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Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI

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  Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> - 2013-09-02 14:35 -0400
    Re: Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> - 2013-09-02 12:15 -0700
      Re: Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> - 2013-09-02 16:30 -0400
        Re: Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> - 2013-09-02 13:42 -0700
          Re: Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI "Thomas R. Kettler" <tkettler@blownfuse.net> - 2013-09-02 16:58 -0400
            Re: Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> - 2013-09-02 17:10 -0400
              Re: Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> - 2013-09-02 15:50 -0700
        Re: Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) - 2013-09-03 12:00 +1200
          Re: Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> - 2013-09-02 20:22 -0400
            Re: Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) - 2013-09-03 22:49 +1200
              Re: Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> - 2013-09-03 16:37 -0400
                Re: Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI David Lesher <wb8foz@panix.com> - 2013-09-05 05:47 +0000
                  Re: Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI nmassello@yahoo.com (Neill Massello) - 2013-09-05 00:41 -0600
                  Re: Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2013-09-06 15:11 +0000
                    Re: Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> - 2013-09-06 16:44 -0400
                      Re: Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> - 2013-09-07 04:06 +0000
                        Re: Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> - 2013-09-07 09:44 -0400
          Re: Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI nmassello@yahoo.com (Neill Massello) - 2013-09-02 20:26 -0600
    Re: Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI Fred Moore <fmoore@gcfn.org> - 2013-09-03 13:22 -0400
      Re: Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> - 2013-09-03 16:34 -0400

#48164 — Thunderbolt and Firewire 400 / 800, DVI

My Drobo is Firewire 800 and uses that port on my 2007 iMac.

My Scanner is Firewire 400 and uses that port on my iMac.

If I get a new iMac which has Thunderbolt only I assume I would need one 
adaptor from TB to FW 400 and another adaptor from TB to FW 800.

That would 'eat up' all my TB ports  (there are 2 on the 27" 2012 iMac). 
  Meaning no more TB peripherals can be connected?

Does that also remove a DVI port from availability?  ie: the DVI output 
uses up a TB port and there is no way to "Y" or chain.

(I suppose I could keep my 2007 iMac as the scanner front end).

Or, disconnect the Drobo when scanning.

Maybe I'll hold out for the next iMac, Mac Mini or get rid of the Drobo.

-- 
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional,
illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media,
which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible
to pick up a piece of shit by the clean end."
                                                  -Unknown

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#48165

In article <RsednT82md7LR7nPnZ2dnUVZ_hKdnZ2d@giganews.com>,
 Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:

> My Drobo is Firewire 800 and uses that port on my 2007 iMac.
> 
> My Scanner is Firewire 400 and uses that port on my iMac.
> 
> If I get a new iMac which has Thunderbolt only I assume I would need one 
> adaptor from TB to FW 400 and another adaptor from TB to FW 800.
> 
> That would 'eat up' all my TB ports  (there are 2 on the 27" 2012 iMac). 
>   Meaning no more TB peripherals can be connected?

Does your Drobo have FW passthrough?  If it does, you'll need a TB to FW 
(it's only 800) adaptor to connect to the Drobo, and a FW 800 to FW 400 
cable to connect the Drobo to the scanner.

If the Drobo doesn't pass through, your best bet is to get a FW 800 hub.  
Get a TB to FW cable to connect the computer to the hub, then a FW 800 
cable to connect the hub to the Drobo and a FW 800 to FW 400 cable to 
connect the hub to the scanner.

These will free up one TB port for TB peripherals.

-- 
All usenet users are quirky, but some are more quirky than others.

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#48166

On 2013.09.02 15:15 , Michelle Steiner wrote:
> In article <RsednT82md7LR7nPnZ2dnUVZ_hKdnZ2d@giganews.com>,
>   Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:
>
>> My Drobo is Firewire 800 and uses that port on my 2007 iMac.
>>
>> My Scanner is Firewire 400 and uses that port on my iMac.
>>
>> If I get a new iMac which has Thunderbolt only I assume I would need one
>> adaptor from TB to FW 400 and another adaptor from TB to FW 800.
>>
>> That would 'eat up' all my TB ports  (there are 2 on the 27" 2012 iMac).
>>    Meaning no more TB peripherals can be connected?
>
> Does your Drobo have FW passthrough?  If it does, you'll need a TB to FW
> (it's only 800) adaptor to connect to the Drobo, and a FW 800 to FW 400
> cable to connect the Drobo to the scanner.

