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I need to run a SCSI device on Mac Pro running Lion

I have recently upgraded to a Mac Pro running Lion from a Power PC G5. I have a camera attached to my microscope that is a SCSi device, I need to be able to use it on the new computer. Is there a PCI Express card that will work on the Mac Pro with an Xeon processor running Lion? I know that CDW lists a card for about $350. Has anyone tired a card that works or know of an adaptor, something a little less expensive?

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Jan 6, 2012 8:27 AM

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Posted on Jan 6, 2012 8:33 AM

Atto was one of the last companies to make Mac OS X compatible PCI SCSI cards. I'd look in their line up for 10.7 compatible cards. http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/ is a good place to research upgrade card options. Firewire to SCSI adapters are rare and may also have compatible drivers. I would not go USB to SCSI as that really slows you down.

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Jan 6, 2012 8:33 AM in response to sbledsoe

Atto was one of the last companies to make Mac OS X compatible PCI SCSI cards. I'd look in their line up for 10.7 compatible cards. http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/ is a good place to research upgrade card options. Firewire to SCSI adapters are rare and may also have compatible drivers. I would not go USB to SCSI as that really slows you down.

Jan 6, 2012 9:00 AM in response to sbledsoe

There used to be a couple companies making Firewire or USB to SCSI adapters, we carried a very nice one made by Ratoc. Would still sell a lot of them if the manufacturer of the chipset used in them still made that chip. I do not know of any source for a replacement chipset and for the last 6 months there have been no SCSi-USB or SCSI to Firewire adapters to be had. Last one I saw for sale on eBay they were asking upwards of $300, this for a device that retailed around $100.


If you can find a Ratoc FR1SX SCSI -> Firewire adapter used somewhere, snap it up. It is a very well designed device that worked well. Otherwise, as mentioned, I think your choices are limited to either an ATTO PCIe SCSI card, the UL5D I believe, or keeping the older G5 computer with a SCSI card in it and using that as a purposed machine to run the camera.


Rick

Jan 6, 2012 9:24 AM in response to Ricks-

Yeah, Belkin stopped making theirs, and then Ratoc stopped making the FR1SX about a month ago. I have two Eversmart Supreme scanners. One that is still using its original adapter (on the Supreme II), and the older Scitex badged unit using an FR1SX. When I heard they were discontinuing the FR1SX, I immediately bought a spare. I should really get another one while they're still available so I have a spare for each scanner.

Jan 6, 2012 9:34 AM in response to Kurt Lang

Interesting that Ratoc put a last production run together - thanks for posting that.


Ratoc stated end of life 8 months ago and discontinued any shipping to us back then. Looks like this is the last batch. And states won't run on Windows 7.... defeintely won't get any more driver development. Makes me wonder if they will run on Lion? I sold my last one of these from the test lab to a needy customer before Lion came out, so I have no idea.


Rick

Jan 6, 2012 9:56 AM in response to Ricks-

I sold my last one of these from the test lab to a needy customer before Lion came out, so I have no idea.

The folks at Genesis Equipment and another person I know who independently services the Eversmart and iQsmart scanners would buy them by the case. Overall, I suppose that's still too small of a market to keep manufacturing them.

Makes me wonder if they will run on Lion?

Not sure. The software for the scanners is currently dead ended in Snow Leopard (mostly PPC code), so I can't even test it in Lion.

Jan 17, 2012 8:06 PM in response to SiliconSam

Ratoc only made a very few in the last run, from a limited supply of chips. (so few, they refused to sell us any for resale)


The chipmaker stopped making the chips. Unless a new source for chips steps in, or the old one agrees to make them again, Ratoc and any other manufacturers of SCSI->FW or SCSI->USB adapters are out of luck, as are we. So far I have not heard anything to suggest there is an alternate chipset on the horizon.


Rick

Jan 18, 2012 5:33 AM in response to sbledsoe

I did purchase one of the FR1SX units and have received it. Now I can not get the camera software to run on the new computer to see if the SCSI adapter will even work. The computer sees that I have and unidentified piece of equipment attached.


I talked to the Camera company.. the choices they gave me were buy a SCSI PCIe card from Magma, that may or may not work in my computer, or trade in my camera. That is not an option. The PCIe card is supposted to have a slot hanging out the back of the computer that I could plug my old PCI card into, has anyone tired that?


The Camera company is having someone stop by today to see if they can figure out why their software will not work.


Also, the FR1SX I received would not fit into the SCSI slot on my camera. The metal connector was seated too far back in the plastic case, I had to remove the case to get it to attach.


I may have to go back to my old computer just to run the camera. Guess I'll try my old PC laptop that has a firewire port on it next.

Jan 18, 2012 6:26 AM in response to sbledsoe

I'm not sure having the converter will automatically make it work. In the case of the out scanners, the software released for OS X was rewritten to poll for the scanner on a FW port. The converter was necessary because the scanner itself has SCSI connectors.


What I'm saying by that is if your software polls for the camera on a SCSI port, it's not going to find it through a converter. You may be required to have a SCSI card, which cannot be purchased as a new item from any vendor, and doubtful Lion would support one.

Jan 18, 2012 7:59 AM in response to Kurt Lang

The computer sees any device attached to a Firewire bridge by virtue of the drivers used. A SCSI device has SCSI drivers, so it is seen as a SCSI device - the bridge is ancillary to that. First priority, must have the proper device driver for the camera to be seen.


There are configurations that can be made to the FR1SX using its utility that can effect whether a device works correctly as well. Also there are a couple different version of firmware and we have seen Imacon recommend an older version for some of their products.


Lastly, you MUST have termination power capability enabled on the device that the Ratoc is attached to, or the Ratoc does not get power. If Termination power is absent then the green power light will not come on on the Ratoc. No light - no work. If you do not have a light then go to Radio Shack and get a 5 volt power supply to connect to it.


Rick

I need to run a SCSI device on Mac Pro running Lion

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