Why must SCSI ports be terminated?

SCSI ports must be terminated to avoid signal loss from reflections. When data is transmitted along the SCSI bus, the signals travel down the cables to the connected devices. If the bus is not properly terminated, the electrical signals can reflect back toward the source, creating interference and leading to data corruption or communication errors. Termination ensures that signals are absorbed rather than reflected, thereby maintaining signal integrity and ensuring reliable communication between devices on the SCSI bus.

Proper termination is crucial in maintaining the effectiveness of the system, especially as the number of devices on the bus increases. Without termination, the risk of collisions and transmission errors rises, which can severely impact performance and the ability to reliably transfer data. This consideration of signal integrity is a fundamental principle in network and bus design, making it vital for systems that utilize SCSI connections to have appropriate termination in place.