SCSI PCI / JAZ

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“J’aime ces petits moments calmes avant la tempête…” - Norman Stansfield

Avert your eyes now.

In a long, back-burner quest to access and move all late 90’s Jaz disk file archives… an untested, infernal Jaz drive now awaits insertion into a resident QS or MDD. (3) Adaptec PCI SCSI cards [AVA-2903B, AHA-2930B, AHA-2930CU] and (1) ATTO ExpressPCI PSC card vie for this task.

In prep: a priori  submission of two failed external Jaz drives to respective Jaz and SCSI Gods. (Akin to tossing sacrificial golf balls into the water before driving across any water hazard.)

First attempt will install the card (AHA-2930CU - newest mfg.), and then the Iomega Jaz drive into QS… und das boot* to see what happens… remembering old SCSI Voo-Doo nightmares from days & nights of yore. (“Dive! Dive!”).

When archives are moved to more stable and accessible media… all this Jaz… may go away. [There’s always SyQuest for the truly retro-nostalgic. “Click-clunk, whir-whine.”]

OS 9 - SCSIProbe_v52.hqx / PowerDomain_Control_v612.hqx
OS X - apd2930_X_v11.hqx / apd2930_ug.pdf

lagniappe * www.msichicago.org/explore/whats-here/exhibits/u-505-submarine/

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Part Deux: “Newbie" Nocturne

Jaz drive spun up and mounted effortlessly under OS 9. And while much research states that the card functions under OS 10.4… here, that ain’t necessarily so.

Downloaded and installed “new” versions of the same old Adaptec extensions for 10.4 (from 2003-2004) and trashed others… all to no avail.
Rebuilt, zapped, plugged-unplugged, etcetera for quite some time today thinking only of the USB 2 transfer speeds via X card, but suppose should just move all those Jaz files/disks and be done with it. (Might try the ATTO ExpressPCI PSC?) Even installed new Adaptec & Iomega kexts and disk utilities. Finally got boot w/o startup freeze with 10.4 drive, but no disk mount. OS 10.4.11 drive boot, just locks up and freezes again.

Again: OS 9… zero problems. Instant gratification. (Did not install SCSI Probe or Power Domain Control.)

Jaz drive fit into the QS cradle previously occupied by an untested Zip drive and with the QS Zip’s plastic trim bezel removed, Jaz disks can be coaxed in and out of the opening. Might require a bit of “adjustment” to the upper part of metal frame case for increased ease / clearance.

Anyone using an Adaptec AHA-2930CU SCSI PCI card with Tiger / 10.4 or above, successfully?
And NO, did not close the open (J4) jumper on the Adaptec card… understood that was for B&W G3s and older.

Punted. Swapped Adaptec 2930CU for the older (1998 ATTO vs. 2001 Adaptec), and with the ATTO ExpressPCI PSC card...
booted and mounted Jaz disks via OS 9, 10.4, and 10.4.11 without any software or additional supporting item installs.

Six years worth of old image files and other backup items are now accessible.
Might even eventually connect an old Agfa flatbed scanner.
(Glutton for SCSI punishment / self-flagellation.) - Jürgen