ADTRON SDDS

SDDS Summary
SDDS Specifications  
SDDS Installation Manual
ADTRON PC CARD Image Transfer Utility

SDDS-04A Removable tape emulation

Note: W98SE automatically detects SDDS-04A [ID2], installs the driver for it [generic tape?], and it shows up as a tape controller under Device Manager, "ADTRON SDDS N18012" firmware "2h6f".

Did a test backup of a sub-dir using Microsoft Backup, and it is wicked-fast! Used a 256MB CF card, so NO moving parts...

BUT... it does NOT show up under File Manager, or whatever W98SE calls it...

BTW, it really is different, the BT-646 splash screen at POST shows eight instances of ADTRON SDDS N18012 firmware 2h6f, 2-0 through 2-7... Still, there is NO confusion of any kind when accessing the SDDS-04A, even with multiple LUNs...


One Type II PC Card slot, 3.5-inch tape drive bay mounting, 4" x 1.625" tall. The mounting holes in the PCB do NOT line up with the floppy mounting holes, so you will need the ADTRON mount...

PCB is marked "SCSI SDDS-XXA" so my guess is the 01A / 03A / and 04A PCBs are identical, save the shunts or jumper header presence or absence...

Supports Active Termination, TERMPWR, SCSI Disconnect, SCSI Parity

Cirrus Logic CL-PD6720-QC-B ISA–to–PC-Card Host Adapter Preliminary Data Sheet
AMD AM186ER-40KC Hi-Perf, 80C186-Compatible, 16-Bit Embedded MPU w/ RAM
   Making the Most of the Am186ER or Am188ER Microcontroller
AMD AM53CF96KC Enhanced SCSI-2 Controller (ESC)
   The Am53CF96 can be configured as single ended or differential.
Dallas DS21S07A SCSI Terminator Single Ended, thankfully...

SDDS-04A


JP1: SCSI Termination Disable  
  On-board active SCSI termination is enabled by default. Disable it by jumpering JP1

JP2: SCSI ID

 SCSI ID is set by jumpers on pins 4, 2, and 1. By default, the SDDS SCSI ID is set to 2.

JP3: Option Jumpers

Pins 5-6 Disable SCSI Disconnections SCSI disconnects are controlled by the SCSI
host adapter. Disconnects are enabled by default on this product. Without using the host adapter controls, disconnects can be disabled by installing a jumper on pins 5 and 6

Pins 3-4 Gang Sockets Only PCB holes, not supported on SDDS-04A

Pins 1-2 Swap Sockets Wire shunt on SDDS-04A.This option is only available on the SDDS-01A; other models will have the settings fixed, and should not be modified.

JP5: Combination of JP1, JP2, and JP3. Nothing but through holes on SDDS-04A.
   1,2,4 Sets SCSI ID
   A,B,C Swap, Gang, SCSI Disconnect
   T [actually TD] Termination Disable

LED Status Indicator (bi-color - Green/Red)
  When power is first applied, the SDDS performs a self-test. The LED flashes Green-Red twice. After the self-test, the LEDs remain off until a card is inserted.

LED Description
Solid Green Card power is ON
Flashing Green Error – Card not recognized
Solid Red/Flashing Red Host accessing


SDDS Model Identification (from Louis)

My fellow followers of Micro Channel, you must be able to rightly divide the SDDS models. Unfortunately, the silkscreen "SDDS-XXA" on the PCB is NOT the model, it just means the PCB is common to -01A / -03A / -04A.

The model can be determined in three ways:

  • Picture of PCB from above, you can see jumpers, shunts, or unpopulated
  • Picture of sticker on bottom of frame
  • Picture of sticker on firmware flash

-01A / -03A RICHTIG!
-04A FALSCH! Tape emulation firmware!

It might be you can flash -04A to -01A / -03A, but I don't have the BIN, and I can't compare -01A / -03A and -04A chipsets, though I >ASSUME< both variants are compatible.

So if you cannot read the sticker on the firmware, cannot see the jumpers, can't see the sticker on the bottom of the frame, or you cannot contact the seller, it is >quite< possumble it is a -04A which is pretty d*mn useless unless you need a tape backup.

Content created and/or collected by:
Louis F. Ohland, Peter H. Wendt, David L. Beem, William R. Walsh, Tatsuo Sunagawa, Tomáš Slavotínek, Jim Shorney, Tim N. Clarke, Kevin Bowling, and many others.

Ardent Tool of Capitalism is maintained by Tomáš Slavotínek.
Last update: 24 Mar 2024 - Changelog | About | Legal & Contact