[geeks] SUNW,spif and SUNW,xbox

[Mouse]

>> I've got a SUNW,spif (501-1931) and a SUNW,xbox (501-1840).  I've
>> also got a cable (530-1855-01) [...]

> [Sep 2000 FEH says 530-1855 is for connecting 501-1840 top expansion
> enclosure; 501-1931 to 540-2007 is cable 530-1685]

> Unfortunately it doesn't say anything about whether or not the cables
> are interchangeable.  Maybe they only vary in length.  Maybe not.
> All I know is that they all use the same 96-pin high density
> connector.

I had a look at my 530-1855.  The connectors have metal shells, which
are held closed with screws.  I removed the screws, which let one side
of the connector come off.  Two more screws and I could see the full
wiring in terms of wire colours to pins.  I didn't inspect each pin
carefully, but a sample I spot-checked were wired straight through, and
the general impression it gives is that they all are.  Which I suppose
makes sense; whether a cable is connected isn't as important as whether
the devices on the ends of the cable are connected to one another, so
anything fancy would probably be in the card or the external enclosure.

Also, whatever we can say of the last era of Sun, in the time that
produced these they were not stupid.  It's just a little too likely
that someone will use a 530-1855 instead of a 530-1685, or vice versa,
so I would expect that either they're interchangeable or there would be
big warnings somewhere about not using the wrong cable.

I'm not quite confident enough just yet to use the 530-1855 with the
501-1931/540-2007, but I'm headed that way.  I thought I had two of
those 96pin-to-96pin cables, but I can't find the other one.

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