Member Avatar for jen140

Hello everyone.
I've been googling for a while but couldn't find any complete reference for the next question.
So the question is, what do i need(cables, cards, etc) to connect a Fibre Channel Hard Drive on a normal desktop computer, by that i mostly think about the pci-e slots.
Please don't reply if you don't know what is FC HD is or are just here to say that it would be costly.
PS: Any reference to ebay/amazon would also be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Edited by jen140 because: n/a
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Short answer: you need more than a PCIe HBA and a generic fibre cable. Many enterprise Fibre Channel drives (for example the Seagate/IBM Cheetah ST373307FC you linked) use a 40‑pin blind‑mate backplane connector (AMP/TE style) and expect to be plugged into a server backplane or tray, while desktop HBAs expose SFP/LC optical ports. That physical mismatch means a simple LC-to-LC cable won’t plug your drive straight into an Emulex/QLogic card. (Seagate drive spec / connector details).

Practical options that actually work: (A) fit the drive into a compatible chassis/backplane or JBOD that exposes standard FC ports (LC/SFP) and attach your PCIe HBA to that enclosure; (B) use a purpose-made “T‑card” / adapter that mates to the drive’s 40‑pin and provides SFP slots (some forensic/imaging boxes and vendor adapters do this and include power wiring); or (C) use the OEM drive caddy/backplane made for that model. The Logicube Falcon‑NEO2 FC module is an example of a product that maps a 40‑pin drive to SFPs using a T‑card and supplies power.

Checklist before you buy: verify the exact drive part number and connector (don’t rely on pictures); pick an HBA that supports the FC speed you need and fits your PCIe slot (and confirm OS drivers); choose matching SFP transceivers (speed and multimode/single‑mode type must match the HBA and cable); and ensure the adapter/enclosure will supply +5V/+12V power to the drive (the drive’s datasheet lists power pins). If you use a T‑card/adapter, make sure it’s rated for FC‑AL/loop or fabric operation as required.

A few cautions: used FC optics and HBAs can be vendor‑locked or picky about SFPs; cheap adapters may damage pins or fail to handle loop topology. For a one‑off test, a cheap used JBOD or a T‑card from a reputable supplier is usually faster and more reliable than trying to wire up a custom cable. As suggested, you do need an HBA and cables — but you also need the right physical adapter or enclosure for that 40‑pin drive.

References: Seagate ST373307FC specification (drive connector/power), TE/AMP 787317 connector reference, Logicube Falcon‑NEO2 FC module notes (T‑card / SFP mapping), and community discussion on direct‑attaching FC drives.

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Member Avatar for rubberman

You need a controller card and cables, obviously. From what I can find, the controller is going to cost you somewhere from $280+ (single port) to $1400+ USD (2 or more ports). A cable will run you about $150+ (duplex cable) - at least this what I found on the www.buy.com web site, which usually has very competitive pricing for this sort of stuff. I buy most of my hardware from them.

Member Avatar for jen140

Thanks for the answer.
But i wanted to a bit more specific answer.
The problem is for example i've found (ebay.com listing #310348403358), has a different port from the host controllers i find (for example , ebay listing #250893434989).
So it seams that i would need some kind of adapter, am i right ?

Member Avatar for rubberman

The controller is the adapter (usually). You need the optical cable(s) to connect the drive to the controller/adapter. If you go to the IBM (drive) and Emulex (controller) sites and reference these product numbers, you should be able to access technical specification documents (usually pdf files) that will give you more information.

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