IBM Fixed Disk Adapter - Cabling Information
The 'IBM Fixed Disk Adapter' is the hard drive controller that Xebec made for IBM's use in the IBM 5160 (IBM XT).
I sometimes refer to these as the 'IBM/Xebec HDD controller'.
Click here to see what the terminating resistor (terminator) and shunt block on the IBM supplied Seagate ST-412 looks like.
Generally, you have a choice between using a flat (straight-through) control cable, or a twisted control cable.
OPTION #1: Flat (straight-through) control cable
Click here to see a cabling diagram for a single-drive configuration.
Click here to see a cabling diagram for a dual-drive configuration. It is recommended that you first get drive 0 working, then add drive 1 later.
(A dual-drive configuration may require an upgraded PSU, one that is able to cope with the power requirements.)
OPTION #2: Twisted control cable
Click here to see a cabling diagram for a single-drive configuration.
Click here to see a cabling diagram for a dual-drive dual-drive configuration. It is recommended that you first get drive 0 working, then add drive 1 later.
(A dual-drive configuration may require an upgraded PSU, one that is able to cope with the power requirements.)
Click here to see the difference between a floppy twisted cable and hard drive twisted cable.
Click here to see what I call a double-twisted cable, a cable with twists at two locations. Rare, but it needs to be compensated for.