SAS/SATA Connectors Enable Port Selection

Allowing port selection within removable hard-disk drive carriers, the company's 29-position serial-attached SCSI (SAS) plug/receptacle connectors and 22-position serial ATA (SATA) receptacle connectors are available with either vertical or right angle terminations. Vertical connectors position the port selector PCB assembly perpendicular to the device plug on the hard drive, which may be beneficial for 3.5" drives. The right-angle connectors allow the PCB assembly to be positioned in a plane that is parallel to the device plug on the drive, an orientation that may be desirable when using a larger PCB with a smaller 2.5" drive. The SAS plug connector on the port selector PCB assembly provides two ports at the interface between the drive carrier module and a SAS backplane receptacle. At the drive there are two options: the SAS receptacle that provides two ports and accepts either SAS or SATA drives or a SATA receptacle with a single port with the connector keyed to block the installation of a SAS drive. Prices range from $1 to $1.50 each/1,000. FCI, Etters, PA. (800) 237-2374.