It does - but I suspect it's limited to other Drobo's.  I say so because 
I once had it chained to another drive (iOmega) and not only did that 
not work, but I lost both FW-800 ports on my imac thereafter.

                  iMac <------> iOmega <------> Drobo

I assumed at the time that it was a hardware issue.  (I wrote about this 
here a couple/three years ago).

Eventually the FW ports returned to service after a major OS uptick 
(after Lion, IIRC).  So whatever the screwup was it was on the OS side. 
  Never found any reference on the web that explained it or a fix.

But it's a good suggestion and I'll try it if it comes to that.

> If the Drobo doesn't pass through, your best bet is to get a FW 800 hub.
> Get a TB to FW cable to connect the computer to the hub, then a FW 800
> cable to connect the hub to the Drobo and a FW 800 to FW 400 cable to
> connect the hub to the scanner.
>
> These will free up one TB port for TB peripherals.

Ah - my ignorance - I didn't even know there was such a thing as a hub 
for FW.  I assumed it was daisy chain only.

Thanks Michelle.

-- 
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional,
illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media,
which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible
to pick up a piece of shit by the clean end."
                                                  -Unknown

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#48167

In article <BoednbFYD-jDaLnPnZ2dnUVZ_vadnZ2d@giganews.com>,
 Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:

> Ah - my ignorance - I didn't even know there was such a thing as a hub 
> for FW.  I assumed it was daisy chain only.

Yup; lots of companies make them.

> Thanks Michelle.

De nada.

-- Michelle

-- 
All usenet users are quirky, but some are more quirky than others.

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#48168

In article <michelle-CCA2B1.13425502092013@news.eternal-september.org>,
 Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> wrote:

> In article <BoednbFYD-jDaLnPnZ2dnUVZ_vadnZ2d@giganews.com>,
>  Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:
> 
> > Ah - my ignorance - I didn't even know there was such a thing as a hub 
> > for FW.  I assumed it was daisy chain only.
> 
> Yup; lots of companies make them.
> 
> > Thanks Michelle.
> 
> De nada.

Here are ones listed on Google:

<http://www.google.com/#q=FireWire+Hub&tbm=shop>
-- 
Remove blown from email address to reply.

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#48170

On 2013.09.02 16:58 , Thomas R. Kettler wrote:
> In article <michelle-CCA2B1.13425502092013@news.eternal-september.org>,
>   Michelle Steiner <michelle@michelle.org> wrote:
>
>> In article <BoednbFYD-jDaLnPnZ2dnUVZ_vadnZ2d@giganews.com>,
>>   Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:
>>
>>> Ah - my ignorance - I didn't even know there was such a thing as a hub
>>> for FW.  I assumed it was daisy chain only.
>>
>> Yup; lots of companies make them.
>>
>>> Thanks Michelle.
>>
>> De nada.
>
> Here are ones listed on Google:
>
> <http://www.google.com/#q=FireWire+Hub&tbm=shop>

Thanks - but once M put me on track I could figure the Google thing 
myself.  I had been Googling for Firewire adaptors.

BTW: Your link results in this error from here:
	"Your search - FireWire Hub - could not be completed with the
          requested search options. Reset search tools"




-- 
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional,
illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media,
which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible
to pick up a piece of shit by the clean end."
                                                  -Unknown

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#48176

In article <1LydnU67oJU1Y7nPnZ2dnUVZ_rOdnZ2d@giganews.com>,
 Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:

> > Here are ones listed on Google:
> >
> > <http://www.google.com/#q=FireWire+Hub&tbm=shop>
> 
> Thanks - but once M put me on track I could figure the Google thing 
> myself.  I had been Googling for Firewire adaptors.

That's why I didn't give you any links; I knew you could do it on your own.

> BTW: Your link results in this error from here:
> 	"Your search - FireWire Hub - could not be completed with the
>           requested search options. Reset search tools"

It worked for me.

