Sil3231 eSATA card just won't work. [Solution found]

[Loa]

Hello,

I bought a USB2 + eSATA docking station for my Nehalem MP. The docking station works perfectly well using the USB2 port, but I just can't get the eSATA card to work.

I have a cheap sil3231 card, I'm using siliconimage's latest OS X drivers, with a single drive (so no RAID), and it won't mount. I played around with the jumpers, nothing.

Can anyone think of something I missed?

Thanks

Loa

[nanofrog]

Use LaCie's SIL3132 card drivers (here (http://www.lacie.com/us/support/drivers/driver.htm?id=10127)). Transporteur had the same problem in his '09, and stated that it does work with these drivers. :) They don't have RAID support, but it sounds like you don't need it, so no issues there. :cool:

I don't know what they changed, but who cares so long as they function for you. ;) :p

[Loa]

I tried the LaCie, but it didn't work.

Found sonnet drivers, and for some reason it worked.

http://www.sonnettech.com/support/kb/kb.php?cat=339&expand=&action=a3#a3

---

Strange thing though: the docking station has 2 slots, and while the USB connection mounts both drives on my desktop, the e-SATA connection only mounts one.

Going back to USB... :-)

Loa

[nanofrog]

I tried the LaCie, but it didn't work.

Found sonnet drivers, and for some reason it worked.

http://www.sonnettech.com/support/kb/kb.php?cat=339&expand=&action=a3#a3

---

Strange thing though: the docking station has 2 slots, and while the USB connection mounts both drives on my desktop, the e-SATA connection only mounts one.

Going back to USB... :-)

Loa
Weird. :confused:

I wonder what's so odd with SL and the '09's that's causing all this headache with the 2 port cards?

I'd hate to have to aim those wanting eSATA to the 4 port models given their high cost (~$200USD is the cheapest I've seen - FirmTek). :(

[Transporteur]

I tried the LaCie, but it didn't work.

Found sonnet drivers, and for some reason it worked.

http://www.sonnettech.com/support/kb/kb.php?cat=339&expand=&action=a3#a3



These are exactly the drivers I use!
They are the only ones that are working with the cheap 3132 cards.

As I mentioned in my thread about these cards, the LaCie drivers are NOT working!

[Loa]

I'm still curious to understand why USB2 connection mounts the 2 drives, and the eSATA connection only mounts 1.

Also, for the 4 eSATA port cards, I found this on ebay, not sure if it could be used on a Mac though.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/eSATA-e-SATA-4-Port-RAID-0-1-10-1-S-PCI-Controller-Card_W0QQitemZ310118754151QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item483484a767#ht_2851wt_941

only 45$...

Loa

[Transporteur]

Also, for the 4 eSATA port cards, I found this on ebay, not sure if it could be used on a Mac though.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/eSATA-e-SATA-4-Port-RAID-0-1-10-1-S-PCI-Controller-Card_W0QQitemZ310118754151QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item483484a767#ht_2851wt_941



Won't work as it's a PCI card. The Mac Pro has PCIe ports that are not compatible with the old PCI standard.

[nanofrog]

These are exactly the drivers I use!
They are the only ones that are working with the cheap 3132 cards.

As I mentioned in my thread about these cards, the LaCie drivers are NOT working!
Oops. I flipped Sonnet and LaCie. Sorry about that. :o

[Transporteur]

Oops. I flipped Sonnet and LaCie. Sorry about that. :o

Happens in the best of families. :p

Just kidding. ;)

It would be nice to know if the card actually works with 10.6.2 and the Sonnet drivers.

[nanofrog]

It would be nice to know if the card actually works with 10.6.2 and the Sonnet drivers.
Definitely, but I don't have an '09 to test with. Are you willing to volunteer as the test subject? :eek: :p

[Transporteur]

Definitely, but I don't have an '09 to test with. Are you willing to volunteer as the test subject? :eek: :p

You would like that, wouldn't you? :)
No way I'm gonna update my system to 10.6.2. I need a reliable system.

Anybody else? :D

[nanofrog]

You would like that, wouldn't you? :)
No way I'm gonna update my system to 10.6.2. I need a reliable system. :D
Coward. :eek: :D :p

Actually, I don't blame you, and wouldn't do it myself, especially with the instability seen with 10.6.2 and RAID. ;)

[Loa]

It would be nice to know if the card actually works with 10.6.2 and the Sonnet drivers.

Are you talking about the cheap card? I'm using it with 10.6.2, no problem. Not using it for RAID though.

Loa

[nanofrog]

Are you talking about the cheap card? I'm using it with 10.6.2, no problem. Not using it for RAID though.

Loa
Good to know 10.6.2 hasn't killed it. :) Yet. :eek: :p

There aren't any RAID functions in any of the drivers I've seen for SL, according to the descriptions (Silicon Image, Lacie, or Sonnet). Silicon Image's Leopard drivers do IIRC.

The RAID aspect has to do with using the ICH10R with OS X or a true hardware RAID card (i.e. Areca, Highpoint, and even Apple's card have had stability issues with 10.6.2). Roll it back to 10.6.1, and it's fine.