Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Questions about SATA and hot plugging.

[Dale]

Mark Knecht wrote:
> On Thu, Dec 16, 2010 at 11:10 AM, Dale<rdalek1967@×××××.com>  wrote:
>
>> Mark Knecht wrote:
>>
> <SNIP>
>
>>> Hold on there. SATA and eSATA connectors are definitely different. If
>>> your case came with a cable hooked to the eSATA connector then that
>>> cable is taking care of the difference already. Try plugging an
>>> internal SATA cable into the eSATA connector on your case. You'll find
>>> out pretty quickly that they don't work.
>>>
>>> A proper eSATA connector doesn't have the 'L'. It has small flanges
>>> that stick out to the sides. (Or mine do anyway!!)
>>>
>>> No reason to be scared of eSATA hotplugging. Works fine and it's
>>> designed to be robust.
>>> - Mark
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> That's the thing, ALL the SATA connectors are the same.  They are the same
>> color, same shape and all.  They are all identical just turned in different
>> ways for some reason.  If you want, you can look for yourself.  Here is a
>> link to the mobo.
>>
>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128431
>>
>>
> No, I totally believe you, but that's not the issue.
>
> The connectors on the motherboard are ALWAYS internal connectors so
> that you can use all of them with internal disk drives, etc. using
> internal cables.
>
> The eSATA connector is, however, different. You can see it in the link
> I sent earlier, copied here:
>
> http://www.serialata.org/technology/esata.asp
>
> There is a _special_ SATA-to-eSATA assembly to make the conversion. If
> your case has a cable built into the case and already hooked up to the
> eSATA connector then it will have an internal SATA connector on the
> cable. However if you look at the eSATA connector itself, on the
> outside of the case, it will look like the one in the picture on the
> above link. More below...
>
>
>> If you click on the image, it will load up a new page and you can zoom in
>> and take a really close look.  As I said, this is a mobo that came out in
>> about 2009 according to what I have read.  This may not work on old mobos
>> that don't have this connector.
>>
>> I would assume that since this connector is a eSATA type, that it is hot
>> pluggable like the manual says.  After all, if it says it is in the manual,
>> they have to stand behind it if someone plugs up the wrong thing.
>>
>> I used plain SATA cables to hook all my drives up.  I don't have a eSATA
>> cable that I know of.  I ordered a couple cables when I ordered my parts to
>> build this rig and I have used them.  They plug into the mobo just fine.
>>   Here is a link to it:
>>
>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812816032
>>
>> According to that page, it is hot pluggable but no mention of being a eSATA
>> cable.
>>
>>
> Your cables are perfect for internal drives. Keep in mind that the
> internal connectors are only spec'ed for 50 insertions in their
> lifetime. They aren't made to be messed with very much. eSATA
> connectors are spec'ed for (IIRC) 6000 insertions.
>
> Here is an example of an eSATA bracket if your motherboard or case
> didn't come with one. It has an internal SATA connector on one end
> which you plug into your motherboard. It has an eSATA connector on the
> bracket.
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812816069&cm_re=esata_bracket-_-12-816-069-_-Product
>
> That one would use a back panel slot but essentially steals a PCI slot.
>
> Again, I think you've done everything perfectly as far as I can tell.
> I only got involved in the thread at all because (IMO) incorrect info
> was being tossed around about eSATA, SATA and hotplugging. If you're
> not going to use eSATA then none of this matters to you today. In my
> case I had to learn this because not all internal SATA ports on my
> Intel MB were eSATA compatible and I needed to do it the right way.
>
> Cheers buddy,
> Mark
>
>

OK.  I'm not going to argue the point.  All I know is this, the cable 
that came with the case will plug into any SATA connector on my mobo.  
There is nothing marking a eSATA port on there.

Dale

:-)  :-)