-- 
All usenet users are quirky, but some are more quirky than others.

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#48180

Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:

> On 2013.09.02 15:15 , Michelle Steiner wrote:
> > In article <RsednT82md7LR7nPnZ2dnUVZ_hKdnZ2d@giganews.com>,
> >   Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:
> >
> >> My Drobo is Firewire 800 and uses that port on my 2007 iMac.
> >>
> >> My Scanner is Firewire 400 and uses that port on my iMac.
> >>
> >> If I get a new iMac which has Thunderbolt only I assume I would need one
> >> adaptor from TB to FW 400 and another adaptor from TB to FW 800.
> >>
> >> That would 'eat up' all my TB ports  (there are 2 on the 27" 2012 iMac).
> >>    Meaning no more TB peripherals can be connected?
> >
> > Does your Drobo have FW passthrough?  If it does, you'll need a TB to FW
> > (it's only 800) adaptor to connect to the Drobo, and a FW 800 to FW 400
> > cable to connect the Drobo to the scanner.
> 
> It does - but I suspect it's limited to other Drobo's.

It isn't limited. I have daisy chained random other hard drives to the
second FW800 port on my Drobo (2nd gen), and my Drobo was normally daisy
chained after another hard drive until a few months ago.

In most cases, particularly with storage devices, you can mix and match
Firewire peripherals in a daisy chain.

There are sometimes exceptions, particularly with badly behaved cameras
(e.g. Apple's Firewire iSight camera is known to cause problems), and
devices which require bus power (which might not be passed through
earlier devices in the chain).

Firewire 400 devices should be connected after Firewire 800 devices, so
they don't cause the faster devices to slow down during transfers.

If your Mac has multiple Firewire ports, they are on the same logical
Firewire bus. Even if the ports are different types, they are connected
to the same physical layer interface chip. Other devices which have
multiple Firewire ports should use a similar arrangement.

Since you are using the scanner and Drobo on your iMac, that means they
aren't interfering with each other at the Firewire protocol level.

If the scanner depends on Firewire bus power then all bets are off, and
even if you got a second Thunderbolt adapter for your next iMac, the
power available from that adapter is probably less than the power
available from the FW400 port on your current iMac.

> I say so because I once had it chained to another drive (iOmega) and not
> only did that not work, but I lost both FW-800 ports on my imac
> thereafter.
> 
>                   iMac <------> iOmega <------> Drobo
> 
> I assumed at the time that it was a hardware issue.  (I wrote about this
> here a couple/three years ago).

I'd speculate a fault or bad design with the Iomega drive, which caused
your iMac's Firewire physical interface chip to shut down. The Firewire
interface can be reset by shutting down the computer and removing mains
power for a few minutes.

(Sidebar: I'd like to know how you would do this in a MacBook/Air/Pro
with an integrated battery.)

> Eventually the FW ports returned to service after a major OS uptick 
> (after Lion, IIRC).  So whatever the screwup was it was on the OS side.

Did you have the computer unplugged from mains for a while around that
time? If so, upgrading to Lion was coincidental to the ports recovering.
Another possibility is if recent OS versions do a better job resetting
the Firewire physical interface.

>   Never found any reference on the web that explained it or a fix.
> 
> But it's a good suggestion and I'll try it if it comes to that.
> 
> > If the Drobo doesn't pass through, your best bet is to get a FW 800 hub.
> > Get a TB to FW cable to connect the computer to the hub, then a FW 800
> > cable to connect the hub to the Drobo and a FW 800 to FW 400 cable to
> > connect the hub to the scanner.
> >
> > These will free up one TB port for TB peripherals.
> 
> Ah - my ignorance - I didn't even know there was such a thing as a hub
> for FW.  I assumed it was daisy chain only.

The only external Firewire hubs I've encountered are drive enclosures
with three Firewire ports (two FW800 and one FW400).

