ASRock Forums : eSATA and SATA controller Question https://forum.asrock.com/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Mon, 22 Jun 2026 12:44:45 +0000 Sun, 04 Dec 2016 23:10:12 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.04 360 https://forum.asrock.com/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=3944 <![CDATA[ASRock Forums]]> https://forum.asrock.com/forum_images/web_wiz_forums_black.png https://forum.asrock.com/ <![CDATA[eSATA and SATA controller Question : BadSweetums wrote:Planning...]]> https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3944&PID=20095&title=esata-and-sata-controller-question#20095 Author: parsec
Subject: 3944
Posted: 04 Dec 2016 at 11:10pm

Originally posted by BadSweetums BadSweetums wrote:

Planning a new build. External RAID looks desirable. I disabled my DVD drive in my current build because I needed more hard drive space.

AND, multiple eSATA RAID arrays means sata can be taken offline for secure storage and backups can be made quickly and conveniently.

So, how can I determine which motherboards have eSATA/SATA ports that support the FIS Port multiplier protocol/standard? FIS-based (frame information structure) switching 

I say eSATA and SATA because I also use eSATA adapters to convert onboard SATA ports into eSATA ports.

I've been admiring the X99M series mainboards. But, the datasheets and manuals seem noticeably silent about port multiplier compatibility.

Please reveal what I cannot find.


I'm not sure which datasheets and manuals you have been checking, but the best one for that for the Intel X99 chipset and its two SATA controllers, would be its datasheet:

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/chipsets/x99-chipset-pch-datasheet.html

But I can tell you that searching this document for the term "port multiplier", provides these hits on pages 464 and 537:

The PCH SATA controller does not support Port Multipliers.

The PCH sSATA controller does not support Port Multipliers.

Every Intel PC chipset that I've checked has not supported port multipliers, when I've answered questions about this in the past, sorry to say.

You might have some luck researching the SATA chipsets used in Server mother boards. Here is the link to ASRock's Server/Workstation mother board products:

http://www.asrockrack.com/
]]> Sun, 04 Dec 2016 23:10:12 +0000 https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3944&PID=20095&title=esata-and-sata-controller-question#20095 <![CDATA[eSATA and SATA controller Question : I use LaCie Biggest S2S 5-Drive...]]> https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3944&PID=20093&title=esata-and-sata-controller-question#20093 Author: wardog
Subject: 3944
Posted: 04 Dec 2016 at 10:44pm

I use LaCie Biggest S2S 5-Drive eSata boxes here.

With Moderator under my Name, I can say every ASRock board I have here uses FIS switching.


Why don't you instead invest in a 2 or 4-port eSATA PCIe card? Or two for that matter. If for nothing else to free up the MBs SATA ports.

I still have my S2Ss on a 4-port card but at one time I employed two 4-port cards.

Concerning PCIe eSATA cards, only ONLY use Silicon Image controller base cards. All SI chips support FIS switching.


Any questions, fire away. I know eSATA upside down inside out.



]]> Sun, 04 Dec 2016 22:44:23 +0000 https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3944&PID=20093&title=esata-and-sata-controller-question#20093 <![CDATA[eSATA and SATA controller Question : Planning a new build. External...]]> https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3944&PID=20091&title=esata-and-sata-controller-question#20091 Author: BadSweetums
Subject: 3944
Posted: 04 Dec 2016 at 9:17pm

Planning a new build. External RAID looks desirable. I disabled my DVD drive in my current build because I needed more hard drive space.

AND, multiple eSATA RAID arrays means sata can be taken offline for secure storage and backups can be made quickly and conveniently.

So, how can I determine which motherboards have eSATA/SATA ports that support the FIS Port multiplier protocol/standard? FIS-based (frame information structure) switching 

I say eSATA and SATA because I also use eSATA adapters to convert onboard SATA ports into eSATA ports.

I've been admiring the X99M series mainboards. But, the datasheets and manuals seem noticeably silent about port multiplier compatibility.

Please reveal what I cannot find.
]]> Sun, 04 Dec 2016 21:17:50 +0000 https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3944&PID=20091&title=esata-and-sata-controller-question#20091