For a server with multiple external SCSI devices, why is SCSI termination important?

SCSI termination is crucial primarily to prevent signal reflections in the system. In a SCSI environment, when multiple external devices are connected, the data signals travel along the SCSI bus. If the bus is not properly terminated at both ends, some of these signals can bounce back toward the source, causing interference and data corruption. This can lead to communication errors between the server and the devices, impacting overall performance and reliability.

Proper termination ensures that the end of the SCSI bus is closed off, allowing for a clean signal path and preventing these reflections. This is particularly important in SCSI configurations due to the high-speed data transfer rates and the critical nature of maintaining data integrity across multiple devices.

While the other options relate to different aspects of system performance, they do not specifically address the core function of termination in a SCSI setup. Improved data transfer speed is a benefit of having a properly functioning SCSI bus but is not directly tied to termination itself. Similarly, device identification and power consumption are not primarily influenced by termination practices.