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Allows you to connect multiple SCSI hard drives through a FireWire IEEE-1394 interface.
FireWire-SCSI adapter  
FWDepot ID:FastWare Bridge-IT



BridgeIt! is a combination 1394 to SCSI converter and 1394 HUB and repeater. BridgeIt!ª supports multiple hard drives, CD-R/RW, MO and removable media devices in a SCSI chain.

 

Compare to other $90 to $120 1394-to-SCSI solutions available that only support one SCSI device plus stand-alone FireWire Hubs typically costing as much as $90 to $120 themselves! BridgeIt!ª offers real value while also saving a rare PCI slot.

BridgeIt!ª works with MacOS (downloadable driver will be available on the web site for qualified buyers) and Windows98 SE and Windows Me.

BridgeIt!ª comes with an external power adapter, an ON/OFF switch, indicator LEDs, a 50 position high density SCSI receptacle and three 6-pin 1394 ports, so it will also act as a Hub for 1394 peripherals. At product introduction, only US power adapters will be available.

  Compatibility Testing

INITIAL SPEED TESTS

the above tests were performed using a PowerBook G3 (Lombard), CardBus card, BridgeIt™ FireWire/SCSI adapter, and an old SCSI ORB.


MacOS: Now: BridgeIt™ and the FW Extension supports a total of 4 SCSI drives, MO, and/or removable media such as Jaz and Zip, and offers CD-R/RW support via B's Recorder Gold application available from Fastware.net. Minimum requirement: MacOS 8.6, FireWire 2.3.3. A separate version will be introduced for MacOS 9.1. Support for scanners, printers, CD-R/RW, etc., and a full SCSI chain of 7 devices is planned in near term driver and flash upgrade releases: Review BridgeIt™ & MacOS Upgrade Path
Features:
Operates as SCSI initiator device
Supports 4 SCSI hard drives and future firmware: up to 7 SCSI devices recognized
Maximum transfer rate: 20MB/s (Ultra Narrow / see SCSI Terms Chart)
Supports synchronous transfer
Support disconnect from target devices
  Auto termination
  Non support devices that has SCSI LUN
  Support storage devices only, future fimware releases to support scanners, etc.
  NOTE: The early "FW" Extension that supports up to 4 SCSI drives, will also supportCD-R equipment when used in conjunction with B's GOLD CD authoring software, which will be available on this web site in late November. The SIM driver, due in January, will support all CD-R authoring applications.
Specifications:
1394 cable power is applied as well as AC-DC adapter.
Connected SCSI devices are controlled as SBP2 target devices, to transfer from 1394 host Command ORB packets (SBP2 initiator) to SCSI commands.
Hot Plug enables you to add/delete SCSI devices without rebooting the host system.
Firmware update / Serial information update can be done from the desk top through 1394 bus.
OS support: Windows98 Second Edition, Windows2000, MacOS8.6 (FireWire2.1 minimum, 2.5 recommended). Driver for Mac OS is required.

BridgeIt! is a 1394 repeater when powered off and is a 1394-SCSI converter when powered on. AC-DC Adapter or Cable power is required to work. 1394 ports do not provide cable power.

SBP2 Logical units are supported to each SCSI device ID.

Only one initiator can be logged in to each logical unit.

Maximum transfer rate:
1394: 400Mbps
SCSI = 20MB/s (Ultra Narrow) / see SCSI Terms Chart)

Hot Plug support - 50 position high density SCSI receptacle. Review typical SCSI Connectors.
Even if AC adapter is not connected , 1394-SCSI convert function is enabled as long as cable power is being supplied from 1394 host ports. If 4 pin cable is used, AC adapter is required.
BridgeIt!ª will be available in limited quantities in late November and volume in December for $149.95. At product introduction, only US power adapters will be available.
  A 50 pin high density SCSI connector and three 6-pin 1394 ports are provided for SCSI conversion as well as FireWire Hub functionality. For legacy SCSI devices with 25 pin connections, BridgeIt!ª will support 25 -to- 50 pin cable adapters.
  MacOS: Fastware.net plans to offer an Extension that supports up to 4 SCSI hard drives on a chain initially and will release a SIM driver in January, free to registered owners, that will support a full SCSI chain of 7 devices, including CD-R/RW, scanners and printers!
Summary:
FWDepot ID Part Number FW-BIT-SCSI
Description FireWire-SCSI adapter
Category IEEE-1394 FireWire Hubs/Repeaters
Extended Description FireWire-SCSI adapter
World Wide Power Supplies:

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SCSI Terms:

STA - Endorsed Terms & Terminology for SCSI
(SCSI Trade Association)

STA Terms
Bus Speed, MBytes/Sec. Max.
Bus Width, bits
Max. Bus Lengths, Meters (1)
Max. Device Support(7)
Single- ended (SE)
LVD
HVD
SCSI - 1 (2)
5
8
6
(3)
25
8
Fast SCSI (2)
10
8
3
(3)
25
8
Fast Wide SCSI
20
16
3
(3)
25
16
Ultra SCSI (2)
20
8
1.5
(3)
25
8
Ultra SCSI (2)
20
8
3
-
-
4
Wide Ultra SCSI
40
16
-
(3)
25
16
Wide Ultra SCSI
40
16
1.5
-
-
8
Wide Ultra SCSI
40
16
3
-
-
4
Ultra2 SCSI (2,4)
40
8
(4)
12
25
8
Wide Ultra2 SCSI (4)
80
16
(4)
12
25
16
Ultra 160 SCSI (6)
160
16(6)
(4)
12
(5)
16
Ultra320(6)
320
16(6)
(4)
12
(5)
16

Notes:

(1) The listed maximum bus lengths may be exceeded in point-to-point and engineered applications.
(2) Use of the word "narrow", preceding SCSI, Ultra SCSI or Ultra2 SCSI is optional.
(3) LVD was not defined in the original SCSI standards for this speed. If all devices on the bus support LVD, then 12-meters operation is possible at this speed. However, if any device on the bus is Single-Ended only, then the entire bus switches to Single-Ended mode and the distances in the Single-Ended column apply.
(4) Single-Ended is not defined for speeds beyond Ultra.
(5) HVD (Differential) is not defined for speeds beyond Ultra2.
(6) After Ultra2 all new speeds are wide only.
(7) Why are there multiple entries for the Ultra SCSI interface? The answer has to do with the inherent difficulties of transmitting high speed parallel data over cable or backplane. Assuming that the SCSI bus is properly terminated, there are three factors that can still degrade performance on the SCSI bus: a) high frequency attenuation, which causes the pulses to be rounded off and gets worse with longer cable length. b) skew, which is the difference in propagation times from one data line to another, which also gets worse with longer cable length. c) stubs, which are SCSI devices attached to the cable. So, with a longer cable, there must be less stubs, i.e. fewer drives. With a shorter cable, more stubs (drives) can be tolerated. This is shown in the Max Device Supported column in the table.



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SCSI Connectors:



Typical SCSI Connector Types
(SCSI Trade Association)


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