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

[Mark Knecht]

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