Differences Between Sun External Cases |
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411 - Desktop disk pack - 24.5cmx26.5cmx7.5cm hi (internal latches)
The 411 could hold a SINGLE 3.5inch device (like a HD), or a single 5.25 inch "half height" device, such as a CDROM. However, its the most common of the Sun cases. |
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511 - The 511 case is very old. It came with the Sun 2 or 3 series. It is a steel box about 45(W)x45(D)x25(H) with a whopping (and exposed) power supply, two case fans, and two DB50 connectors with three rows of pins. They usually contained some combination of QIC tape drive, and hard drive. These sound similar to what is sometimes described as a Sun "hatbox". |
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611 - Unipack - 19cmx31cmx7cm hi (rear screw, ext. side latches)
The 611 could hold a SINGLE 3.5inch device (like a HD), or a single 5.25 inch "half height" device, such as a CDROM. It differs from the 411 by being longer than it is wide, while the 411 looks "square" from the top view. |
| 711 - Desktop storage module - 19.5cmx39.5cmx22cm hi (keylock LHS) | |
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811 - Multi-disk pack - 24.5cmx26.5cmx12cm hi (rear screw, ext side latches)
The 811 is the exact same size as a "lunchbox" chassis, and looks like it was meant to hold a single 5.25 inch "full height" device, such as a large HD. The "open face" variant usually had an 8200 or 8500 Exabyte tape drive, which utilized an 8mm casette, similar to modern Camcorders. |
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911 - Multipack - 24.5cmx26.5cmx14.5cm hi (rear screw)
The 911 is just a little taller than a "lunchbox" chassis, and is meant to hold FOUR 3.5 inch HD's |
| 622 - Flexipack - 19cmx39.5cmx13.5cm (rear screw, ext. side latches) | |
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Notes: I think the 911 was the only one *not* used for tape, DAT, or CD, etc. |
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QUESTION How do you open a Sun 411 style case?
ANSWER
On the sides near the rear, take a small tool like an ice pick, #0 screwdriver etc. insert into the second hole from the rear of the box, on the second row of holes from the top, you should hear it click when it releases. do this for both sides. Viola!! open 411 box.
Other tools you can use to try and open the internal latches are:
a paper clip
a coffee stirrer
a pin punch
Be careful not to push too hard, though Sun engineers these things well, the little plastic latches will BREAK if you press on them with too much force.
From the back and top of the unit, count three holes forward. Push something (a pencil works, or small screwdriver) through the hole in the second row from the top. (It's offset to the back if I remember correctly.) Do not apply too much pressure. It only has to move inside about an eighth of an inch. The top then sort of rotates forward. (There are some plastic flanges in the front bottom edge of the case which will be the center of the rotation. You may want to locate these first.) While the case looks sturdy enough, the plastic walls and rear fasteners can be broken with too much force. I have actually used a plastic coffee stirrer to open a 411.
QUESTION My old Sun cdrom recently died and I'm trying to put another drive into the 411 case. Problem is that the 50 pin scsi connector cable which seems to be soldered to the backplane in the case has the little finger in the middle of the plug facing down while all modern cdrom drives seem to have the corresponding opening facing up. How do I put a new cdrom drive in that case since the cable is too short to turn it over?
ANSWER
Just take a small phillips head screwdriver, unscrew the 4 small screws that hold the 2 connectors into the slots in the 411's backplate, and turn the whole assembly over. the top connector is now on the bottom, the bottom connector is on top. replace the screws, and the ribbon cable loop now points the other way...
The Following Material contributed by: Trevor.Breusch@anu.edu.au
The main problem with turning the plate upside down is that the termination power connection on the backplate then fouls the SCSI id cable connection to the button switch. The obvious workarounds are either (i) just jumper the device for SCSI id number and ignore the button, or (ii) don't connect termpower to the backplate (but check termpower is being supplied some other way). Later versions of the 411 case have individually stranded cable (like round cable from which the outer casing has been stripped) rather than the ribbon cable. This is more satisfactory. These same cases do not provide termpower to the backplate, either. I have had some success replacing the ribbon cable with one that is slightly longer, so as to better accommodate the twist and reach to the connectors of various devices. The ends of the outer part of the connector sit over plastic studs on the inner part, which is the bit attached to the circut board. Prise the ends of the outer part straight up a couple of mm with a jeweller's screwdriver or similar. Now use a flat tool like a 12-20mm scraper blade against the inner part of the connector to lift the cable off the metal prongs that puncture through the cable. Lift straight up by small amounts at a time all over, to avoid damaging the prongs. The new cable needs to be only 1.5-2cm longer than the old one. You will need a vice and some soft wood to press the assembly back together. Reassembly is easier if you use intact ribbon cable and strand it into singles or pairs later. The trick to avoid cutting into the conductors is to use a sharp knife with its point embedded into the bench and move the material not the knife. [Historical footnote: It is interesting why Sun persisted with having the connectors "upside down". Early devices, like the Archive Viper 2150s tape drive and the Sony CDU-8012 CD-ROM did have their SCSI connectors inverted from what is now the convention, so Sun's positioning was the natural one for those devices. However even at that time most (all?) hard drives had their connectors the same way up as later became the standard, and even when all devices sold by Sun were in the modern pattern they kept the external connectors inverted and they put a 180 degree twist into the ribbon cable.]Material contributed by: Trevor.Breusch@anu.edu.au The main problem with turning the plate upside down is that the termination power connection on the backplate then fouls the SCSI id cable connection to the button switch. The obvious workarounds are either (i) just jumper the device for SCSI id number and ignore the button, or (ii) don't connect termpower to the backplate (but check termpower is being supplied some other way). Later versions of the 411 case have individually stranded cable (like round cable from which the outer casing has been stripped) rather than the ribbon cable. This is more satisfactory. These same cases do not provide termpower to the backplate, either. I have had some success replacing the ribbon cable with one that is slightly longer, so as to better accommodate the twist and reach to the connectors of various devices. The ends of the outer part of the connector sit over plastic studs on the inner part, which is the bit attached to the circut board. Prise the ends of the outer part straight up a couple of mm with a jeweller's screwdriver or similar. Now use a flat tool like a 12-20mm scraper blade against the inner part of the connector to lift the cable off the metal prongs that puncture through the cable. Lift straight up by small amounts at a time all over, to avoid damaging the prongs. The new cable needs to be only 1.5-2cm longer than the old one. You will need a vice and some soft wood to press the assembly back together. Reassembly is easier if you use intact ribbon cable and strand it into singles or pairs later. The trick to avoid cutting into the conductors is to use a sharp knife with its point embedded into the bench and move the material not the knife. [Historical footnote: It is interesting why Sun persisted with having the connectors "upside down". Early devices, like the Archive Viper 2150s tape drive and the Sony CDU-8012 CD-ROM did have their SCSI connectors inverted from what is now the convention, so Sun's positioning was the natural one for those devices. However even at that time most (all?) hard drives had their connectors the same way up as later became the standard, and even when all devices sold by Sun were in the modern pattern they kept the external connectors inverted and they put a 180 degree twist into the ribbon cable.]