CHAPTER 2: Introduction

2. Introduction

The Ultra2 LVD SCSI Host Adapter (our product code IC515C) is a high- performance Ultra2 SCSI (Low Voltage Differential) PCI-busmastering adapter that functions as the interface between a SCSI bus and a PC’s PCI local bus. The Adapter supports all kinds of peripherals compatible with SCSI-1, SCSI-2, Fast SCSI, Ultra SCSI, or Ultra2 SCSI (LVD), including I/O devices such as SCSI scanners and storage media such as hard-disk, CD-ROM, MO, tape, and removable drives.

2.1 Features

PCI 2.1 compliance. The Adapter meets all the latest electrical, mechanical, and protocol specifications for the PCI bus.

Full SCSI compliance. The Adapter is fully Ultra2 SCSI compliant, supporting advanced features such as tag queueing, sync/async transfers, and disconnect/reselect arbitration.

Plug-and-Play support. The Adapter’s onboard ROMs can handle installation, configuration, and booting without requiring user intervention.

Use of only one system IRQ. The Adapter doesn’t hog your system’s limited resources.

32-bit data transfers between the Adapter and the host PC at up to

133 megabytes per second in PCI burst mode. The PCI bus is a 32-bit bus; when it runs synchronously at 33 MHz, the Adapter achieves a peak sustainable operating speed of 133 MB per second.

Regular (synchronous) SCSI data rates up to 80 megabytes per second, and asynchronous SCSI data rates up to 10 megabytes per second.

Compatible with all types of standard SCSI peripherals. Hard drives, CD-ROM drives, tape drives, printers, scanners—it doesn’t matter what types of periph- erals you want to hook to the Adapter. As long as they’re compliant with Ultra2 SCSI (LVD), Ultra SCSI, Fast SCSI, SCSI-2, or SCSI-1, they should work.

Support for hard-drive capacities up to 8 GB. With the Adapter, MS-DOS®hard-disk limitations can be extended from 1 GB to 8 GB.

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Black Box SCSI-2 LVD manual Introduction, Features

SCSI-2 LVD specifications

The Black Box SCSI-2 LVD (Low Voltage Differential) represents a significant advancement in data storage and connectivity technology, particularly in environments requiring high performance and reliability. As a variant of the SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) standard, it is optimized for faster data communication, essential for modern computing needs.

One of the main features of SCSI-2 LVD is its capability to handle increased data transfer speeds compared to its predecessors. It supports a maximum data transfer rate of up to 80 MB/s, which is double that of the original SCSI-2 single-ended signaling. This increase in speed is largely due to the differential signaling that LVD employs, allowing for reduced electromagnetic interference and extended cable lengths while maintaining signal integrity. The technology effectively converts the SCSI bus into a more robust system that can accommodate various devices without compromising performance.

The SCSI-2 LVD standard is backward compatible, meaning that it can interface with older SCSI devices, albeit at reduced speeds. This compatibility is significant for users looking to upgrade their systems without discarding existing hardware. This makes SCSI-2 LVD an attractive choice for enterprise environments where legacy systems are common.

Another key characteristic is the flexible cabling options provided by SCSI-2 LVD. It can support cable lengths of up to 12 meters, which is beneficial for large data center configurations where space between devices can be substantial. This extended range does not typically come at the expense of performance, ensuring that data integrity remains high, even over longer distances.

In terms of technology, LVD employs lower voltage levels, which not only contributes to greater power efficiency but also minimizes heat generation in devices. This is particularly crucial in data centers where temperature management can impact hardware longevity and reliability. The combination of lower voltage use and differential signaling makes SCSI-2 LVD well-suited for high-density environments.

Error correction and handshaking features are also integral to SCSI-2 LVD, enhancing its robustness against data loss during transmission. These characteristics make it a reliable choice for applications requiring consistent and high-speed data access, such as server arrays and high-performance computing tasks.

Overall, Black Box SCSI-2 LVD stands out due to its impressive speed, compatibility, and extensive cabling options, positioning it as a reliable solution for demanding data environments. It effectively bridges the gap between legacy systems and modern technology, ensuring that users can optimize their data handling capabilities without significant disruption.