Thread
Adtron SCSI Compact Flash drive?
Has anyone used this compact flash SCSI card? It's an Adtron S25CF card. Picked it up recently as a "total shot in the dark" purchase to replace a SCSI hard drive. Here are some pics:
It's advertised as a 128MB version but the original Compact flash card is missing so I need to replace it. I'm going to wait until it arrives to try different sizes but there is very little on the Internet about it. I also purchased a 2.5" SCSI to 3.5" drive adapter so I will see if it can replace a drive. Since it is straight SCSI, I hope a Mac can boot from it. It seems similar to the CF PowerMonster II but it's much earlier (1999). There is also a 3.5" version of this but I could only find the 2.5" version.
Could be interesting or could be a dud. When I get it, I'll play around with it to see if it will work but I'm just wondering if anyone has used one or knows anything about them.
Thanks.
It's advertised as a 128MB version but the original Compact flash card is missing so I need to replace it. I'm going to wait until it arrives to try different sizes but there is very little on the Internet about it. I also purchased a 2.5" SCSI to 3.5" drive adapter so I will see if it can replace a drive. Since it is straight SCSI, I hope a Mac can boot from it. It seems similar to the CF PowerMonster II but it's much earlier (1999). There is also a 3.5" version of this but I could only find the 2.5" version.
Could be interesting or could be a dud. When I get it, I'll play around with it to see if it will work but I'm just wondering if anyone has used one or knows anything about them.
Thanks.
That would be awesome. Tell us how it goes please.
Thanks a lot for posting this. It looks very promising. As such, I found a seller on e-bay and picked one up. The only difference with this one is that it has two compact flash interfaces on the bottom.
The seller said from his testing it acts just like a 2.5" SCSI drive with a CF card installed on it, so I would imagine it will work just fine in any Mac with a 2.5" interface (can't speak to any other inferfaces).
Here's the listing:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221289125799
I made an offer and he accepted. Might want to snap them up before they are all gone. All the rest on there are going for way more.
Now I just need to figure out what that one jumper on the board does... It is labeled at "TD". Termination Disconnect? Termination something? Not sure...
I also contacted the company that makes these, although it has changed quite a bit since then (Became SMART Storage Solutions, then got eaten by SanDisk), to try and find out what they are capable of (what is the maximum size Compact Flash they can take, anything special unusual about them, etc...)
The seller said from his testing it acts just like a 2.5" SCSI drive with a CF card installed on it, so I would imagine it will work just fine in any Mac with a 2.5" interface (can't speak to any other inferfaces).
Here's the listing:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221289125799
I made an offer and he accepted. Might want to snap them up before they are all gone. All the rest on there are going for way more.
Now I just need to figure out what that one jumper on the board does... It is labeled at "TD". Termination Disconnect? Termination something? Not sure...
I also contacted the company that makes these, although it has changed quite a bit since then (Became SMART Storage Solutions, then got eaten by SanDisk), to try and find out what they are capable of (what is the maximum size Compact Flash they can take, anything special unusual about them, etc...)
Glad you found them Paralel,
I was wondering how long it would take for someone to find those
Mine is the single CF card version that has a slightly newer firmware. I would have posted a link to the auction but I have no idea if these would work so I didn't want to point to something unless someone here has tried it or knows about it. I have downloaded the info sheet at home so I'll get it tonight and post it. TD = Terminate Disable (if I recall correctly). From the little I've read, these were military grade units that cost a lot of money a long time ago. I just don't know enough these so it still is "a shot in the dark" unless someone has used one.
Now I have a fellow explorer to check these out!
I was wondering how long it would take for someone to find those
Mine is the single CF card version that has a slightly newer firmware. I would have posted a link to the auction but I have no idea if these would work so I didn't want to point to something unless someone here has tried it or knows about it. I have downloaded the info sheet at home so I'll get it tonight and post it. TD = Terminate Disable (if I recall correctly). From the little I've read, these were military grade units that cost a lot of money a long time ago. I just don't know enough these so it still is "a shot in the dark" unless someone has used one.Now I have a fellow explorer to check these out!
I'm definitely watching with interest, I've got a SCSI solution hungry Portable. ;D
Expect Powerbook 100 series test results within a week with this. I wouldn't be surprised if the CF slots were assigned LUNs similar to how those SCSI flash card readers work.
As promised, here's the S25CF spec sheet that I dug up through the Wayback Machine. It was originally a complete "drop in" solution with (I assume) different size CF cards to make different size drives. That's why I'm wondering if I can drop in a 2GB CF card, will it find it or is the firmware specific to the size.
S25CF_ProdSpec.zip
Being in Canada and using that God-awful eBay Global Shipping Program, you guys will get it before I do so best of luck and please post your results.
S25CF_ProdSpec.zip
Being in Canada and using that God-awful eBay Global Shipping Program, you guys will get it before I do so best of luck and please post your results.
