Anna wrote:

> > Q1. Did you have "Enable write caching" ticked in the drive policies?
> > Or isn't write caching an option for SATA devices? I would think if
> > unplugging a cached drive things could get ugly..

> An interesting question which I hadn't thought about. Actually there's no
> "write caching" option available (in Device Manager) for the eSATA-connected
> drive as there is for the internally-connected SATA drives. So far we
> haven't run into any problems (that we're aware of) re connecting &
> disconnecting the eSATA-connected drive while the system is in use. As I
> previously mentioned, we've been using Hitachi, Samsung, and WD drives.

Now that's interesting - then the driver must somehow differentiate
between normal and eSATA connections... wonder just how that is?

Wonder if there would be a "write cache" driver option if one were
to snake a normal SATA connector out of the back of the pc, boot up,
then connect a SATA drive to the end of that cable??

> > Q4. What type of drive tray/caddie did you use? A backplane type
> > where the drive connectors plug directly into the backplane or one
> > where the drive is cable attached to the tray/caddie and the
> > tray/caddie connector plugs into a matching connector in a drawer?
> If you've come across some of my previous posts, you'll know that we're
> strong proponents of equipping one's desktop computer with removable hard
> drives (preferably two) in their (so-called) mobile racks.

Been doing the same myself for the last coupla years. In fact desktops
don't have any fixed drives - all in caddies. Then you go get a couple
of 5.25 mobile 1394+USB2 (external self contained/powered enclosure),
put one of those caddie/drawer thingos in them and now you have hot
plugability for all drives in caddies.. Many, many, many advantages.

Besides bootability, drive imaging, etc., my major problem turns out to
be reliability of the caddie/tray/drawer thingo. The large connector
on the tray ("Centronics" type) connecting all those pATA data lines
and power just isn't up to the task when it comes to durability.
There must be a pretty low insertion count anticipated for those type
of connectors. Sooner or later I find they become unreliable. Then
those crappy little tray fans - have replaced every single one, some
more than once. Each time with ball bearing versions but they are
still junk.

So, the SATA backplane/drive tray looks very promising if hot plug
works well. The connectors are much smaller; in fact they are in
several offerings just the SATA connectors. Far fewer pins. And the
trays don't have fans. One large fan mounted on the rear of the
backplane assembly. There are offerings that take two 5.25 bays and
convert them into three 3.5 SATA tray slots, and ones that take three
5.25 bays and convert them into four 3.5 SATA tray slots.

But this really isn't eSATA. The backplane can be wired up to any
SATA connector. I suspect what maybe we are all really wanting is full
hardware implementation of SATA II "hot swap" spec and Windows full
support thereof..

In the meantime, you have given enough info for me to risk giving one
of these backplanes a try. Your postings do come with a money back
guarantee don't they? :-)

Cheers,
Mr. Ed