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz

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#48183

On 2013.09.02 20:00 , David Empson wrote:
> Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:
>
>> On 2013.09.02 15:15 , Michelle Steiner wrote:
>>> In article <RsednT82md7LR7nPnZ2dnUVZ_hKdnZ2d@giganews.com>, Alan
>>> Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:
>>>
>>>> My Drobo is Firewire 800 and uses that port on my 2007 iMac.
>>>>
>>>> My Scanner is Firewire 400 and uses that port on my iMac.
>>>>
>>>> If I get a new iMac which has Thunderbolt only I assume I would
>>>> need one adaptor from TB to FW 400 and another adaptor from TB
>>>> to FW 800.
>>>>
>>>> That would 'eat up' all my TB ports  (there are 2 on the 27"
>>>> 2012 iMac). Meaning no more TB peripherals can be connected?
>>>
>>> Does your Drobo have FW passthrough?  If it does, you'll need a
>>> TB to FW (it's only 800) adaptor to connect to the Drobo, and a
>>> FW 800 to FW 400 cable to connect the Drobo to the scanner.
>>
>> It does - but I suspect it's limited to other Drobo's.
>
> It isn't limited. I have daisy chained random other hard drives to
> the second FW800 port on my Drobo (2nd gen), and my Drobo was
> normally daisy chained after another hard drive until a few months
> ago.
>
> In most cases, particularly with storage devices, you can mix and
> match Firewire peripherals in a daisy chain.
>

I'm delighted to hear that.  Just for confirmation:

iMac:TB<--->TB|FW800<--->:Drobo:<--->FW800|FW400<--->Scanner.

Where | are in-cable converters.

Does the above work in your opinion?

> There are sometimes exceptions, particularly with badly behaved
> cameras (e.g. Apple's Firewire iSight camera is known to cause
> problems), and devices which require bus power (which might not be
> passed through earlier devices in the chain).
>
> Firewire 400 devices should be connected after Firewire 800 devices,
> so they don't cause the faster devices to slow down during
> transfers.

Got it - that fits my scheme above.

> If your Mac has multiple Firewire ports, they are on the same
> logical Firewire bus. Even if the ports are different types, they are
> connected to the same physical layer interface chip. Other devices
> which have multiple Firewire ports should use a similar arrangement.
>
> Since you are using the scanner and Drobo on your iMac, that means
> they aren't interfering with each other at the Firewire protocol
> level.
>
> If the scanner depends on Firewire bus power then all bets are off,
> and even if you got a second Thunderbolt adapter for your next iMac,
> the power available from that adapter is probably less than the
> power available from the FW400 port on your current iMac.
>
>> I say so because I once had it chained to another drive (iOmega)
>> and not only did that not work, but I lost both FW-800 ports on my
>> imac thereafter.
>>
>> iMac <------> iOmega <------> Drobo
>>
>> I assumed at the time that it was a hardware issue.  (I wrote about
>> this here a couple/three years ago).
>
> I'd speculate a fault or bad design with the Iomega drive, which

Could be - same iOmega failed partially months after that - I could 
still run it but I had to connext in a separate power supply to the 
disks (same p/s for the electronics).  Blew up a cheap Chinese supply 
that way, then made do with a an old PC power supply.  This was all 
after the FW fail event.

> caused your iMac's Firewire physical interface chip to shut down. The
> Firewire interface can be reset by shutting down the computer and
> removing mains power for a few minutes.

Took many months actually (with many cold starts after leaving
the machine off / cold overnight.  A major OS tickup 'restored' it - so
seems something somewhere in driverland was upset.

> (Sidebar: I'd like to know how you would do this in a
> MacBook/Air/Pro with an integrated battery.)

If it's soldered - ouch.  One could short the power pins to the FW 
chip(s) if locatable - but that could also draw a lot of juice depending 
on the internal laptop P/S arrangement.  This transient might not last 
long enough to reset the chip.

>> Eventually the FW ports returned to service after a major OS
>> uptick (after Lion, IIRC).  So whatever the screwup was it was on
>> the OS side.
>
> Did you have the computer unplugged from mains for a while around
> that time? If so, upgrading to Lion was coincidental to the ports
> recovering. Another possibility is if recent OS versions do a better
> job resetting the Firewire physical interface.

Above.

