Adaptec AHA-8945 User manual

R
FireCard™Ultra AHA®-8945
Combined 1394 FireWire®/Ultra Wide SCSI PCI Host Adapter
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
• Connect multiple 1394 FireWire
and SCSI devices to a single host
adapter
• Saves PCI slot
• 1394 FireWire data transfer rate up
to 200Mbps (25 MB/sec)
• Ultra Wide SCSI data transfer rate
up to 40MB/sec
• Software support for Windows NT™,
Windows®95 and Mac OS™
• Rigorous 1394 FireWire and SCSI
compatibility testing
Overview
The Adaptec®FireCard Ultra host
adapter links both high-performance
SCSI peripherals and FireWire-enabled
consumer electronics products to
your computer using only one PCI
slot. The FireCard Ultra SCSI interface
can chain a maximum 15 SCSI devices
at speeds up to 40MB/sec, and its 1394
FireWire interface links a maximum
63 devices at speeds up to 200Mbps
(25 MB/sec).
Key Benefits
Conserve Valuable PCI Slot
An increasing number of interface
cards contend for limited PCI slots
within PCs and Macintosh®computers.
By combining 1394 FireWire and SCSI
interfaces on a single PCI-based card, a
PCI slot is saved for other uses.
Connect to Digital Consumer
Electronics Devices
Consumer electronics devices (cam-
eras, camcorders, TVs, VCRs, etc.)
are moving rapidly into the digital
realm, facilitating their connection
to computers. This widening of the
digital domain will lead to startling
gains in productivity, output quality
and ease of operation in both the
workplace and the home. The
Adaptec FireCard Ultra host adapter
will be the convergence point for this
digital revolution, as the bridge which
allows SCSI and 1394 FireWire devices
to communicate with one another
through a PC or Mac.
Fast Data Transfer Rates
The FireCard Ultra 1394 FireWire
interface card can transmit data at
speeds up to 200Mbps (25 MB/sec).
It’s not only raw speed, but intelligent
speed, that distinguishes 1394 FireWire
transmissions. 1394 FireWire’s use of
isochronous data transfers to guaran-
tee delivery of time-sensitive data frees
system resources for other tasks. For
SCSI connections, the FireCard Ultra
host adapter utilizes an Ultra Wide
interface, enabling data transfers at up
to 40 MB/sec, four times the speed of
standard SCSI controllers.
Unsurpassed Compatibility
Adaptec has established itself as the
market leader in SCSI and 1394
FireWire host adapters due to the
unsurpassed compatibility of its prod-
ucts. As a founding member of the
1394 Trade Association, Adaptec has
played an active role in defining the
1394 interface standard. As an origina-
tor of SCSI, Adaptec saw its products
develop into the industry standard,
renown for their extensive support of
a wide range of peripherals and oper-
ating systems. Adaptec is working
closely with developers throughout
the world to ensure that their products
will integrate seamlessly with PCs and
Macs equipped with a FireCard Ultra
host adapter.
Simple, Easy 1394 FireWire
Connections
The thin, flexible cable used to connect
1394 FireWire devices is ideal for use
with a new generation of computer
and consumer electronics devices.
The cable can stretch up to 4.5 meters
between devices, and up to 72 meters
between its two most distant connec-
tions. The simple 1394 FireWire con-
nector, modeled after those used on
Game Boys, makes adding devices a
snap. Devices can be plugged into or
unplugged from the network at any
time; there is no need to turn off the
computer or other 1394 FireWire
products when adding or removing
a device. And 1394 FireWire devices
are instantly recognized and ready for
use as soon as they are connected to a
FireCard Ultra.

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Adaptec, Inc.
691 South Milpitas
Boulevard
Milpitas, California 95035
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
1394 FireWire Fax:
[phone]
Adaptec Asia
Block 1002
Jalan Bukit Merah
#06-07
Singapore 159456
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Adaptec Japan, Ltd.
