AlphaServer 8400/8200 systems Wide SCSI Support Version 1.0 - December 19, 1995 NOTE: Devices and revisions cited were accurate when this document was prepared. For the latest information, see the SOC archives. Contents * Introduction * System Requirements for Wide Operation * Wide Drives * Wide Shelves/PIUs * Wide Controllers * Cables and Terminators * Mixing Narrow and Wide Drives, Controllers, and Shelves * Frequently Asked Questions * Configuration Rules * Rules for Narrow Drives * Rules for Wide Drives * Console and Operating System Revision Requirements * Rules for Shelves * Rules for Narrow Shelves * Wide Shelves * Rules for Wide Shelves * Rules for Controllers * KFTIA - Integrated I/O Module * KZPSA - PCI Fast Wide Differential SCSI Controller * KZPSC - PCI RAID Controller * DWZZA Signal Converter * DWZZB Signal Converter * Rules for Cables and Terminators * Cable Length * Terminators Introduction AlphaServer 8200 and 8400 systems now support wide (16-bit) SCSI devices. Wide SCSI disks can improve the performance of applications that need very high bandwidth I/O data transfers. Also, 16-bit devices allow migration to the newest PCI SCSI controllers. System Requirements for Wide Operation Four system elements are required for wide operation: 1. Wide drives 2. Wide shelves/PIUs 3. Wide controllers 4. Cables and terminators Wide Drives The following 3.5-inch wide drives are supported on AlphaServer 8200/8400 systems: * RZ26L-VW 1.05GB * RZ26N-VW 1.05GB * RZ28-VW 2.1GB * RZ28D-VW 2.1GB * RZ28M-VW 2.1GB * RZ29B-VW 4.3GB Wide Shelves/PIUs Wide (16-bit) SCSI drives require wide SCSI shelves. To configure wide SCSI devices in the system and expander cabinets, you need: * For the 8200, the new BA356-JB wide SCSI shelf NOTE: The BA656 storage drawer is a narrow "shelf." Only narrow (-VA) drives can be installed. All RZxx-VA drives currently supported in AlphaServer 8200/8400 systems can be used, including the RZ29B-VA. * For the 8400, the new BA660-AB option for configuring embedded wide devices inside the systems enclosure, or, the BA661-AA option for DWLPA PCI-based configurations. Some narrow (8-bit) SCSI devices will also work in wide shelves and can be mixed with wide (16-bit) SCSI devices. These narrow drives must have the recommended minimum revision level firmware as defined by the Storage Systems organization and will always run in 8-bit mode even when connected to a wide SCSI controller. Wide Controllers The following SCSI controllers allow wide devices to operate in 16-bit mode: * KFTIA - Three fast wide differential ports on the system I/O module * KZPSC - Fast wide controller for either RAID array or native SCSI operation * KZPSA - Fast wide differential connection to disks in BA35x- shelves. Supports DECsafe high-availability environments. Cables and Terminators Requirements for cables and terminators depend on the particular platform and controller. See Rules for Cables and Terminators. The sections describing specific drives list the minimum revisions of operating system software and console firmware required to support the various SCSI devices and controllers. Mixing Narrow and Wide Devices, Controllers, and Shelves Wide drives can ONLY be used in wide shelves. However, wide drives can operate in narrow (8-bit) mode when connected to a narrow SCSI controller such as the single-ended KFTIA port. There is no performance advantage to running wide drives in 8-bit mode. Narrow devices will work in wide shelves and can be mixed with wide devices. The narrow devices always run in 8-bit mode, even when connected to a wide SCSI controller. Minimum revision levels for the narrow devices are defined by the Storage Systems organization. Combinations of controllers, shelves, wide and narrow drives, and cables are permitted but only when ALL components are wide will wide mode be in effect. ==================================================== Controller Shelf Drive Cables Mode ==================================================== N N N N N N W N N N N W W N N W N N W/N N W W N W N W W W W W ==================================================== N = narrow, W = wide Frequently Asked Questions 1. Q: Can a narrow device plug into a wide shelf? A: Yes, the physical connections on the wide and narrow StorageWorks Building Blocks (SBBs) are the same. However, the device must be at the correct revision level. These revision levels are clearly labeled on the side of the SBB. For example, all narrow disk drives shipped in SBB since Nov. 1993 will function properly as a narrow disk drive when installed in a wide shelf. 