>
>> Never found any reference on the web that explained it or a fix.
>>
>> But it's a good suggestion and I'll try it if it comes to that.
>>
>>> If the Drobo doesn't pass through, your best bet is to get a FW
>>> 800 hub. Get a TB to FW cable to connect the computer to the hub,
>>> then a FW 800 cable to connect the hub to the Drobo and a FW 800
>>> to FW 400 cable to connect the hub to the scanner.
>>>
>>> These will free up one TB port for TB peripherals.
>>
>> Ah - my ignorance - I didn't even know there was such a thing as a
>> hub for FW.  I assumed it was daisy chain only.
>
> The only external Firewire hubs I've encountered are drive
> enclosures with three Firewire ports (two FW800 and one FW400).

My iOmega was like that (but I don't think it provided "hub" service) -
and the origin of my FW misery that forced me to use USB for both the
iOmega and the Drobo for quite a while.


-- 
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional,
illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media,
which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible
to pick up a piece of shit by the clean end."
                                                  -Unknown

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#48193

Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:

> On 2013.09.02 20:00 , David Empson wrote:
> > Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:
> >
> >> On 2013.09.02 15:15 , Michelle Steiner wrote:
> >>> In article <RsednT82md7LR7nPnZ2dnUVZ_hKdnZ2d@giganews.com>, Alan
> >>> Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> My Drobo is Firewire 800 and uses that port on my 2007 iMac.
> >>>>
> >>>> My Scanner is Firewire 400 and uses that port on my iMac.
> >>>>
> >>>> If I get a new iMac which has Thunderbolt only I assume I would
> >>>> need one adaptor from TB to FW 400 and another adaptor from TB
> >>>> to FW 800.
> >>>>
> >>>> That would 'eat up' all my TB ports  (there are 2 on the 27"
> >>>> 2012 iMac). Meaning no more TB peripherals can be connected?
> >>>
> >>> Does your Drobo have FW passthrough?  If it does, you'll need a
> >>> TB to FW (it's only 800) adaptor to connect to the Drobo, and a
> >>> FW 800 to FW 400 cable to connect the Drobo to the scanner.
> >>
> >> It does - but I suspect it's limited to other Drobo's.
> >
> > It isn't limited. I have daisy chained random other hard drives to
> > the second FW800 port on my Drobo (2nd gen), and my Drobo was
> > normally daisy chained after another hard drive until a few months
> > ago.
> >
> > In most cases, particularly with storage devices, you can mix and
> > match Firewire peripherals in a daisy chain.
> 
> I'm delighted to hear that.  Just for confirmation:
> 
> iMac:TB<--->TB|FW800<--->:Drobo:<--->FW800|FW400<--->Scanner.
> 
> Where | are in-cable converters.

You could also use a FW800 to FW400 adapter with a FW400 to FW400 cable,
but a simple FW800 to FW400 cable (9-pin to 6-pin) would be better for a
long term connection, as it is less likely to be disconnected
accidentally.

> Does the above work in your opinion?

Yes, as long as the scanner is mains powered.

If the scanner is powered from the Firewire bus, there are many more
variables, mainly whether it will work from the limited power supplied
by the Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter (which is less than most built-in
Firewire ports on Macs). There is also the question of whether the Drobo
passes the power between its Firewire ports (probably) and/or supplies
power to Firewire ports itself (unlikely).

