eSata on a server ? How?

T

tripex

Gawd
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Jun 8, 2002
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Hello my dear friends

I have seen some desktops or servers with eSATA connector onboard.

What is this for? How do you use it?



My question comes from my need to make speedy backups on a HP Server, model ML 350 G6.

I believe this server comes with the eSATA port onboard - this is afaik available internally only, so i was wondering how can i take advantage of that?

An external (eSATA) hard drive wont work here right? After all how am i going to connect/disconnect it without opening the case?


Regards.
 
If it's not external, it's not eSATA and just regular SATA. In terms of functionality, it is no different than SATA as the only difference are the connectors (they are shaped a bit differently).
 
If you only have internal you'll need to get one of these (or one like it) this.

All it does is convert your internal SATA to ESATA. You can get them with single ports as well if that's what you need, or just hook up one cables of course.
 
I just bought a couple of Esata -> sata L cables from monoprice so I can hook up internal hard drives without opening my case.

Very convenient and much more reliable than a dock.

Esata is great for fast data transfer. Much better than USB.

Your esata port is internal? They've always been on the backpanel from what I've seen.
 
I've seen Dell cheap out and do the same thing at times.

They will have four SATA ports on the MB marked 0 - 3, then a fifth that is marked ESATA. They were/are just to cheap to include the bracket/cable/adapter thingy.
 
thanks to everyone who posted on this thread.

your links are interesting and i am now investigating a way of solving my problem.
 
One question about this internal eSATA and regular internal SATA (onboard).

Is there any difference in terms of performance?

I'm talking about connecting one hard drive to the eSATA port and another hard drive to the internal onboard SATA port.

This would be for backups on a fileserver.



It is my understanding that there is literally no difference in terms of performance but i wanted to ask anyway.
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No difference for performance, assuming adequate signal levels and SNR (signal to noise ratio).

eSATA has slightly different specifications for transmit and receive voltages than SATA, so an eSATA port should be able to function under slightly worse conditions than a SATA port (eg., longer cables).

With the internal SATA ports, make sure that your total cable length does not exceed 1 meter, including the cables on the adapter bracket and the cable you plug into the bracket. 1 meter is 39 inches, and the adapter brackets I have seen typically have 12 to 20 inches of cable, which cuts down your external cable length to 19 to 27 inches. So get the shortest cable adapter that will reach to your MB SATA ports.

Or you can skip the adapter bracket, and just get a 1 meter SATA to eSATA cable, and route the cable out through a hole in your case. Of course, be careful with the protruding cable if you do not add any strain relief. You could use an adhesive cable-tie anchor with a very tight cable-tie to provide strain relief.
 
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