Keep in mind the time period these units came out. Back in 2000, CompactFlash cards in the gigabyte range were the largest available and VERY expensive.
Looks like a maximum CF size of 2 GB. I wonder what it is for the two slot model like I ordered?
There could be a couple of possibilities. Either you can install 2 x 1GB CF cards and I can only install 1 or mine has a later revision to handle bigger 2 GB cards? Or better yet, they didn't bother with anything over 2GB because it was too expensive to even market? I don't know but it'll be an adventure finding out
I don't think there were CF cards larger than 2GB back in 2000. Assuming the hardware uses CF-IDE mode and the onboard firmware is modern enough, you should be good with cards up to 128GB (the 28bit LBA limit). Its doubtful something that early supports 48bit LBA, but its certainly worth a shot.
Well, with HFS size limits, I'm happy with 2GB.
Wow... that is nuts. They all got bought up within 24 hours just by posting a link here. lol.
:lol: Mark me down as one of the buyers. Sent an offer for $50 and it was accepted. Less than half the price of those Aztec CF Monster cards. Couldn't pass it up. I have a bunch of ideas running through my head that could use a small, compact card like that.
... now I need to find something to sell so I can afford it.
... now I need to find something to sell so I can afford it.
Welcome to the club olePigeon!
I'm collecting various size CF cards while waiting for delivery to to see if they work. I have a 4GB but it's used in my Amiga 1200 so I can't try that one. I do have a 64, 128 and 512 MB card so far. Let's see what we can do with it.
I'm collecting various size CF cards while waiting for delivery to to see if they work. I have a 4GB but it's used in my Amiga 1200 so I can't try that one. I do have a 64, 128 and 512 MB card so far. Let's see what we can do with it.
What all did everyone else pay that made an offer? I offered $35 and it was accepted.
wow that is good deal.
Sure is! I paid $40 and thought I was low balling him to get to $50. Good job (if they work of course)!
Any chance he'll get more?
c
I asked the seller to keep an eye out for them but it's a buy that came up and was unsure if they would come up again. I also asked him to keep an eye out for 3.5" versions.
I paid 35 for the two slot version, should be here tomorrow. I may even have a cf card already.
Considering how unusual it is, it seems unlikely any would surface from the same source, unless someone trips over another box of them somewhere.
yall got em cheap. considering there was only 1 left I paid the BIN amount. lol. But I digress...
This thing will definitely be fun to play with once it comes in the mail. The only CF card I have is 4GB and it didnt work in my SCSI2CF adapter that I tried to make.
But I think I have a 1GB roku BOSE demo CF card laying around somewhere.
This thing will definitely be fun to play with once it comes in the mail. The only CF card I have is 4GB and it didnt work in my SCSI2CF adapter that I tried to make.
But I think I have a 1GB roku BOSE demo CF card laying around somewhere.
I ordered a 4 GB to try in it... Hope it works.
Going to have to turn it into 2gb chunks or less when partitioning at a minimum just for the system to use it with disk tools.
But earlier people mentioned a 2 gb limit to the card so that may be an issue. I have an old 128 CF card for an old Kodak camera I think somewhere I am going to use.
But earlier people mentioned a 2 gb limit to the card so that may be an issue. I have an old 128 CF card for an old Kodak camera I think somewhere I am going to use.
I would worry about speed issues with older CF cards.
Ok just got my card with 2 connectors. First its missing its mounting assembly. Found out here http://www.electronicproducts.com/Board_Level_Products/Drop-in_flash_drive_replaces_HDD_tape.aspx it was a drop in replacement. Have not found a manual yet but its something with info.
Problem one is that disk tools does not see it at all. I have Hard disk toolkit, I might try that but so far not seen. The jumper that says TD I hope would be for a HD light but without a manual I have no idea.
Problem 2 is there is a JP3 on one side that lists 5V, TXD, RXD, and GND. So knowing it had mounting hardware we may be screwed. I have an old hard drive that I will dremel and mount this to it so it will "screw on" to the correct bracket. As it stand my heart is sinking just a bit.
Problem one is that disk tools does not see it at all. I have Hard disk toolkit, I might try that but so far not seen. The jumper that says TD I hope would be for a HD light but without a manual I have no idea.
Problem 2 is there is a JP3 on one side that lists 5V, TXD, RXD, and GND. So knowing it had mounting hardware we may be screwed. I have an old hard drive that I will dremel and mount this to it so it will "screw on" to the correct bracket. As it stand my heart is sinking just a bit.
Well that page says capacities are 128 mb to 1.2 gb, so I will wait until my CF cards I ordered cheap come in. All I have is a 32 mb and an 8 mb. Maybe a issue there but I may fuss with it a little.
Look at the 8th post in THIS thread. I posted specifics in the attached PDF. TD is Terminate Disable, not a hard drive light
. It's also a 2.5" drive so it's not a direct plug into a 50 pin SCSI cable. See the doc before you do some damage
I must have skipped that I will look. Thank you.