IDE drive cable oddity...

[Mike A. Harris]

I've just received what I consider to be a very odd IDE drive
cable.  Before attempting to use it, I wanted to pass the info
past the IDE bunch out there to ensure it is not a bogus cable.

The cable I have came in a package labeled IDE-4 IDE 4 drive
cable.  This cable is a standarde IDE cable, however instead of
connectors for 2 drives, it has connectors for FOUR drives on
it.  That is 5 connectors including the motherboard
connector.  The cable is over 4 feet long.  Since my memory
recalls IDE cables should be no longer than 18 inches, and my
understanding of the IDE specs are that 2 drives maximum can be
on one cable (MASTER/SLAVE), this cable seems very bogus to me,
and in fact has the potential to damage the system.

Are there some new IDE extensions out there that I'm not aware
of, or is this cable bogus?

Thanks in advance.
TTYL

-- 
Mike A. Harris                                     Linux advocate     
Computer Consultant                                  GNU advocate  
Capslock Consulting                          Open Source advocate

I've overclocked my keyboard interface.  It's quite messy dipping my
hands into the mineral oil, but *MAN* is my keyboard ever fast now!
                                         - Anonymous Coward