Linux - HardwareThis forum is for Hardware issues.
Having trouble installing a piece of hardware? Want to know if that peripheral is compatible with Linux?
Notices
Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.
You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!
Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.
Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.
Get a virtual cloud desktop with the Linux distro that you want in less than five minutes with Shells! With over 10 pre-installed distros to choose from, the worry-free installation life is here! Whether you are a digital nomad or just looking for flexibility, Shells can put your Linux machine on the device that you want to use.
Exclusive for LQ members, get up to 45% off per month. Click here for more info.
The only identifier is WD, which probably means Western Digital.
I'd like to know the proper name for ordering.
The important part is the highlighted "plug" that fits into the hard drive. The plug is nice to prevent cable movement if the SATA connector on the HD is cracked or loose.
"This 1.6' (.5 m) SATA with SecureConnect Cable by Western Digital is designed to connect hard drives and SATA ports. Use this advanced cable with a Western Digital Serial ATA hard drive or other drives with the SecureConnect feature.
The Secure Connect advantage strengthens the drive to cable connection by more than 500 percent. In addition, this cable is able to resist up to twenty-two pounds of pressure compared the SATA standard of four pounds. This cable is compatible with conventional system-side SATA connectors and backplanes."
An idea that wasn't needed it seems.
Can contact WD support. They might have one if you really want one.
I only wanted to know if the cable is vendor specific and that looks to be the case. I don't have a bunch of non WD drives here but only my WD disks have the square plug design to use that cable.
I have one WD disk that has a slightly cracked SATA connector -- the plastic "L" shaped guide and not the contacts. This cable avoids any stress on the connector. Quite nice.
I already have one such cable -- would be tough to share a photograph otherwise. The disk had been sitting on the shelf for a few years and I could not remember where I obtained the cable. When I looked online for that type of cable I found nothing.
The only identifier is WD, which probably means Western Digital.
I'd like to know the proper name for ordering.
The important part is the highlighted "plug" that fits into the hard drive. The plug is nice to prevent cable movement if the SATA connector on the HD is cracked or loose.
Thanks.
I've been using SATA data cables from a variety of sources---motherboards often include 1 or 2, disk drives as well, etc. Electrically, I think they're all the same. I've had no problems mixing and matching cables. The only issue I've ever had is that sometimes innards of a particular system case demands using a cable with a 90-degree connector as a "straight" connector just won't fit into a cramped space.
If I run out, I just order them from Fry's or Micro Center, not from the vendor. Been working for me. YMMV.
What I avoid like the plague nowadays are the generic SATA power connectors/adapters that connect to the old 4-pin Molex power connectors. I had one short out and melt, destroying the disk drive it was powering (fortunately, it was a member of a RAID1 set). I've replaced some power supplies with the modular power outputs where you can plug in whatever style power connectors you need. If you run out of a particular type I would likely need to order those from the PS manufacturer. (Haven't had to yet, though.)
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing
Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute
content, let us know.