2. Q: Can narrow and wide devices be mixed into a wide shelf? A: Yes. If the controller is narrow, all drives run in narrow mode. If the controller is wide, wide drives run in wide mode and narrow drives run in narrow mode. 3. Q: Can a wide device plug into a narrow shelf? What happens if it is plugged in? A: No! The device would not be seen by the console. 4. Q: Can narrow shelves and wide shelves be mixed in the same cabinet? A: Yes. Narrow drives must be in the narrow (lower address bits) shelf. 5. Q: Are wide devices clearly labeled so that they can be easily identified? A: Yes, on the front of the StorageWorks Building Block (SBB) bezel. 6. Q: Are there wide and narrow choices for all devices (including disks/tapes/CD/loader)? A: The strategy is to provide both wide and narrow devices at the system building block (SSB) level for all devices, as wide devices become available. (Currently, only disks are available.) 7. Q: Can wide and narrow add-on storage enclosures be attached to the same system? A: If the system configuration rules permit it. Requires special adapter cables or boards if wide and narrow shelves are daisy chained. Requires that system supports both wide and narrow SCSI. 8. Q: Can customers with narrow devices convert these to plug into wide shelves and will they function properly? A: Yes, see answer 2. 9. Q: What functional/performance advantages will customers see when they use wide drives without wide controllers? A: There will be neither a functional nor performance advantage. However, once the wide device is operated in wide mode on a wide controller, there will be an improvement in the data throughput performance, depending on the configuration and the application. Configuration Rules Rules for Narrow Drives * Can be used in narrow or wide shelves. If wide drives are in the same shelf, the narrow drives must be at a minimum device revision level as defined by the Storage Systems organization. (Wide drives would not be seen by the console firmware or the operating system if an older narrow drive were present.) * Can be used with HSD05/HSD10. * Can be used with wide controllers such as KZPSA and KZPSC; drive runs in narrow mode. * Can be installed behind DWZZA and DWZZB. Rules for Wide Drives * Can ONLY be used in wide shelves. * Cannot be used behind HSD05/HSD10. Wide drives will not be seen at console or operating system level. * Cannot be used in a shelf with any narrow drive having a revision level less than that listed in the revision matrix. Console and Operating System Revision Requirements These drives have been added to the AlphaServer 8200/8400 on-line supported options list and must be used in the BA356-JB (8200), BA660-AB (8400) or BA661-AA (8400 DWLPA sys) wide SCSI shelves/PIUs for 16-bit mode operation. ============================================================== Device Levels Description Minimum Revision ============================================================== RZ26L-VW 1.05GB 3.5" wide drive Rev. 442E or later f/w Tru64 UNIX V3.2C OpenVMS V6.2 RZ26N-VW 1.05GB 3.5" wide drive Rev. 568 or later f/w Tru64 UNIX V3.2C OpenVMS V6.2 RZ28-VW 2.1GB 3.5" wide drive Rev. 442E or later f/w Tru64 UNIX V3.2C OpenVMS V6.2 RZ28D-VW 2.1GB 3.5" wide drive Rev. 8 or later f/w Tru64 UNIX V3.2C OpenVMS V6.2 RZ28M-VW 2.1GB 3.5" wide drive Rev. 568 or later f/w Tru64 UNIX V3.2C OpenVMS V6.2 RZ29B-VW 4.3GB 3.5" wide drive Rev. 14 or later f/w Tru64 UNIX V3.2C OpenVMS V6.2 ============================================================== Rules for Shelves Rules for Narrow Shelves AlphaServer 8200 narrow shelf - BA350-JB (the BA656 storage drawer is also narrow) AlphaServer 8400 narrow storage plug-in units - BA655-AB and BA658-AA * Narrow drives only * Can use DWZZA * Can use HSD05/HSD10 Wide Shelves The supported wide shelves include the 48V DC 150 Watt power supply. AlphaServer 8200 wide shelf - BA356-JB AlphaServer 