FAQs

General FAQs
DataPort FAQs
DataPortable250 FAQs
DataPortable 350 and 525 FAQs
Enclosure FAQs
Back Plane FAQs

General FAQs

What DataPort Should I Buy

If you are buying a DataPort for your home computer you may not need to look any further than the DataPort 3. The DataPort 3 complete assembly features a VL 94 V0 rated plastic frame with fan and VL 94 V0 rated plastic carrier. The DataPort 3 is compatible with IDE/ATA-6 and SATA hard drives.

The DataPort 5 is our most popular model. It includes a plastic carrier and an aluminum frame with fan. The 25,000 insertion-rated connectors ensure owners will enjoy years of trouble-free use. The DataPort 5 is available in versions that support most of the popular SCSI and IDE interfaces. The DataPort 5 is also available in 142 mm models for use with customized narrow width computers, like some of those manufactured by Dell, Micron, Compaq, and Gateway.

The DataPort 5+ and the DataPort 6 have the same cooling features, a metal DataPort carrier, dual ball bearing fan, fan alarm, and TCCS, CRU’s patented fan cooling system. The DataPort 5+ and 6 also have several different features that can be important to the customer making a purchase. The DataPort 6 is the only DataPort that supports SCSI SCA hard drives. The DataPort 6 includes a SCSI ID 7 segment display on the front bezel simplifying setup and modification of large arrays of SCSI drives. If you only have one drive the DataPort 5+, which does not include the 7 segment display, but does include a rotary switch on the carrier to set the SCSI ID, may better suit your needs.

The DataPort 10 is the new flagship in removable drive enclosure technology. The DataPort 10 features patented and enhanced drive cooling technology, but now in an even smaller enclosure designed to fit the shrinking drive bays of the latest PC's, such as Dell Computer's new BTX chassis and many new Small Form Factor (SFF) PCs. A rugged all-metal design also protects the drive during removal, transport and archiving.

Anyone designing SCSI multiple drive systems is strongly encouraged to read our white papers on both the Ultra160 interface and Designing JBOD and RAID enclosures.

The DataPort 5+ is available in 142mm for use in computers with the customized narrow fronts.

We suggest that proper care for hard drives spinning at or above 7200 rpm should include DataPorts with metal carriers. Certainly anyone using drives with spindle speeds of 10k rpm and faster must use metal carriers to keep their expensive drives as cool as possible.

How to connect the SCSI ID Selector Switch in a CRU DataPort?

DataPort 1

DataPort 4, 5, 6 and 7 with Narrow SCSI (50-pin)

DataPort 4, 5, 6 and 7 with Wide SCSI (68-pin)

Carrier Set-up

The CRU DataPort 4, 5, 6 and 7 carriers are equipped with a dialer-type SCSI ID selector switch, which allows you to externally name the SCSI drive identification number. Each selector switch is connected to the SCSI drive by a BCD cable. Refer to the following information in order to connect the BCD cable to the SCSI drive.

Refer to the document for the drive to locate the SCSI ID header or jumper block. It is usually a six-pin (7-segment, Narrow SCSI as shown in Figure 1) or eight-pin (15-segment, Wide SCSI) dual-row pin header located either on the back or the component side of the device.

CRU DataPort 1 Carrier (no longer available)

The CRU DataPort 1 SCSI model carrier has a 5-pin connector, as shown in Figure 2, for connecting the BCD cable from carrier to drive. The optional cable set (CRU part number 7350-009-01) contains two cables. This procedure uses the cable with three minitek connectors on one end and a 5-pin in-line connector on the other end. Refer to Figure 6 for details.

CRU DataPort 4, 5, 6 and 7 narrow SCSI Carrier

CRU DataPort 4, 5, 6 and 7 narrow SCSI carriers are equipped with a dialer-type SCSI ID selector switch, which allows you to externally name the SCSI drive identification number. The switch is connected to the SCSI drive through color coded BCD cable, refer to Figure 3 for details. If you could not get the SCSI ID selector switch to work correctly, try reversing the polarity of signal and ground pins.

You can set the hard drive SCSI ID number by turning the rotary switch from 0 to 6 (positions 7, 8, and 9 are not used). When using an external SCSI ID selector, the internal SCSI ID selector switch is set to 0.

CRU DataPort 5, 6 and 7 Wide SCSI Carrier

DataPort 5, 6 and 7 SCSI-II Fast/Wide carrier has a 15-segment SCSI ID selector switch for SCSI-II Fast/Wide drives. The rotary switch is marked from 0 to 9 followed by "A" through "F," where "A" represents SCSI ID number 10 and "B" represents SCSI ID number 11 and so on. There are 4 pair of jumpers, "A0" through "A3", on the SCSI-II Fast/Wide drives SCSI ID header, thus the 15-segment BCD cable has four signal wires and one ground wire for this purpose. Refer to Figure 4 for details on connecting the 15-segment BCD cable to the SCSI-II Fast/Wide drive. If you can not get the SCSI ID selector switch to work correctly, try reversing the polarity of signal and ground pins.

