Course 2: SCSI School
What is SCSI?
Pronounced “scuzzy”, this acronym stands for “Small Computer System Interface”
– a standard parallel interface used to transfer data between devices on both
internal and external computer buses.
Standardized by the American National Standards Institute in 1986, SCSI technology
initially realized the majority of its success in Apple Macintosh and Sun Microsystem
computers. For example, nearly all Macintosh computers, with the exception of the
earliest Macs and more recent releases (iMac and post-iMac), included a SCSI port
for attaching devices such as disk drives, CD-ROM drives, printers and scanners.
SCSI’s credentials are not limited to Macintosh systems. Distinct performance
advantages and enhanced flexibility in comparison to other Input/Output (I/O)
technologies, have helped make SCSI the interface of choice for high-end PCs
and server computers.
A typical SCSI configuration consists of the following items:
- A SCSI host adapter (controller) that plugs directly into a computer motherboard
- Internal and/or external SCSI devices (i.e. CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drives, hard drives, scanners)
- Internal and/or external SCSI cables, SCSI terminators, and possibly SCSI cable adapters
To ensure proper operation, careful selection of SCSI hardware is vital. The following
information will help you to begin configuring your SCSI-enabled computer. For special
requirements, please consult your SCSI device documentation.
Next – Chapter 2 - SCSI vs IDE
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