8400 wide storage plug-in units - BA660-AB, BA661-AA These shelves are used in the system and expander cabinets; other variants are used in the SW500/800 cabinets. Rules for Wide Shelves * Can use both wide and narrow drives. Narrow drives must be at a minimum revision as defined by the Storage Systems organization if both narrow and wide drives are in the same shelf. Otherwise, the wide drives will not be seen at the console or at the operating system level. (All narrow drives will be seen.) * Can use DWZZB. * Can use HSD05/HSD10 if all drives in the shelf are narrow. * Split bus/shelf configuration requires that a terminator module be ordered (BA35X-ME). * Left-most connector (on recessed side) of Personality module is input connector and right-most connector (at front) of Personality module is output connector, for daisy-chaining/expanding enclosures. Personality card provides bus termination for the enclosure. Plugging a cable into the right-most connector disables the termination. OpenVMS and Tru64 UNIX currently support only IDs 0-7. Rules for Controllers The following SCSI controllers can be used with both narrow and wide SCSI devices: * KFTIA * KZPSA * KZPSC KFTIA - Integrated I/O Module * Three fast wide differential SCSI ports on each module. * Must connect to either a DWZZA or DWZZB. * CK-KFTIA-AA cabinet kit for FWD SCSI ports used. Kit includes Y-cable and FWD SCSI terminator. * Minimum supported operating system: o OpenVMS V6.2 o Tru64 UNIX V3.2C KZPSA - PCI Fast Wide Differential SCSI Controller * Controller is fast wide, so must connect to either a DWZZA or DWZZB. * Minimum supported operating system: o OpenVMS V6.2 o Tru64 UNIX V3.2C * HW = F01, FW = A09 KZPSC - PCI RAID Controller * Controller can run either fast wide single-ended or fast narrow single-ended. In mixed (wide/narrow) drive configurations, the controller will negotiate to capabilities of individual drives. * In a mixed (narrow/wide) configuration, if the wide drives are not seen and a drive appears with FMT (format required) status (seen at the RAID Configuration Unit Level), then the drive is not at the correct revision level. * Adapter plug (H4086-AA) required to cable to narrow internal shelf. * Each channel supports SCSI IDs 0-7. * A total of 8 logical drives can be created per controller. * Wide drives require wide shelves. * Minimum supported operating system: o OpenVMS V6.2 (supports host-based shadowing support and on-line GUI monitor utilities). o Tru64 UNIX V3.2C * HW = B01, FW = 2.19 RAID Standalone Configuration Utility (RCU) V3.08 for Rev V3.xx console V3.11 for Rev V4.xx of console (backward compatible) DWZZA - Fast Wide Differential to Fast Narrow Single-Ended Converter * Slot 0 for -VA version * Minimum revision level: DWZZA-AA/VA E02/F02 * Used only in narrow shelves. DWZZB - Fast Wide Differential to Fast Wide Single-Ended Converter * Slot 0 for -VW version. * Minimum revision level: DWZZB-AA/VW A01/A01 * Used only in wide shelves. * Supports both narrow and wide drives. Rules for Cables and Terminators KFTIA Cables From KFTIA fast wide differential port to BA660-AB, BA661-AA, and BA356-JB system cabinet or expander cabinet: * CK-KFTIA-AA * BN21K-XX KZPSA External Cables * BN21K-** from KZPSA to DWZZA or DWZZB (straight to right angle) * BN21W-0B Y SCSI-2 cable 68 pins for using KZPSA in mid-bus (daisy-chained) configurations ** = Variants depend on cable length. KZPSC External Cables * BN31L-1E from KZPSC to BA350 (narrow shelf) * BN31S-1E from KZPSC to BA356 (wide shelf) Cable Length The maximum cable length for the SCSI-2 bus depends on whether it is fast or slow, single-ended or differential. Fast Slow ======================================= Single Ended** 3 meters 6 meters (9 feet) (18 feet) Differential 25 meters 25 meters (75 feet) (75 feet) ======================================= ** This includes .5 meter cable length used inside the systems. The BA35X includes 1.0 meter internal etch. Terminators * H879-AA SCSI-3 Terminator Block 68-pin male passive terminator (terminates the end of a wide differential bus) * H8862-AA (Future) 68-pin active terminator (terminates the end of a wide single-ended bus) * H885-AA SCSI-3 68-pin tri-link connector block for DWZZA/DWZZB