is it like that. I've never seen/looked into them.
https://www.abgcomputers.nl/DVD-ROM_en_CD-ROM … 0_UltraSlim.php

Interesting!

Here's some pics to document things.

Multibay (I), the one I have:

Found image of Multibay II, clearly different:

It's not just the connector, the Multibay II also has the corner of the drive 'cut off'.

Now to see about that link you posted, that might just be both right connector and exactly the kind of form factor I'd be looking for 😀

Edit:
Long live marketing... looks like it *is* the right connector, that Compaq was using it years before (hence the beige drive in your link) but that they just started calling it "Multibay" after 2000. So I'd be happy to buy the thing in the link you dredged up (looks like it's from some mid 1990s Proliant) - but that site hasn't been updated since 2015 and the last announcement is they're not taking new orders. Still, someone's still paying for the domain and they do invite you to get in touch by email... (plus it's virtually round the corner, less than half an hour's drive away). Will still look a bit more online, if only to get a part number for that adapter bracket so the next person looking knows what to google for.

The MultiBay I External Cradles still seem to be available - looks like p/n DC373B or maybe DC373A

I have a multibay I external caddy with USB 2.0 that was manufactured in 2005, part codes are:
Ext MB Cradle: PO7456 or P07456
External Multibay Series PPE001
HP P/N: 217389-003
HP Kit P/N: DC373B
JP Spare: 366143-001

It works with the LS-120 module I've got installed in it 😀

Woohoo! I'd spotted but also written off the DC373B because it looked too new and seemed only 9mm high on pics (and no sign of one with connector). But if you have the exact device I have running in it (Compaq P/N 178372-133?) that's pretty convincing. And they are indeed pretty widely available 😀

Wow, this is neat.

I've never heard of Multibay, but I do like LS-120 drives. Would be pretty cool to have one connect via USB. Though, admittedly, I wouldn't use it often unless I just used it for reading\archiving floppies. 😁

that Multibay I connector reminds me of my Compaq Armada laptop cdrom drives. Those are just standard PATA drives ... with a multibay I connector adapter board.

Well, ordered a DC373B. Amazingly, getting one in Canada was cheapest, even including shipping - and local ones lacked cables which is an issue as that 5V port is decidedly non-standard. Should have an update in a few weeks, but very optimistic after Thermalwrong's post.

And yes, before it was marketed as "Multibay" it was just the Compaq laptop CD-connector, which was IDE plus some extra stuff for floppy and power (to allow use of batteries in the CD bay).

ah yes, indeed, battery and floppy as well. also second hard drive was possible...
makes me wonder if analog cd audio was routed back into the laptop...

weedeewee wrote on 2021-03-08, 11:18:

ah yes, indeed, battery and floppy as well. also second hard drive was possible...
makes me wonder if analog cd audio was routed back into the laptop...

The adapter Warlord found on the defunct web shop certainly has analog audio on it. Whether that was also routed back internally on laptops is another matter, but it should be available:

dionb wrote on 2021-03-08, 12:59:

The adapter Warlord found on the defunct web shop certainly has analog audio on it. Whether that was also routed back internally […]
Show full quote

The adapter Warlord found on the defunct web shop certainly has analog audio on it. Whether that was also routed back internally on laptops is another matter, but it should be available:

Yep, you're right, totally overlooked that. sadly, I couldn't find the pinout for the multibay connector online.