SCSI2SD

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The SCSI Hard Drive Emulator for retro computing.

scsi2sd-5.1-6.0-small.jpg


Download

  1. downloads for v3/v4/v5/v5.1/v5.2/v5.5 hardware revisions.
  2. downloads for v6 hardware revisions. This firmware will NOT work on the older boards.

News

[26 Apr 2021]v6.4.1 Hardware Support release

  • Currently only available for new 2021 boards. Firmware files to support older V6 boards will be available shortly
  • Updates to support the new 2021 revision of the SCSI2SD V6 boards
  • scsi2sd-util6 stability improvements (contributed by Jonathan Wakely.

[27 Oct 2020]v6.3.2 Bugfix release

  • Increase limit of READ/WRITE BUFFER command for improved compatibility on SGI Irix hosts
  • Add new config option to enable blind writes to improve SD card write performance. This was option was previously enabled default but causes problems with some SCSI hosts. This option must be disabled on 68K Macs if there are errors when writing data.

[22 Apr 2020]v6.3.1 New hardware support

  • New V6 boards have started to ship which require a different firmware file. These boards are silkscreened with "SCSI2SD V6 / 2020c". These boards MUST use v6.3.1 or newer firmware.
  • Older boards ("Rev F", "Rev C", or "6.02") should use the "revF" v6.3.1 firmware

[20 Feb 2020]v6.3.0 Driver update

  • Firmware updates on Windows now require the UsbDk driver instead of the WinUSB driver. The version of dfu-util that is distributed with scsi2sd-util6 has been modified to work with UsbDk. This should provide a better experience and will resolve issues around driver signing. There is no need to uninstall the previous driver.
  • Bugfix to firmware that prevented some machines from booting

[1 Feb 2020]v6.2.15 Bugfix update

  • Resolved a data corruption issue that affects hosts that transfer more than 512k per write command.

[1 Jan 2020]v6.2.14 Bugfix update

  • Resolved a data corruption issue that affects hosts that transfer more than 64k per write command.
  • Fix invalid CDROM TOC responses (thanks Simon Gander)

[19 Dec 2019]v4.8.4 Bugfix update

  • Fix to prevent sending floppy geometry mode page when not configured as a floppy (Thanks Landon Rodgers)

[12 Dec 2019]scsi2sd-util BETA

  • Testing release of a completely new configuration utility. Please provide any feedback via email
  • Firmware updates not yet implemented in this version
  • The stable version of scsi2sd-util, provided alongside the firmware downloads, will remain available for the foreseeable future

[8 Dec 2019]v6.2.9 Bugfix update

  • Fix to prevent sending floppy geometry mode page when not configured as a floppy (Thanks Landon Rodgers)

[30 Oct 2019]v6.2.8 Bugfix update

  • Fix regression that caused the firmware to fail all self-test checks.

[9 Oct 2019]v6.2.7 Performance Update

  • Improvements to data throughput, which may assist SCSI hosts with short timeouts.

[10 June 2019]v4.8.3 Bug fix update

  • Improve XEBEC support
  • Add Flexible Disk Drive Geometry SCSI MODE page
  • Fix regression for Kurzweil K2000
  • Add scsi mode page 0 support
  • Fix SD card hotswap bug when the SCSI host is constantly polling

[29 May 2019]v6.2.5 Bug fix update

  • Port XEBEC support from v5 firmware
  • Add Flexible Disk Drive Geometry SCSI MODE page
  • Stability improvements
  • Fix regression from 6.1.3 firmware for Kurzweil K2000
  • Add scsi mode page 0 support
  • Fix SD card hotswap bug when the SCSI host is constantly polling

SCSI2SD Archived News

Overview

SCSI2SD is an emulator for old SCSI hard drives. It allows replacing one or several old broken SCSI drives with a SD memory card.


Unlicenced Copies

Older versions of the SCSI2SD hardware designs were published under the GPL licence. This permits anyone to build their own board from the original or modified designs, so long as they abide by the licence terms.

  • The source/designs of any modifications must be provided to those you distribute the board to.
  • Clones are based on the obsolete V4 design, lack features, and may not be compatible with all the systems listed on these pages.

Artmix is currently selling unlicensed modified clones ("SD SusanoMonster"), and refuses to comply with the GPL. Please do not purchase this board. If you have already purchased, please request the seller provides you with the modified designs under the GPL licence.

Which version should you buy ?

SCSI2SD V6 This board offers significantly better performance than the V5.x boards by adding support for synchronous SCSI transfers.

Easy access to virtual disk data over USB.

SCSI2SD V5.1/V5.2 This is a newer version of the V5 board, with software-enabled termination, full-size SD card, and floppy-style power connector.

This version provides a faster startup time than V5, which is needed to boot some Amiga and Staubli machines

SCSI2SD V5.5 Plugs directly into an external DB25 connector without a cable. Uses micro SD card.
SCSI2SD V5 This is the older version which uses micro SD cards.
SCSI2SD for Powerbook Designed for Apple Powerbook laptops using 2.5" drives.