Frame Set-up

CRU DataPort 1 SCSI frame

The CRU DataPort 1 SCSI frame assembly has a SCSI ID jumper block located on the bottom-right corner, beside the SCSI header. Refer to Figure 5 "Back view of CRU DataPort 1 frame." for more details.

CRU DataPort 4 SCSI frame

The CRU DataPort 4 SCSI frame has a 4-pin header on the back of the frame next to the power connector. The 4-pin header is for connecting to an external SCSI ID selector. The BCD cable for this purpose is CRU part number 7350-031-08. Refer to Figure 6 for detailed information.

CRU DataPort 5 and 6 narrow SCSI frame

The CRU DataPort 5 and 6 narrow SCSI frame has a 4-pin header on the back of the frame next to the power connector. The 4-pin header is for connecting to an external SCSI ID selector. The BCD cable for this purpose is CRU part number 7350-031-08. Refer to Figure 7 for detailed information.

CRU DataPort 5 and 6 Wide SCSI frame

The CRU DataPort 5 SCSI Fast/Wide frame has a 5-pin header for connecting the BCD cable (CRU part number 7350-031-09) to the external SCSI ID selector switch. Please refer to the Figure 8 for detail installation.

CRU DataPort 7 narrow SCSI frame

The CRU DataPort 7 SCSI frame has a 4-pin header on the back of the frame bellow the power connector. The 4-pin header is for connecting to an external SCSI ID selector. The BCD cable for this purpose is CRU part number 7350-031-08. Refer to Figure 9 for detailed information.

CRU DataPort 7 Wide SCSI frame

The CRU DataPort 7 Wide SCSI frame has a 5-pin header on the back of the frame for connecting to an external SCSI ID selector. The BCD cable for this purpose is CRU part number 7350-031-09. Refer to Figure 10 for detailed information.

What is CRU's Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code?
CRU's Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code is: 1VHR9

DataPort™ FAQs:

What is the maximum capacity hard drive that a DataPort supports?  
The DataPort supports any standard 3.5" half-height hard disk drive that fits into the DataPort carrier, regardless of its capacity.

What interfaces do the DataPorts support?  
Refer to the matrix below for more detail. ATA/133 is backward compatible with ATA-66/100 and ATA-33. Ultra2 SCSI (LVD) is backward compatible with Ultra Wide SCSI and Wide SCSI.

Do DataPorts have a SCSI terminator built-in or provide termination?  
No, DataPorts do not have a terminator or a termination feature.

Can DataPorts be "Hot-Swapped"?  
"Hot swap" features are determined by the controller. If the controller is designed to provide a "hot-swap" environment, the DataPort will support "hot-swapping", because the DataPort acts as a transparent device.

Do the SCSI DataPorts support High Voltage Differential SCSI?  
Yes, the CRU DataPort circuit boards provide complete "pin-to-pin" SCSI connections, therefore, they support both high and low voltage differential SCSI interfaces.

Do DataPorts support Ultra ATA/133?
Yes, CRU has recently expanded the Ultra ATA/133 compatible product lines. All IDE DataPort models are now Ultra ATA/133 compatible.  Upgrading the legacy UDMA-33 or ATA-33 DataPort to the Ultra ATA/133 interface will require replacing both DataPort carrier and frame.  

Do you have a DataPort for 80-pin SCA drive?
Yes, the DataPort 6 SCA (CRU part number 9286-145-01) is designed for the SCA hard drives and supports Ultra 160 Wide SCSI (LVD). The carrier board has an 80-pin SCA female connector for mating with a SCA drive directly. The frame has a regular Wide SCSI 68-pin data cable connector and DC power connector.

What is the difference between the standard SCSI DataPort and the Ultra SCSI DataPort?
Modifications have been made to the Ultra SCSI DataPorts, which make them compliant with Ultra SCSI specifications.

Do DataPorts support Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD)?
Yes, the Ultra SCSI DataPorts (above) support Ultra 2 SCSI (LVD) interface. However, when connecting four or more drives in a single SCSI channel (or bus), it is recommended to use CRU back planes instead of individual frames and cable to daisy chain the drives.

Do DataPorts support Ultra 160/m SCSI (Ultra-3)?
The Ultra Wide SCSI 68-pin DataPorts support Ultra 160/m SCSI in a single drive configuration.  Two Ultra Wide SCSI SCA DataPorts can be connected to a single Ultra 160 SCSI channel.   When connecting three or more Ultra 160/m drives on a single SCSI channel (or bus), DataPort 6 SCA carriers and CRU 2, 3 and 4-bay Back Planes are required in order to achieve the 160 MB/s transfer rate.

