Digital Storage Systems Interconnect
Digital Storage Systems Interconnect
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Digital Storage Systems Interconnect

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Digital Storage Systems Interconnect

The Digital Storage Systems Interconnect (DSSI) is a computer bus developed by Digital Equipment Corporation for connecting storage devices and clustering VAX systems. It was designed as a smaller and lower-cost replacement for the earlier DEC Computer Interconnect that would be more suitable for use in office environments. DSSI was superseded by Parallel SCSI.

It was introduced in 1988 and has a bandwidth of 32 Mbit/s (4 MB/sec) and was typically limited to a length of 25 metres (82 ft). DSSI support was later extended to MIPS-based DECsystems and DEC Alpha-based AlphaServer systems.

DSSI peripherals could be distinguished from narrow SCSI devices by their characteristic five-conductor power connector featuring an extra lead intended for Battery/UPS connection to power critical components in the event of a power failure.

The major characteristics of the DSSI bus are:

Other companies, such as CMD and Symbios Logic made DSSI compatible chipsets or peripherals, for example, CMD manufactured various models of the CDI-4000 which would allow SCSI peripherals to be used on a DSSI bus.

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