Black Box ACI-2000A User Manual

CUSTOMER

SUPPORT

INFORMATION

Call our Technical Support Specialists to discuss your application.
For 24-hour technical support: Call [phone] or Fax: [phone]
To order: Call [phone] 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. EST
Mail order: Black Box Corporation, P.O. Box 12800, Pittsburgh, PA 15241

®

JUNE 1996

IC495A-R2

SCSI Fiber Optic Extender

Black Box Corporation

The Source for Connectivity

®

LINK ACTIVE

BUS ACTIVE

LINK ERROR

SCSI FIBER OPTIC EXTENDER

POWER

2

SCSI Fiber Optic Extender

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENT

This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy
and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio
communication. It has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class A computing device in accordance with the specifications in Subpart B
of Part 15 of FCC Rules, which are designed to provide reasonable
protection against such interference when the equipment is operated in a
commercial environment. Operation of this equipment in a residential area
is likely to cause interference, in which case the user at his own expense will
be required to take whatever measures may be required to correct the
interference.

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible
for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

“This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise
emission from digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference
Regulation of the Canadian Department of Communications.”

“Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques
dépassant les limites applicables aux appareils numériques de la classe A
prescrites dans le Règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté par le
ministère des Communications du Canada.”

TRADEMARKS

All applied-for and registered trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.

ST®is a registered trademark of American Telephone and Telegraph
Company.

3

CHAPTER 1: Specifications

FIBEROPTIC INTERFACE

Maximum Cable Length —

Up to 3000 ft. (about 1 km) of duplex

fiberoptic cable between a matched pair of extenders

Recommended Fiberoptic Cable —

62.5/125 µm, 100/140 µm, or 50/125 µm

Serial Data Rate —

175 MHz

Optical Wavelength —

830 nm

Typical Bit Error Rate (BER) —

10

-12

SCSI INTERFACE

Maximum SCSI Cable Length —

19.7 ft. (6 m)

Maximum Speed —

10 megabytes per second

Slew Rate —

5 ns (maximum)

Protocol —

Sync or async

Standards —

ANSI X3.131 and X3T9.2

Interface —

Compatible with SCSI I and SCSI II

SCSI to Fiber Conversion Delay —

200 ns

Termination —

Active Internal Bus

PHYSICAL

Indicators —

(4) LEDs: Line Active, Bus Active, Line Error, Power

Connectors —

(2) fiber ST, (1) 50-pin SCSI, (1) IEC (power)

Power —

110/220 VAC ±10%, 65/45 Hz (switch-selectable), 7 watts

Size —

2.1"H x 6"W x 9.6"D (5.3 x 15.2 x 24.4 cm)

Weight —

3 lb. (1.4 kg)

1. Specifications

4

SCSI Fiber Optic Extender

2.1 Overview

The SCSI bus (pronounced

scuzzy

) is one of the most popular interfaces for
connecting peripheral devices to a computer system. However, the
maximum allowable cable distance from computer to SCSI peripheral is just

19.7 ft. (6 m). But by using a pair of SCSI Fiber Optic Extenders, you can
far exceed that distance.

Now you can connect SCSI components such as disk drives, CD-ROM
systems, RAID arrays, tape backup drives, and laser printers up to 3000 feet
(about 1 km) from the host computer, via fiberoptic cable (see Figure 2-1).

Figure 2-1. Sample Application Using SCSI Fiber Optic Extenders.

Note the location of the SCSI terminators.

SCSI Fiber Optic Extender supports a maximum SCSI data rate of 10
MBytes per second in asynchronous or synchronous mode. It supports the
“Fast SCSI” standard, available in top-of-the-line computers and
peripherals. And proprietary switching enables the Extender to maintain
complete SCSI command functionality and remain transparent to the user.

The Extender conforms to ANSI X3.131 and X3T9.2 specifications with
single-ended device termination. Disconnect and Reselect are fully
supported to ensure complete SCSI compatibility. Also, the Extender does
not require a SCSI device address.

Besides extending a single SCSI chain, you can use a pair of these
Extenders to link two remote SCSI chains (see Figure 2-2), enabling
computer users in distant workgroups to share multiple SCSI peripherals.

2. Introduction

SCSI

Terminators

SCSI

Terminators

Host

Computer

SCSI

Peripherals

SCSI Fiber Optic Extenders

Linked Via Duplex

Fiberoptic Cable—

Up To 3000 feet (1 Km)

5

CHAPTER 2: Introduction

Figure 2-2. Sample Application Using SCSI Fiber Optic Extenders.

Note the location of the SCSI terminators.

Connect to a host or peripheral via the single-ended SCSI connector on the
rear panel of the Extender. An internal “active” bus terminator is included
to improve SCSI reliability and performance. This terminator can be
removed for systems requiring external termination.

A standard duplex fiberoptic cable with ST connectors provides the
interface between the local and remote Extender units. And for greater
application flexibility, the Extender supports 110- or 220-VAC operation
via a user-selectable switch and International standard IEC power
connector.

2.2 Unpacking Your Shipment

Unpack your SCSI Fiber Optic Extender from its original shipping carton
and inventory the contents. The package includes:

• (1) SCSI Fiber Optic Extender.

• (1) IEC AC Power Cord.

• (1) Package of Replacement Parts:
(1) 1-Amp fuse
(1) 2-Amp fuse
(1) 110-ohm network resistor.

• This User’s Manual.

SCSI

Terminators

Duplex Fiberoptic Cable

Up To 3000 feet (1 Km)

SCSI

Terminators

6

SCSI Fiber Optic Extender

2.3 Operator Controls and Indicators

Four front-panel LEDs light to give you at-a-glance status information
about the operation of the Extender (see Figure 2-3.).

POWER—

This lights when AC power is connected and switched-on to

the unit.

LINK ACTIVE—

This LED lights when two SCSI Fiber Optic Extenders

are powered up and connected to one another via fiberoptic cable.

BUS ACTIVE—

This LED provides a visual indication of the SCSI
interface BUSY signal. It is a general indication that devices are
communicating via the SCSI bus.

LINK ERROR—

Lights when the integrity of the fiberoptic link dips
below specification. When this LED is lit, data errors have occurred.
The SCSI Fiber Optic Extender will disconnect from the SCSI bus when
a Link Error is detected.

POWER SWITCH—

Located on the rear panel (see Figure 3-1.) Turn on
power by pressing the half of the switch marked “1”. Turn power off by
pressing the half of the switch marked “O”.

Figure 2-3. Front-Panel View.

LINK ACTIVE

BUS ACTIVE

LINK ERROR

POWER