After I put my hard drive in the DataPort, the system does not recognize the hard drive anymore.
Most likely the key-lock is not turned to the "ON" position. Ensure that the carrier is fully seated and the key-lock or latch is turned 90 degrees clockwise to lock the carrier and turn on the power. The green power indicator LED should be lit.

My DataPort is making a loud beeping noise and the green LED is flashing, what should I do?
Your DataPort fan has stopped or slowed significantly.  The fan is covered by your DataPort warranty.  Please call CRU-DataPort™ at 1-800-260-9800 for assistance.

DataPortable 250 FAQs:

When I try to remove my DataPortable 250 my computer tells me that the drive is busy. What do I do now?
If you get this error the OS may still be accessing the drive and if you disconnect the drive it may corrupt the information on the hard disk drive. To avoid corrupting your data, you must shutdown your computer prior to removing the drive.

What is the warranty on my DataPortable 250?
Connector Resources Unlimited, Inc. (CRU) warrants our DataPortable 250 to be free of significant defects in material and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the original date of purchase. CRU’s warranty is nontransferable and is limited to the original purchaser.

What is USB?
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a high speed serial interface that makes it easy to connect digital cameras, mice, keyboards, hard drives and many other handy devices to your computer. USB's low cost saves you money while giving you the power to add new and exciting products to your computer without requiring expensive upgrades. It allows transfer rates up to 480Kbps. CRU’s DataPortable 250 Enclosure provides you with a simple and easy way to add additional storage to your computer as well as easily transport and share data files, pictures, mpegs and mp3s. This enables you to quickly and easily add additional storage space without interrupting your work.

What are the system requirements to add a DataPortable 250 USB 2.0 Enclosure?
To use a USB device you need the following
· Available USB port
· Win 98 SE or later, or Mac OS 9.7 or later

Can I connect a DataPortable 250 USB 2.0 Enclosure to a USB 1.1 port?
Yes. USB 2.0 is backwards compatible with USB 1.1. However, the data transfer will occur at the slower speeds of USB 1.1 (up to 12Mbps).

Why doesn't my DataPortable 250 hard drive show up on Windows 98SE?
Windows 98 does not provide support for mass storage devices. To use the DataPortable 250 on Windows 98 you must download and install additional drivers. The mass storage drivers for Windows 98SE are available below.

Where can I get the latest USB drivers?
To update the drivers for your OS check either www.microsoft.com or www.apple.com depending on which one you use. To upgrade the drivers for a USB PCI card, check the card manufacturer’s website.

What size hard drive fits into the DataPortable 250 enclosure?
The DataPortable 250 is designed for any 9.5mm by 2.5" laptop hard drive. Due to its small size, larger 2.5" hard drives or any 3.5" hard drives will not fit into the DataPortable 250 enclosure.

How do I enable LED activity on my DataPort 3?
If your drive supports LED activity, the LED will automatically report drive activity. If your activity LED is not functioning check with your hard drive manufacturer for firmware updates.

DataPortable 350 and 525 FAQs:

My fan stopped spinning. How do I replace it?
Please contact CRU @ 800-260-9800 for a replacement.

When I try to remove my DataPortable 525 or 350 my computer tells me that the drive is busy. What do I do now?
If you get this error the OS may still be accessing the drive and if you disconnect the drive it may corrupt the information on the hard disk drive. To avoid corrupting your data, you must shutdown your computer prior to removing the drive.

What is the warranty on my DataPortable 525 or 350?
Connector Resources Unlimited, Inc. (CRU) warrants their DataPortable 525s and 350s to be free of significant defects in material and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the original date of purchase. CRU’s warranty is nontransferable and is limited to the original purchaser.

FireWire® Section

What is IEEE 1394/FireWire?
IEEE 1394a was developed by Apple Computer in the early 1990s as FireWire, a term trademarked by Apple. In 1995, the IEEE 1394 committee adopted it as a standard for a providing “an inexpensive non-proprietary high speed method of connecting digital devices”. The 1394 protocol is a high speed serial interface which supports 64 ports/devices. It allows transfer rates up to 400 Mbps. The 1394 protocol also provides “hot plug and play” capability, which allows new devices to be added without shutting down the bus. This means you can add and remove drives from your computer without powering it down. The DataPortable 525 FireWire Enclosure enables the addition of almost any type of IDE device: IDE ATA 100/133 hard disk drives or ATAPI CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD or tape drives. The DataPortable 350 FireWire enclosure enables the addition of any 3.5" IDE storage device (including ATA100/133 hard drives).

What are the system requirements to add a DataPortable 525 or 350 FireWire Enclosure?
To use a 1394(FireWire) device you need the following:
· Available 1394(FireWire) port
· Win 98 SE or later, or Mac OS 9.7 or later.

