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USB 3.0 for 2011 iMac

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Most of the docks I've looked at are 250 or more when you factor in getting a thunderbolt cable and I wouldn't use anything but the USB. I'm on the fence about the Kanex based on the mixed reviews, inability to use a boot (waiting for answer about that ability high point - but assuming not considering most don't) and the fact that it only gives me one port. I've also debated the Kanex with a powered hub, but I can't find a lot of people doing so without issue from wake up on sleep etc. If I'm looking at 120$ for Kanex and a hub I'd rather pay another 80 and have one piece of equipment instead of a dongle taped to the back with another hub attached etc.
 
OP wrote:
"I'm on the fence about the Kanex based on the mixed reviews, inability to use a boot"

I may be wrong, but I seem to recall from other posts I've read that most thunderbolt docks with USB ports can't support booting via USB.
Others, please jump in with corrections.

However, I -do- recall reading that it's possible to boot via eSATA connected via thunderbolt. I'm wondering if something like the Kanex will work, because it has an eSATA port as well as a USB3 port. Of course, you'd need to put your SSD into an eSATA enclosure or adapter dongle, and then connect it to the Kanex.

Has anyone ever done this?

Maybe the real solution is to buy a 2012 or later iMac that has USB3 built in.
Or buy something new with an SSD or fusion drive already installed...
 
Bizzle are you booting over esata or USB? Fishrrman I'll looking to get a MacBook at some point but it's prob a little ways off. Maybe like a year or so. Just trying to get the most out of this machine for the time being. I agree that the eSata on the dongle appears bootable. Any recommendations for an eSata setup?
 
FWIW: presumably you're aware the 2011 iMac has Thunderbolt 1 connectors and this device is TB2. Probably isn't an issue if only the USB 3.0 connections are important.
 
Yes, but site says it's backwards compatible. I assume it will still crush my USB 2. Even if I only get 1 gigabit out of it I'm still getting like 5-6X the speed.......I think. :/
 
bizzle said:
http://www.amazon.com/Kanex-KTU10-Thunderbolt-eSATA-Adapter/dp/B00LOLBBQQ

We use that one at work, as well as the version with USB 3 and ethernet. We can boot from it just fine and also the ethernet port even works for netbooting.
Click to expand...

While this is listed in the FAQ for the Caldiget Thunderbolt Station, I believe this applies to all thunderbolt devices:

12.
Can I connect an external USB 3.0 storage device to the Thunderbolt Station in order to boot my OS?
Yes, you can boot your OS from an external USB 3.0 drive connected directly to the Thunderbolt Station if you are using OS X 10.9.2 on a 2013 Mac or later.

I think the basic rule is that if the mac is equipped with USB 3, it can boot from a thunderbolt USB 3. Since the OP (and my personal) iMac is a 2011 thunderbolt model, it will not boot a USB 3 drive.

I am using a separate thunderbolt drive to boot from (a Delock thunderbolt enclosure) and it works great for my 2011 iMac.
 
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Richdmoore said:
While this is listed in the FAQ for the Caldiget Thunderbolt Station, I believe this applies to all thunderbolt devices:

12.
Can I connect an external USB 3.0 storage device to the Thunderbolt Station in order to boot my OS?
Yes, you can boot your OS from an external USB 3.0 drive connected directly to the Thunderbolt Station if you are using OS X 10.9.2 on a 2013 Mac or later.

I think the basic rule is that if the mac is equipped with USB 3, it can boot from a thunderbolt USB 3. Since the OP (and my personal) iMac is a 2011 thunderbolt model, it will not boot a USB 3 drive.

I am using a separate thunderbolt drive to boot from (a Delock thunderbolt enclosure) and it works great for my 2011 iMac.
Click to expand...
I've booted every possible machine with the Kanex adapter with zero issues.
 
aframe99 said:
Bizzle are you booting over esata or USB? Fishrrman I'll looking to get a MacBook at some point but it's prob a little ways off. Maybe like a year or so. Just trying to get the most out of this machine for the time being. I agree that the eSata on the dongle appears bootable. Any recommendations for an eSata setup?
Click to expand...
I've only tried to boot from the USB part of the Kanex adapter.
 
Based on what bizzle has written above, I'd suggest the Kanex adapter with an SSD mounted in a USB3 enclosure (that supports UASP)...
 
Hrm, I just picked up a Kanex KTU10 for my 2011 iMac 12,2 and it won't boot from usb3.

This review from 2014 quotes Kanex support as saying the KTU10 doesn't boot from usb3.

fortysomethinggeek.blogspot.com

Reviewed: Kanex Thunderbolt to eSATA + USB 3.0 Adapter . A cheap Thunderbolt USB 3.0 alternative.

Kanex Thunderbolt USB adapter and eSATA
fortysomethinggeek.blogspot.com fortysomethinggeek.blogspot.com

It does however read/write to usb3 ssd at 320MB/s so that's pretty nice. The internal Intel sata SSD does 520MB/s so usb3 booting isn't really a priority.

edit: fwiw, this is running High Sierra with the current bootrom 87.0.0.0.0 and a Quadro K1100M.
 
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