newer disk drives - I'll have a look for that. [[User:Vaxorcist|Vaxorcist]] ([[User talk:Vaxorcist|talk]]) 20:10, 1 September 2023 (CEST) | ||
+ | |||
+ | :::: Sorry I am slow to reply; there is too much going on here! | ||
+ | :::: When you write of the "connector .. on the right side", do you mean the blue plastic [[IDC connector]]? (Well, it looks like an IDC connector, from what I can see of it.) [[User:Jnc|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc|talk]]) 17:25, 4 September 2023 (CEST) | ||
+ | |||
+ | ::: I've added a draft for the section "DSSI Connectors". Could you please position the pictures? I'm not at all good at that ... And again feel free to optimize! [[User:Vaxorcist|Vaxorcist]] ([[User talk:Vaxorcist|talk]]) 18:57, 2 September 2023 (CEST) | ||
+ | |||
+ | :::: I will have a go at that. Looking at all the images you uploaded, it seems from [[:File:DSSI Connectors.png]] that there are two styles of connectors: the one on the right in that diagram looks like an IDC connector, with round pins; the one of the left, there, has flat pins. The second type is what [[:File:HSD10 front.jpg]] has, yes? | ||
+ | :::: Do you have any of the long cables? [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/dsa/dssi/EK-RF72D-UG-008_RF_Series_Integrated_Storage_Element_Users_Guide_Apr93.pdf EK-RF72D-UG-008] says "The DSSI bus is a 50-conductor cable. Inside an enclosure, the bus may be a flat ribbon cable or a round bundle of twisted pairs. Between enclosures, the bus is a shielded round cable approximately ½-inch in diameter." It is the latter I would like to get an image of - particularly the connectors. I would assume there are ''three'' different kinds of DSSI round cables - at least, in theory: round-pin (above) to round-pin, flat-pin (above) to flat-pin, and round-pin to flat-pin (for when one has to convert). [[User:Jnc|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc|talk]]) 17:25, 4 September 2023 (CEST) | ||
+ | |||
+ | ::::: [[:File:DSSI_PS_Connector_female_(Cable).jpg]] is the male PS connector end of a round cable with a '''Micro-Ribbon''' (MR) connector at the other end. Yes, there are three kinds of exterior DSSI cables as you guessed. I can upload a picture of the MR connector at the other end. I run a DSSI-based dual [[MicroVAX 3300]] [[VAXcluster]] for fun. It uses a [[HSD10 DSSI-to-SCSI Bus Adapter]] to connect both VAXen to a couple of common SCSI disks. The HSD10 has got MR connectors, the MicroVAXen use '''Pin-Socket''' (PS) ones, so I have got two round DSSI cables that are PS-to-MR. I probably can supply the DEC order numbers for the three cable types. [[User:Vaxorcist|Vaxorcist]] ([[User talk:Vaxorcist|talk]]) 18:38, 4 September 2023 (CEST) | ||
+ | |||
+ | : Ah, light is (finally) starting to dawn. So the 'round-pin' connectors are called '''Pin-Socket''' (PS) connectors, and the 'flat-pin' connectors are called '''Micro Ribbon''' (MR) connectors? I will add all that to the article. | ||
+ | : Yes, an image of the MR connector on the cable would be really good to have. Also, the part numbers for the three kinds of cables. | ||
+ | : I am back from my trip, so I will see about taking images of the [[SDI]] connectors and cables tomorrow, once I have recovered. [[User:Jnc|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc|talk]]) 23:32, 5 September 2023 (CEST) | ||
+ | |||
+ | First: How to indent a whole block without repeating the ":"? | ||
+ | |||
+ | : A single ':' indents just the line it starts. To indent a group of lines, you have to put a ':' on each line. | ||
+ | : There are also 'blockquote' and 'pre' tags, but those put the indented text in a coloured block (like the pasted text image in the article here. | ||
+ | : Note the ':*' (and combinations of more of each) work to indent lists. | ||
+ | : I often don't keep indenting replies because at a certain point it gets silly - the text is indented so far. I just reset the indentation every so often. [[User:Jnc|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc|talk]]) 01:06, 8 September 2023 (CEST) | ||