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz

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#48211

On 2013.09.03 06:49 , David Empson wrote:
> Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:
>
>> On 2013.09.02 20:00 , David Empson wrote:
>>> Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 2013.09.02 15:15 , Michelle Steiner wrote:
>>>>> In article <RsednT82md7LR7nPnZ2dnUVZ_hKdnZ2d@giganews.com>, Alan
>>>>> Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> My Drobo is Firewire 800 and uses that port on my 2007 iMac.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> My Scanner is Firewire 400 and uses that port on my iMac.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If I get a new iMac which has Thunderbolt only I assume I would
>>>>>> need one adaptor from TB to FW 400 and another adaptor from TB
>>>>>> to FW 800.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> That would 'eat up' all my TB ports  (there are 2 on the 27"
>>>>>> 2012 iMac). Meaning no more TB peripherals can be connected?
>>>>>
>>>>> Does your Drobo have FW passthrough?  If it does, you'll need a
>>>>> TB to FW (it's only 800) adaptor to connect to the Drobo, and a
>>>>> FW 800 to FW 400 cable to connect the Drobo to the scanner.
>>>>
>>>> It does - but I suspect it's limited to other Drobo's.
>>>
>>> It isn't limited. I have daisy chained random other hard drives to
>>> the second FW800 port on my Drobo (2nd gen), and my Drobo was
>>> normally daisy chained after another hard drive until a few months
>>> ago.
>>>
>>> In most cases, particularly with storage devices, you can mix and
>>> match Firewire peripherals in a daisy chain.
>>
>> I'm delighted to hear that.  Just for confirmation:
>>
>> iMac:TB<--->TB|FW800<--->:Drobo:<--->FW800|FW400<--->Scanner.
>>
>> Where | are in-cable converters.
>
> You could also use a FW800 to FW400 adapter with a FW400 to FW400 cable,
> but a simple FW800 to FW400 cable (9-pin to 6-pin) would be better for a
> long term connection, as it is less likely to be disconnected
> accidentally.
>
>> Does the above work in your opinion?
>
> Yes, as long as the scanner is mains powered.

No issue - it's mains powered (Nikon 9000ED).

Thanks!  Between Michelle and you I have a viable upgrade path even if 
it means a bit of spaghetti on the cable side.

I'm considering dumping the Drobo, however, as I don't have a recovery 
path if the enclosure itself goes TU.  May get some USB 3 docks and just 
put in several really large (3 TB) drives instead.


-- 
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional,
illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media,
which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible
to pick up a piece of shit by the clean end."
                                                  -Unknown

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#48259

By design, you can daisy-chain TB devices...if you can find any peripherals that support same.
-- 
A host is a host from coast to coast.................wb8foz@nrk.com
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433

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#48261

David Lesher <wb8foz@panix.com> wrote:

> By design, you can daisy-chain TB devices...if you can find any peripherals
> that support same.

And can afford the cables. 

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#48285

In message <l095sn$q6u$2@reader1.panix.com> 
  David Lesher <wb8foz@panix.com> wrote:
> By design, you can daisy-chain TB devices...if you can find any peripherals that support same.

OWC has a 8bay external RAID case for $1500 that is very very tempting. Very.

-- 
'What is this thing, anyway?' said the Dean, inspecting the implement in
his hands.  'It's called a shovel', said the Senior Wrangler. 'I've seen
the gardeners use them. You stick the sharp end in the ground. Then it
gets a bit technical.' --Reaper Man

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#48289

On 2013.09.06 11:11 , Lewis wrote:
> In message <l095sn$q6u$2@reader1.panix.com>
>    David Lesher <wb8foz@panix.com> wrote:
>> By design, you can daisy-chain TB devices...if you can find any peripherals that support same.
>
> OWC has a 8bay external RAID case for $1500 that is very very tempting. Very.

$1500?

I'll make do with a SATA 3/ USB 3 "toaster" with a couple slots
for << $100 if need be.


-- 
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional,
illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media,
which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible
to pick up a piece of shit by the clean end."
                                                  -Unknown

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#48308

In message <F4KdnWzBrtI6o7fPnZ2dnUVZ_sIAAAAA@giganews.com> 
  Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:
> On 2013.09.06 11:11 , Lewis wrote:
>> In message <l095sn$q6u$2@reader1.panix.com>
>>    David Lesher <wb8foz@panix.com> wrote:
>>> By design, you can daisy-chain TB devices...if you can find any peripherals that support same.
>>
>> OWC has a 8bay external RAID case for $1500 that is very very tempting. Very.

> $1500?

> I'll make do with a SATA 3/ USB 3 "toaster" with a couple slots
> for << $100 if need be.

Eight drive raid cases are not comparable to basic usb3 cases.

-- 
If the laws of action and reaction had anything to do with it, it should
have flopped to the ground a few feet away. But no-one was listening to
them.