Harmony Tower 3F
1-32-2 Hancho
Nakanu-ku
Tokyo, 164, Japan
Office: (81) 3-5365-6700
Fax: [phone]
Adaptec Europe
Dreve Richelle 161
Bldg. A, 2nd Floor
B1410 Waterloo
Belgium
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
ADDITIONAL SALES
OFFICES:
France
Office: (33) 1-3452-3434
FAX: [phone]
Germany
Office: (49) 89-4564060
Fax:: [phone]
United Kingdom
Office: (44) 1252-811200
Fax: [phone]
Latin America (Miami)
Office: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Literature:
1-800-934-2766
(USA and Canada only)
[phone]
Pre-Sales Support:
1-800-442-7274
(USA and Canada only)
[phone]
Interactive Fax:
[phone]
World Wide Web:
http: //www.adaptec.com/
firewire
Email:
[email protected]
Internet ftp server:
ftp.adaptec.com
CompuServe:
GO ADAPTEC
Adaptec USA Bulletin
Board Service (BBS):
[phone]
(up to 28,800 baud, using
8 bits, 1 stop bit, no parity)
Copyright 1997 Adaptec, Inc. All rights reserved.
Adaptec, the Adaptec logo, AHA, SCSISelect, AIC, EZ-SCSI and
FireCard are trademarks of Adaptec, Inc., which may be registered
in some jurisdictions. Microsoft, Windows 95 and the Windows 95
logo are registered trademarks and Windows NT is a trademark of
Microsoft Corporation, used under license. Macintosh, FireWire,
and Mac OS, are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., used under
license. All other trademarks used are owned by their respective
owners.
Information supplied by Adaptec, Inc. is believed to be accurate
and reliable at the time of printing, but Adaptec, Inc. assumes no
responsibility for any errors that may appear in this document.
Adaptec, Inc. reserves the right, without notice, to make changes in
product design or specifications. Information is subject to change
without notice.
P/N 980307-021 Printed in U.S.A. 5/97
Integrated Hardware and
Software Solution
The FireCard Ultra is not simply a host
adapter, but an integrated hardware
and software solution that will evolve
continuously to ensure compatibility
with newly released 1394 FireWire and
SCSI products. The FireCard Ultra
works on PCs under Windows®95
and Windows NT™, and on the Mac.
Windows 95 and NT support for 1394
FireWire products utilizes the Microsoft®
WDM (Windows Driver Model) archi-
tecture. By writing to this standard,
developers need make only one devel-
opment effort to ensure that their 1394
FireWire products will run under both
Windows 95 and NT. Adaptec’s EZ-SCSI®
software and SCSISelect®configuration
utility make SCSI peripherals easy to
set-up and operate.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Computer Bus: PCI (2.1 compliant)
ICs: FireEngine PCI Link Chip (400 Mbps Adaptec
AIC-5800)
FireEngine 3-Port PHY (200 Mbps IBM
21S750PFC)
SCSI Adaptec AIC-7880
PCI-PCI Bridge DEC 21152
Data Transfer Rate: 1394 200Mbps (25MB/sec)
SCSI Synchronous 40 MB/sec
SCSI Asynchronous 3.3 MB/sec
Devices Supported: 1394 Up to 63 4-pin and 6-pin 1394 computer and
consumer electronics devices
SCSI Up to 15 Wide, SCSI-1, SCSI-2, SCSI-3
peripherals (DOS 5.0 and above)
OS Support: Windows NT (3.51 and above)
Windows 95 (OSR 2.1 and above)
Macintosh
1394 Features: Isochronous and Asynchronous data transfer
Function Control Protocol (FCP)
Connection Management Protocol (CMP)
Hot plugging
Supplies 15 watts of power to 1394 bus
Advanced SCSI Features: 16-bit Wide Ultra SCSI
Multithreaded I/O (up to 255 tasks
simultaneously)
Scatter/gather
Disconnect/reconnect
Tagged command queuing
Synchronous and asynchronous data transfer
Automatic active termination, programmable
via SCSISelect
Internal Connectors: 1394 1 X 6-pin 1394 connector
SCSI 1 X 68-pin high density connector
External Connectors: 1394 2 X 6-pin 1394 connectors
SCSI 1 X 68-pin very high density shielded connector
Operating Temperature: 5º - 55ºC
Storage Temperature: 0º - 70ºC
Operating Humidity: 20% to 90%, non condensing
Steering Committee
Member