Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Questions about SATA and hot plugging.

[Dale <rdalek1967@gmail.com>]

Mark Knecht wrote:
> On Thu, Dec 16, 2010 at 7:29 AM, Volker Armin Hemmann
> <volkerarmin@googlemail.com>  wrote:
> <SNIP>
>    
>> again, the hardware to hotplug is built into every sata connector. What is
>> left is the controller not getting confused and the driver.
>>
>>      
> Every SATA connector? External connectors yes. Internal connectors no.
>
>    
>> AHCI as a standard says yes to hoplugging. So as long as you use a AHCI
>> compliant sata controller you can hotplug.
>>      
> Interested readers should be _VERY_ careful about listening to
> previous advice. The major difference between the internal and
> external SATA cables&  connectors, a ***particularly*** important part
> of hotplugging, is that the external connector ensures that ground is
> connected before the signals. This ensures that in the case of static
> electricity the drive becomes grounded to the computer which is done
> to eliminate ESD (electro static discharge) events which will damage
> either the drive or the controller. (Depending n which is charged.)
>
> If you are using an internal power supply and have drive power already
> attached when you hotplug an internal cable then likely you will be
> just fine.
>
> If, on the other hand, you have a SATA drive sitting on a bench using
> a separate power supply then hotplugging with an internal cable is not
> recommended.
>
> Hope this helps,
> Mark
>
>    

I'm not saying that this is good advice but this is what my mobo manual 
says.  If I have the BIOS set to AHCI, then all the ports are hot 
pluggable.  That includes the internal ones.  My mobo design is about a 
year old so this may not apply to older ones but that is what the manual 
says.  Just because I am to chicken to try doesn't mean it doesn't work 
tho.  I'm to chicken to use the one marked external too.

I moved my data drive over from the old rig last night.  I got out the 
flashlight and magnifying glass and gave all the connectors a good 
looking over.  They all have that L shape connector which is usually 
what external connectors have.  That is according to what I have read 
anyway.  All the connectors are the same on my mobo, both internal and 
external.

It appears to me that with my mobo, there is no "internal" connectors.  
They are just all SATA and hot pluggable.

Dale

:-)  :-)