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#48313

On 2013.09.07 00:06 , Lewis wrote:
> In message <F4KdnWzBrtI6o7fPnZ2dnUVZ_sIAAAAA@giganews.com>
>    Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:
>> On 2013.09.06 11:11 , Lewis wrote:
>>> In message <l095sn$q6u$2@reader1.panix.com>
>>>     David Lesher <wb8foz@panix.com> wrote:
>>>> By design, you can daisy-chain TB devices...if you can find any peripherals that support same.
>>>
>>> OWC has a 8bay external RAID case for $1500 that is very very tempting. Very.
>
>> $1500?
>
>> I'll make do with a SATA 3/ USB 3 "toaster" with a couple slots
>> for << $100 if need be.
>
> Eight drive raid cases are not comparable to basic usb3 cases.

Never said they did.

My requirements go nowhere near an eight drive raid case.

I have 9 TB of drives in my Drobo at present - and hardly need half of 
that.  So the Drobo's become a single point of failure in my system.

Much simpler to break it up into multiple mirrored drives that can be 
simply re-copied if all goes to hell.  eg: two "toasters" with 2 x 3 TB 
each will be >> than enough local backup for my needs while providing 
for outside copy rotations once per month.


-- 
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional,
illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media,
which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible
to pick up a piece of shit by the clean end."
                                                  -Unknown

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#48188

David Empson <dempson@actrix.gen.nz> wrote:

> The only external Firewire hubs I've encountered are drive enclosures
> with three Firewire ports (two FW800 and one FW400).

Belkin made several and still makes a nifty little six-port FireWire 400
hub. They used to make a FireWire 800 hub, but it had only three ports
and was expensive. 

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#48202

In article <RsednT82md7LR7nPnZ2dnUVZ_hKdnZ2d@giganews.com>,
 Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:

> My Drobo is Firewire 800 and uses that port on my 2007 iMac.
> 
> My Scanner is Firewire 400 and uses that port on my iMac.
> 
> If I get a new iMac which has Thunderbolt only I assume I would need one 
> adaptor from TB to FW 400 and another adaptor from TB to FW 800.

As others have mentioned, Alan, the only adapter is TB<->FW800.

However, just so you know, quite a few people are having trouble with it 
not working on storage devices:

<http://store.apple.com/us/reviews/MD464ZM/A/apple-thunderbolt-to-firewir
e-adapter?fnode=51&page=0&rf=1>

Could be a real PITA. I stumbled on this researching iMac vs Mini. The 
current Mini has a real FW800 port. I'm planning to get either an iMac 
or Mini when the new revs come out in Oct/Nov. At the moment, I'm 
leaning toward a Mini. Of course, Apple may drop the Mini's FW port in 
the rev.

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#48210

On 2013.09.03 13:22 , Fred Moore wrote:
> In article <RsednT82md7LR7nPnZ2dnUVZ_hKdnZ2d@giganews.com>,
>   Alan Browne <alan.browne@FreelunchVideotron.ca> wrote:
>
>> My Drobo is Firewire 800 and uses that port on my 2007 iMac.
>>
>> My Scanner is Firewire 400 and uses that port on my iMac.
>>
>> If I get a new iMac which has Thunderbolt only I assume I would need one
>> adaptor from TB to FW 400 and another adaptor from TB to FW 800.
>
> As others have mentioned, Alan, the only adapter is TB<->FW800.

And then FW800 to 400.  It's just mechanics actually - no signal 
conversion is needed.  Per David one need only keep the 400 at the 
further end of the chain (to not choke the higher B/W nearer devices).

>
> However, just so you know, quite a few people are having trouble with it
> not working on storage devices:
>
> <http://store.apple.com/us/reviews/MD464ZM/A/apple-thunderbolt-to-firewir
> e-adapter?fnode=51&page=0&rf=1>
>
> Could be a real PITA. I stumbled on this researching iMac vs Mini. The
> current Mini has a real FW800 port. I'm planning to get either an iMac
> or Mini when the new revs come out in Oct/Nov. At the moment, I'm
> leaning toward a Mini. Of course, Apple may drop the Mini's FW port in
> the rev.

I was thinking the same thing, re the mini.  But I bet they drop FW in 
the next revision as well - seems to be their general intent.  Pity.


-- 
"Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional,
illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media,
which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible
to pick up a piece of shit by the clean end."
                                                  -Unknown

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