LPI Linux Certification in a Nutshell, 2nd Edition

Objective 4: Set Up Non-IDE Devices

SCSI

SCSI is an interface for streaming devices and block storage devices such as tape drives, hard disks, CD-ROMs, and other peripheral instruments. SCSI is the standard interface on server-style PCs, Unix workstations, and many older Apple models (mostly 604 and earlier systems). Desktop PCs and newer Apple systems (G3 and above) usually opt for the IDE (ATA)-style disk interfaces because they are less expensive. The advantage that SCSI has over IDE is that it offers much more flexibility and expandability, as well as faster throughput.

SCSI defines a bus to which multiple devices are connected. The medium is a high-quality cable or a series of cables connected to daisy-chained devices in series. One of the devices in the chain is the SCSI controller, which is the host interface to the other connected SCSI devices. The controller and each of the other devices on the bus is assigned a permanent SCSI address, also known as the SCSI ID, which defines each SCSI device uniquely on the bus. The controller can access devices individually by using the unique SCSI address to access a specific device.

SCSI types

The world of SCSI can be a little confusing, despite the standards set by ANSI. The original SCSI-1 interface is a 5 MBps 8-bit interface. It uses a 50-pin Centronics connector, similar to but larger than those found on most printers. This interface is still in popular use today, although the connector is usually replaced by a 50-pin Micro-D connector. ...