Can I use this device as a docking station to clone hard drives with third party software? A similar product has two eSATA ports. This has one.
1510474
This device is designed to copy one drive to another without connection to a computer. Just a AC wall plug. It can however also be used as a USB dock, allowing you to use third party software yes. Though it is MUCH slower to do so that way.
1510475
Theoretically, you can since the dock mode presents the two HDDs in JBOD layout from my understanding but I've only used it to clone HDDs. Please confirm with StarTech instead, I'm just one of the many customers.
317235
I have tested the Hard Disk with eSATA cable and I can confirm to you that the eSATA cable can be used only for Data transfer and will not power the hard disk. It is necessary to power the hard disk via USB cable. Please note that if both cable (eSATA and USB) are connected at the same time, only the eSATA cable will be recognized and interact with the drive, the USB connection in this case will only be used for power. Regards Marcos Silva - Rio de janeiro - Brasil
533745
I was able to clone a bootable drive (with original and new drive both plugged into the docking station) via the eSATA port using "dd" successfully. The Thermaltake duet, although it is listed as passing SAT commands, will not secure erase via hdparm through the USB 2.0 cable, unknown if it will through the eSATA but not worth the effort if you want to erase the drive. Otherwise, you can format it in Windows or Linux (gparted etc) via the USB 2.0 connection.
1891418
There is an eSata port only. However, the unit ships with an adapter (eSata-to-USB) so that you can connect the RAID tower to a USB3 port on your computer.
1590455
Yes but you would need a esata dock or enclosure about $30 versus just adding it internal
1243983
I myself used it to salvage, format both a 300GB and a 250GB WD disk drives without any problems. Also used it to migrate Windows 7 Pro from a 120GB SSD to a 512GB SSD. Worked without a hitch. Reformatted the 120GB SSD in it afterwards, and now use it as an external disk drive in the unit. Device was tried on both esata and usb3 worked fine on both interfaces.
2252523
It does support enclosures with port multipliers. However, it only supports 1 port multiplier. I have a Mediasonic HFR2-SU3S2 PRORAID 4 Bay 3.5" SATA Hard Drive Enclosure - USB 3.0 & eSATA connected to it and it works fine. However, if I connect a second one, it doesn't see the second one. You can connect a single eSATA drive to the second port as long as it doesn't have a port multiplier. So, the short answer is that you can only connect one device with a port multiplier.
791365
I have the identical item, but I'm not certain what you mean by 'docking station?' Will be able to reply with further explanation.
1891419
My unit did not have a USB port and only an eSATA Port. I think the description may be wrong as this device is eSATA only.
628223
It's right in the item's description, but somewhat disguised. Assuming your computer is newer and equipped for eSata, its a great item - and fast. Although it's less flexible than my USB 3.0, it runs faster on my PC. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003IT6PH2
515639
Don't have exactly such an experience, but this is one among not many (if not the only!) capable to connect multi-drive bays with spawned (e)SATA. Have connected self-made 5 drives bay, worked fine. However, i would advice you to ask Drobo's tech support regarding tech specs requirement and if their boxes either provide multi-drive (spawned SATA), or single logical RAID-drive on eSATA port.
1415952
You could connect it to the SATA port on a mainboard with an adapter cable, but I don't know what kind of thru put you would get.SATA to eSATA Cable
1243982
I myself used it to salvage, format both a 300GB and a 250GB WD disk drives without any problems.Also used it to migrate Windows 7 Pro from a 120GB SSD to a 512GB SSD. Worked without a hitch.Reformatted the 120GB SSD in it afterwards, and now use it as an external disk drive in the unit.Device was tried on both esata and usb3 worked fine on both interfaces.
390964
This is internal drive, so we assume you already have an adapter that convert internal SATA port to eSATA2. If that's the case it will work.
145103
You would need an ESata port on your desktop and a free USB port. The USB port is for electricity because Esata does not supply enough electricity to power the drive and then the Esata cable/port would be for data.
1956221
There's nothing OS-specific about the enclosure, anything with eSATA "port multiplier" support should work fine.
145102
Did you ever figure this out? I'm having the same problem -- can't use the enclosure with eSATA connection. And if I plug in both eSATA and USB, which port does the actual data transfer??