[weblacky]

From our general knowledge, I believe there’s a fiber channel HBA that you can boot from with the last PROM, as it’s mentioned in the change log, but otherwise no.

All of the add-in cards that are SAS, SATA, and parallel SCSI cannot be used for booting the main operating system. You must use the internal SCSI controller.

I understand that the cables aren’t easy to come by, I’m trying, along with Kuba, to start to produce a source of these cables independently that are shorter. Kuba has a few that he’s already produced that he might be willing to sell.

The compatible IBM cable normally comes up in Google searches as: IBM 40H7572. 
If you go with the IBM cable, you’ll need to get a detachable ultra160 terminator to attach to the last 68 pin high density connector on the chain. Also, this particular cable has proprietary connector at both ends as it’s meant to connect to a different system, but the pinout is the same. I’ve had three separate people use this Solution to great affect. You don’t have to cut off one of the ends just put the terminator on the last real drive connector at the other side of the chain.

Hopefully in the near future, I can try crimping the correct fuel connector onto existing ultra160 cables, but I don’t have the equipment and the test for those cables going right now so it’s probably going to be a while. You would have more luck just using the IBM cable for now.

These days they normally go for about $55 maybe $60 on eBay. Check out different sources if you can. PM me if you just want to buy one of the cables, I should have several. but I’m in Seattle Washington USA so it would be international shipping to where you are. You might be able to find one local at a better price.

Also as a new owner, be aware that the reason these cables get damaged is they are incredibly long and people have a tendency to store them in the hard drive bay that swings out of the side or they store them above it in the empty 3.5 inch bay. That could be a great idea until you swing out the drive bay and end up catching the cable and damaging it. All of us have either damaged the cable or nearly damaged the cable, swinging out that hard drive bay and catching the long internal SCSI cable.

So there’s a nearly 100% chance the reason that you didn’t have the cable was the previous chain of owners caught it in the drive bay and damaged it. It’s incredibly common for fuel systems.


You’re putting in more work than just buying the correct cable. If you have no other prom or L1 issues, then you’re doing great. Normally either you should have a bad power supply or you should have tons of prom errors due to faulty internal monitoring. So if you have none of those then just buying a cable gets you off easy when it comes to getting a fuel running.