Can I daisy chain FireWire DataPortable 525s and 350s?
The FireWire DataPortable 525 and 350 come with two ports so that you can daisy chain them and other FireWire devices together.

Where can I get the latest FireWire drivers?
The latest drivers can be found on Apple Computers' website.

USB Section

What is USB?
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a high speed serial interface that makes it easy to connect digital cameras, mice, keyboards, hard drives and many other handy devices to your computer. USB's low cost saves you money while giving you the power to add new and exciting products to your computer without requiring expensive upgrades. It allows transfer rates up to 480Kbps. CRU’s DataPortable 525 and 350 Enclosures provide you with a simple and easy way to add additional storage to your computer as well as easily transport and share data files, pictures, mpegs and mp3s. This enables you to quickly and easily add additional storage space without interrupting your work. The DataPortable 525 USB 2.0 Enclosure enables the addition of almost any type of IDE device: IDE ATA 100/133 hard disk drives or ATAPI CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD or tape drives.

What are the system requirements to add a DataPortable 525 or 350 USB 2.0 Enclosure?
To use a USB device you need the following:
· Available USB port
· Win 98 SE or later, or Mac OS 9.7 or later

Can I connect a DataPortable 525 or 350 USB 2.0 Enclosure to a USB 1.1 port?
Yes. USB 2.0 is backwards compatible with USB 1.1. However, the data transfer will occur at the slower speeds of USB 1.1 (up to 12Mbps).

Why doesn't my DataPortable 525 or 350 hard drive show up on Windows 98SE?
Windows 98 does not provide support for mass storage devices. To use the DataPortable 525 or 350 on Windows 98 you must download and install additional drivers. The mass storage drivers for Windows 98SE are available below.

Where can I get the latest USB drivers?
To update the drivers for your OS check either www.microsoft.com or www.apple.com depending on which one you use. To upgrade the drivers for a USB PCI card, check the card manufacturers website.

Enclosure FAQs:

Connecting the SCSI ID Selector Switch

CRU enclosures are equipped with 7 or 15-Segment SCSI ID selector switches (shown below), which allows you to externally name the SCSI device identification number. There are two buttons on each switch for dialing the SCSI identification number, which is displayed in the window. Each selector switch is connected to a SCSI device by a BCD cable. Several different types of cables are available. For more detail, consult a CRU Sales Representative.

Connect the 7-Segment SCSI ID selector switch to your narrow SCSI device.

• Locate the SCSI ID jumper block on the SCSI device.
• Refer to the document for the device to locate the SCSI ID jumper block. It is usually a six-pin, dual-row pin header locate either on the back of the device or the component side.
  
• Remove the jumper on the dual-row pin header.
• The jumpers or black shunts on the SCSI ID header must be removed to connect the BCD cable. Be careful not to remove any jumper other than those for the SCSI ID selection. The most common SCSI ID header layout and jumper setting is shown above. If your SCSI device has a different type of jumper scheme, the switch may not work.
• Connect the BCD cable to the SCSI header.
• There are two types of BCD cables; A BCD cable with a 0.1" spacing connector (CRU P/N 7350-014-01) and a BCD cable with a 0.079" spacing Minitek connector (CRU P/N 7350-031-01). The CRU P/N 7350-000-01 cables are ideal for connecting to CD-ROM drives, tape drives and DAT drives. The CRU P/N 7350-031-01 cables are designed to fit the smaller space hard disk drive headers. Refer to the diagram below for cable connections.
  

Connect the 15-Segment SCSI ID selector switch to your Wide SCSI device.

The SCSI-II fast/Wide 68-pin drives have an eight-pin, dual-row pin header located either on the back or front of the device. The 15-segment BCD cable has four signal wires and one ground wire. The diagram below shows a sample connection. If you can not get the SCSI ID selector to work correctly, try reversing the polarity of signal and ground pins.

There are four different types of 15-segment BCD cables, please refer to the table below for pin assignments.

BCD cables pin assignments

Back Plane FAQs:

How to set the jumpers on the back plane?

2-Bay Back Plane Mounting Hole Location

3-Bay Back Plane Mounting Hole Location

4-Bay Back Plane Mounting Hole Location

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Back view of 2-Bay back plane.

68-pin SCSI Data I/O Connectors
Each back plane has two 68-pin Wide SCSI female data connectors for connecting the internal data cable or external SCSI terminator. The SCSI data connectors are non-directional.

DC Power Connectors
All the 4-pin DC power connectors on the back plane are recommended to be connected to the power supply.

SCSI ID Connector
Each bay has a 5-pin Molex SCSI ID header for connecting to an external SCSI ID selector switch. The BCD cable for this purpose is CRU part number 7350-031-12.

Fan Alarm Jumper
The default setting for the fan failure alarm is pin 2-3 closed (jumper on). Remove this jumper to disable the fan failure alarm.