Purchase

3rd party accessories

  • Thingiverse nibblernibbles has created a 3d-printable external enclosure for the SCSI2SD + DB25 adapter. Power can be supplied over USB for hosts which don't supply termination power.
  • SCSI2SD V5 & V6 Bracket by Maya Designs
  • SamplerZone.com External cases for V5.0, V5.1, V5.2, and V6 boards, internal cables for all music samplers, and fully-realized SCSI2SD sampler solutions.

Features

  1. In-built active terminator.
  2. Emulates up to 4 SCSI devices (7 for the V6 version)
  3. Supports sector sizes from 64 bytes to 8192 bytes
  4. Firmware updatable over USB
  5. Highly configurable over USB
    • Selectable SCSI ID
    • Selectable parity support
    • Enable/disable Unit Attention Condition
    • Artificial limits on the SCSI disk size (eg. limit size to 4G to avoid OS bugs)
    • Sector size (can also be set via the SCSI MODE SELECT command, as sent by SCSI format utilities).
  6. External LED connector.

Technical Specifications

V5 hardware V5.1 hardware V5.2 hardware V5.5 hardware V6 hardware
Internal 50pin Narrow 8-bit SCSI connector Yes Yes Yes No Yes
DB25 SCSI Connector No Optional DB25 female socket. No DB25 male socket.

Direct plug-in without cable

No
Synchronous SCSI Support No No No No Yes

FAST10 (10MB/s) synchronous transfers.

SCSI Terminator Active Terminator

Resistor packs can be removed from the socket to disable the terminator

Active Terminator

Enabled via software using scsi2sd-util

Active Terminator

Enabled via software using scsi2sd-util

Active Terminator

Always-on

Active Terminator

Enabled via software using scsi2sd-util

SD Card Interface microSD, tested up to 64GB

Communication is via the SPI protocol at 25MHz (3MB/s theoretical max)

Full-size, tested up to 128GB

Communication is via the SPI protocol at 25MHz (3MB/s theoretical max)

Full-size, tested up to 128GB

Communication is via the SPI protocol at 25MHz (3MB/s theoretical max)

microSD, tested up to 64GB

Communication is via the SPI protocol at 25MHz (3MB/s theoretical max)

Full-size SD, tested up to 128GB

Up to 20MB/s

USB Interface Firmware updates and configuration

USB 2.0 micro-B

Firmware updates and configuration

USB 2.0 micro-B

Firmware updates and configuration

USB 2.0 micro-B

Firmware updates and configuration

USB 2.0 micro-B

Firmware updates, configuration, and mass-storage

USB 2.0 micro-B.

Mass-storage at USB 2.0 FS speeds (1.2MB/s max)

Mass-storage at USB 2.0 HS available on 2021 revision (currently 7MB/s read)

Power 5V via standard Molex 4-pin drive connector, USB, or self-powered using the SCSI host termination power.

2.35W maximum (500mA)

DO NOT CONNECT 12V at all if you need to make your own power cable as it risks destroying the board if you accidentally swap the wires.

5V via floppy 4-pin drive connector, USB, or self-powered using the SCSI host termination power.

2.35W maximum (500mA)

DO NOT CONNECT 12V at all if you need to make your own power cable as it risks destroying the board if you accidentally swap the wires.

5V via floppy 4-pin drive connector, USB, or self-powered using the SCSI host termination power.

2.35W maximum (500mA)

DO NOT CONNECT 12V at all if you need to make your own power cable as it risks destroying the board if you accidentally swap the wires.

5V via DB25 SCSI connector, or USB.

2.35W maximum (500mA)

Requires SCSI host that supplies terminator power on pin 25 of the DB25 socket

5V via floppy 4-pin drive connector, USB, or self-powered using the SCSI host termination power.

2.35W maximum (500mA)

Dimensions (L x W x H) 5cm x 10cm x 1.5cm 10cm x 9cm x 1.5cm 10cm x 9cm x 1.5cm 7.5cm x 5.5cm x 1.8cm (External case) 10cm x 9cm x 1.5cm
Performance

Tested under optimal conditions. For comparison, here are some benchmarks of some older SCSI hardware.

Up to 2.6MB/s read, 2.3MB/s write

(1.1MB/s on most older SCSI hosts)

Up to 2.6MB/s read, 2.3MB/s write

(1.1MB/s on most older SCSI hosts)

Up to 2.6MB/s read, 2.3MB/s write

(1.1MB/s on most older SCSI hosts)

Up to 1MB/s Up to 10MB/s.

Compatibility

Files

Firmware update utility and configuration tool at:

  1. downloads for v3/v4/v5/v5.1/v5.2/v5.5.
  2. downloads for v6.

These files are currently available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OSX.

A copy of all sources can be obtained via the command:

git clone --recursive git://www.codesrc.com/git/SCSI2SD

or (for V6)

git clone --recursive git://www.codesrc.com/git/SCSI2SD-V6


Alternatively, the git sources can be viewed using your web browser by clicking here or here (V6)

Howto