Single Connector Attachment

What Does Single Connector Attachment Mean?

A Single Connector Attachment (SCA) is a small computer interface used for connecting peripheral devices such as disk drives or scanners to a personal computer (PC). It is a type of connection used for internal cabling of Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) schemes.

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Techopedia Explains Single Connector Attachment

There are two different versions of the connector:

  • SCA-1: Outmoded; used a regular 68-pin data connector, 4-pin power connector and several configuration jumpers on a hard disk
  • SCA-2: Currently in use; has a single unified 80-pin connector with hot plugging

There are also two types of the SCA, which are single-ended (SE) and low voltage differential (LVD), that run at very high speeds over inexpensive twisted-pair copper cables.

The SCA uses the SCSI standards consisting of a standard port between peripheral devices and the computer. Although many SCSI connector types use separate cables, the SCA connects the drives directly into the system. Only one connector is used for power and data input/output (I/O) as well as signaling as opposed to using two cables for power and data with specific parameters to be set using jumpers on every drive. Likewise, the SCA allows the drives to configure parameters from the SCSI backplane.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…