Re: DynaMo 1.3Gb for the PowerBook G3
On Tue, Aug 29, 2000 at 09:12:15PM +0100, Sergio Brandano wrote:
> I want to buy a Fujitsu DynaMo 1.3Gb, which is an external
> Magneto Optical device. The dilemma is on what interface
> should I go for; the possibilities are UltraSCSI (50pin), USB
> or FireWire. The PowerBook G3 1999 has a SCSI port, and the
> riddle here is on its type: is it a SCSI 1, 2 or 3?
The DynaMO 640 works quite well on a 1999 G3 powerbook. It is only
available in SCSI. You need an adaptor for the cable that can be purchased
from an on-line Mac dealer (I've never found one in a store). Most
adaptors come out as the 25 pin D connector, not the 50 pin high density
connector.
SCSI 1, 2 or 3 can be a confusing question to ask. Are you asking about
protocol, electrical, or connector. The 25 and 50 pin connectors are 8 bit
devices, whereas the 68 pin devices are 16 bit devices. Your G3 should
work with any 8 bit SCSI interface-- with the proper cable.
> I did not
> manage to find out! Looking for a PowerBook cable, they told
> me that the only one is a something-to-25pin. If this is really
> the case, then I have a SCSI type 1 (...ARGH!), the adaptor
> 25-to-50 would solve but the performance would still be that
> of a SCSI 1...
The 25 pin and the 50 pin interface are the same, except the 25 pin does
not have ground pairs. Anyway, even the slowest SCSI is faster then the
DynaMo anyway, so it doesn't really matter.
> Too bad, as Linux is well supported on SCSI,
> if compared to USB and FireWire. I did not manage to boot
The USB drive is (and the fireware drive probably is also) just a SCSI
drive with a USB->SCSI dongle in the cable. If that dongle is supported by
the Linux mass-storage driver then it will work with Linux. Yes, you do
need 2.4.0-presomthing to get a reasonable mass-storage driver.
If you can talk Fujitsu into sending a drive to the Mass Storage driver
development team coordinator (contact mdharm-usb@one-eyed-alien.net), then
device support is much more likely. Many vendors have sent devices.
If you can find out what kind of USB->SCSI dongle is used by the drive, I
can find out for you if it is supported by Linux (Best to get the vendor,ID
values from a USB probe).
> the kernel 2.4.0-presomething, nor to find out about whether
> the FireWire driver is actually working, and if I have to buy
> a PCMCIA firewire, what is the one to buy. The other riddle
> is: why is that Fujitsu's web sites have no MacOS drivers?
MacOS 9 doesn't directly support removable optical drives. However, most
third party disk drivers do (such as FWB). It is unfortunate that you have
to buy the third party driver, but that is a decision made by Apple.
As Far as USB MacOS support, that probably depends on the dongle, and if
there are Mac drivers for it. Firewire will be supported by the same
drivers as the SCSI version.
Dave Brown
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