+ | |||
+ | You are perfectly right, but it is still a little more complicated as there are both types of connectors in either "straight" or "right-angle" variations. | ||
+ | |||
+ | : Yes, but I think part of that is to keep lines out of the way, to keep things neat; and so they are less likely to get damaged. One can probably substitute one kind of 'PS-PS' cable for any other. [[User:Jnc|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc|talk]]) 01:06, 8 September 2023 (CEST) | ||
+ | |||
+ | Up to now I found five different DEC DSSI cables ("-xx" is the cable length in feet): | ||
+ | |||
+ | * '''BC21M-09''': two right-angle PS | ||
+ | |||
+ | Used to connect e.g.: | ||
+ | |||
+ | :* [[VAX 4000]] systems to [[R400X]] expanders | ||
+ | :* VAX 4000 systems to VAX 4000 systems | ||
+ | :* R400X expanders to R400X expanders / | ||
+ | :* [[KFQSA]] to ... | ||
+ | |||
+ | * '''BC21Q-xx''': two straight MR | ||
+ | |||
+ | Usage yet unknown | ||
+ | |||
+ | * '''BC22Q-xx''': one right-angle PS and one straight MR | ||
+ | |||
+ | Used to connect e.g.: | ||
+ | |||
+ | :* [[MicroVAX III|VAX 3000]]/4000 systems to [[TF857]]/[[SF100]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | * '''BC29R-xx''': one right-angle PS and one right-angle MR | ||
+ | |||
+ | Used to connect e.g.: | ||
+ | |||
+ | :* [[HSD05]]/[[HSD10 DSSI-to-SCSI Bus Adapter|HSD10]]/[[HSD30]] array controller to DEC 4000 systems | ||
+ | :* HSD05/HSD10/HSD30 array controller to VAX 3000/4000 systems or DEC 4000 Alpha systems | ||
+ | |||
+ | * '''BC29S-xx''': one right-angle MR and one straight MR | ||
+ | |||
+ | Used to connect e.g.: | ||
+ | |||
+ | :* HSD05/HSD10/HSD30 array controller to [[KFMSB]] adapter | ||
+ | :* HSD05/HSD10/HSD30 array controller to [[VAX 6000]]/[[VAX 7000|7000]]/[[VAX 10000|1000]] systems or [[DEC 7000]]/[[DEC 10000|10000]] Alpha | ||
+ | |||
+ | I myself don't have the right cables (concerning the "straight" or "right-angled" version) either; I would need two BC29R-xx cables. It works, but looks ugly and is a little delicate mechanically.[[User:Vaxorcist|Vaxorcist]] ([[User talk:Vaxorcist|talk]]) 17:57, 6 September 2023 (CEST) | ||
+ | |||
+ | :: OK, I will add then to the page. Thank you! [[User:Jnc|Jnc]] ([[User talk:Jnc|talk]]) 01:06, 8 September 2023 (CEST) | ||
+ | |||
+ | Four new DSSI pictures: | ||
+ | |||
+ | * [[:File:BC22Q-09 Label.jpg]] | ||
+ | * [[:File:DSSI PS Connector female (Cable)-2.jpg]] | ||
+ | * [[:File:BC22Q-09 DSSI Cable.jpg]] | ||
+ | * [[:File:DSSI MR Connector female (Cable).jpg]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[User:Vaxorcist|Vaxorcist]] ([[User talk:Vaxorcist|talk]]) 08:26, 7 September 2023 (CEST) |
Latest revision as of 00:06, 8 September 2023
Category
We do not (yet) have a Category:DEC Mass Storage (although we do have Category:DEC Storage Controllers, as a sub-category of Category:DEC Peripherals), which is why this is in Category:DEC Peripherals. If I were energetic, I would set such a category up (and move a few other things into it, like MSCP). Jnc (talk) 02:12, 17 July 2022 (CEST)
Connector image needed
Anyone have anything with DSSI connectors (on either a cable, or a drive, etc) they can take some pictures of? I have some SDI cables, etc, so I will do the SDI ones. Jnc (talk) 16:53, 1 September 2023 (CEST)
- My picture File:HSD10 front.jpg shows the HSD10 DSSI-to-SCSI Bus Adapter with the typical (a little fragile) DSSI connectors. I could provide pictures of a DSSI cable, a DSSI terminator, and the (different) connector of a DSSI drive as well - what do you want? Vaxorcist (talk) 18:03, 1 September 2023 (CEST)
- I'll take a photo of a DSSI cable & connector tomorrow. You can see a drive DSSI conector in File:RF30_PCB_54-18247.jpg on the right side; looks like SCSI or the like. I'll take a frontal photo of that one as well. There might have been other drive DSSI conectors with newer disk drives - I'll have a look for that. Vaxorcist (talk) 20:10, 1 September 2023 (CEST)
- Sorry I am slow to reply; there is too much going on here!
- When you write of the "connector .. on the right side", do you mean the blue plastic IDC connector? (Well, it looks like an IDC connector, from what I can see of it.) Jnc (talk) 17:25, 4 September 2023 (CEST)
- I will have a go at that. Looking at all the images you uploaded, it seems from File:DSSI Connectors.png that there are two styles of connectors: the one on the right in that diagram looks like an IDC connector, with round pins; the one of the left, there, has flat pins. The second type is what File:HSD10 front.jpg has, yes?
- Do you have any of the long cables? EK-RF72D-UG-008 says "The DSSI bus is a 50-conductor cable. Inside an enclosure, the bus may be a flat ribbon cable or a round bundle of twisted pairs. Between enclosures, the bus is a shielded round cable approximately ½-inch in diameter." It is the latter I would like to get an image of - particularly the connectors. I would assume there are three different kinds of DSSI round cables - at least, in theory: round-pin (above) to round-pin, flat-pin (above) to flat-pin, and round-pin to flat-pin (for when one has to convert). Jnc (talk) 17:25, 4 September 2023 (CEST)
- File:DSSI_PS_Connector_female_(Cable).jpg is the male PS connector end of a round cable with a Micro-Ribbon (MR) connector at the other end. Yes, there are three kinds of exterior DSSI cables as you guessed. I can upload a picture of the MR connector at the other end. I run a DSSI-based dual MicroVAX 3300 VAXcluster for fun. It uses a HSD10 DSSI-to-SCSI Bus Adapter to connect both VAXen to a couple of common SCSI disks. The HSD10 has got MR connectors, the MicroVAXen use Pin-Socket (PS) ones, so I have got two round DSSI cables that are PS-to-MR. I probably can supply the DEC order numbers for the three cable types. Vaxorcist (talk) 18:38, 4 September 2023 (CEST)
- Ah, light is (finally) starting to dawn. So the 'round-pin' connectors are called Pin-Socket (PS) connectors, and the 'flat-pin' connectors are called Micro Ribbon (MR) connectors? I will add all that to the article.
- Yes, an image of the MR connector on the cable would be really good to have. Also, the part numbers for the three kinds of cables.
- I am back from my trip, so I will see about taking images of the SDI connectors and cables tomorrow, once I have recovered. Jnc (talk) 23:32, 5 September 2023 (CEST)
First: How to indent a whole block without repeating the ":"?
- A single ':' indents just the line it starts. To indent a group of lines, you have to put a ':' on each line.
- There are also 'blockquote' and 'pre' tags, but those put the indented text in a coloured block (like the pasted text image in the article here.
- Note the ':*' (and combinations of more of each) work to indent lists.
- I often don't keep indenting replies because at a certain point it gets silly - the text is indented so far. I just reset the indentation every so often. Jnc (talk) 01:06, 8 September 2023 (CEST)
You are perfectly right, but it is still a little more complicated as there are both types of connectors in either "straight" or "right-angle" variations.
- Yes, but I think part of that is to keep lines out of the way, to keep things neat; and so they are less likely to get damaged. One can probably substitute one kind of 'PS-PS' cable for any other. Jnc (talk) 01:06, 8 September 2023 (CEST)
Up to now I found five different DEC DSSI cables ("-xx" is the cable length in feet):
- BC21M-09: two right-angle PS
Used to connect e.g.:
- BC21Q-xx: two straight MR
Usage yet unknown
- BC22Q-xx: one right-angle PS and one straight MR
Used to connect e.g.:
- BC29R-xx: one right-angle PS and one right-angle MR
Used to connect e.g.:
- BC29S-xx: one right-angle MR and one straight MR
Used to connect e.g.:
I myself don't have the right cables (concerning the "straight" or "right-angled" version) either; I would need two BC29R-xx cables. It works, but looks ugly and is a little delicate mechanically.Vaxorcist (talk) 17:57, 6 September 2023 (CEST)
Four new DSSI pictures: