NewerTech - miniStack as hub and Time Machine backup

andyda · 03-11-2009, 11:10 AM

The new iMac only has one Firewire 800. I have some Firewire 800 drives I am going to use as "clone drives".

With my current iMac (an aging 1st gen iMac G5) I currently use a USB hub to get my USB out where I can reach it.

What about using one of the Quad interface NewerTech - MiniStack drives as a Firewire 400/800 and USB hub?

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ministackv3

As a side benefit I could also use the drive as a Time Machine backup since it would already be on as a hub.

Thoughts and/or other ideas appreciated.

Andy

jeffo · 03-11-2009, 01:35 PM

I have the older version of this drive, and i really like it.

andyda · 03-11-2009, 02:09 PM

How is it as a USB/Firewire hub?

Thanks,

-a

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffo


	I have the older version of this drive, and i really like it.

stewiesno1 · 03-11-2009, 03:59 PM

Personally I wouldn't be daisychaining drives if that is what you are thinking of doing andyda.
I think you would be setting yourself up for a few problems.
I have no knowledge of the miniStack as a device although it does get pretty good reviews.
I have just read a few reports where the authors have said that despite its promises , firewire is still not as failsafe in this regard as we would like to think.
I would love to be proved wrong on this though.
Remember that not all firewire devices are created equal although I think the ones that appear in Mac resellers do appear to be of the better quality. Some companies do a better job of meeting FW specs than others. If you have a device that barely meets FW specs then it can cause problems if it is part of a chain.
Sometimes for both daisychained drives to work they also have to be connected up in a certain order.
Much better to buy a powered firewire hub and connect your drives up that way even though I don't think there is any such beast as a FW 800 hub only FW 400.

Stewie

Mikey-San · 03-11-2009, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stewiesno1


	Much better to buy a powered firewire hub and connect your drives up that way even though I don't think there is any such beast as a FW 800 hub only FW 400. Stewie

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=firewire+800+hub

trevor · 03-11-2009, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stewiesno1


	Much better to buy a powered firewire hub and connect your drives up that way even though I don't think there is any such beast as a FW 800 hub only FW 400.

There are a few FW800 hubs. Probably the easiest to find is from Belkin. Actually, the Newer ministack 3: http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer.../MS3S7320GB16/ does have two FireWire 800 ports.

Trevor

stewiesno1 · 03-11-2009, 04:25 PM

Ah well there you go.
My GoogleFu is weak today.

I would like to hear from anyone who has used one of these miniStacks or others like it as a hub as a friend of mine is wanting to do exactly the same as the OP.

Stewie

anika123 · 03-11-2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:


	Personally I wouldn't be daisychaining drives if that is what you are thinking of doing andyda. I think you would be setting yourself up for a few problems.

Yep, did that with two mini stacks and yes one was totally hosed in about an hour. It seemed to be working fine and then the errors started coming from the second drive. I needed to reformat and then all was fine. Never used them connected together agian.

stewiesno1 · 03-11-2009, 08:13 PM

How did you have them connected anika123 ?
Firewire or USB2.0 ?

Stewie

andyda · 03-12-2009, 12:27 AM

This has become a lively thread. Lots of good info, some liking the MiniStack some not.

I believe the last post may have hit on something... The connection method

I was planning on connecting via Firewire 800, but is as it is advertised, that it can be a Firewire/USB hub, then it seems that it would have to be connected with Firewire 800 and USB. As I understand it, that is a real no, no for disks, but if it is a hub, then maybe it would be OK.

Any experience?

Andy

anika123 · 03-12-2009, 07:19 AM

Quote:


	How did you have them connected anika123 ? Firewire or USB2.0 ?

It has been a few years but I am fairly certain I had them connected via firewire. I would always choose firewire given the choice.

I just now daisy chained them via firewire and again they perform as normal BUT... I really can't test them again because I have to much data on them now to start over.

As I remember it, small file exchanges were fine but things got crazy moving larger amounts to the second drive.
These drives are the FW400 ministacks maybe the FW800 specs are different. I have my doubts though as the chips on board would have to buffer all the data before sending to the second drive. So it seems this would be more a problem of the chips and firmware as opposed to the FireWire specs.

Quote:


	but if it is a hub, then maybe it would be OK

Being boneheaded and after re-formating I am sure I would have tried the FW>USB route as well. Does'nt OWC have a 30 day money back policy? You could try it out.

andyda · 03-12-2009, 11:54 AM

A quick update...

I just called OWC/MacSales and asked a couple of questions

1. When connecting up both a Firewire (800 or 400) and a USB the has circuitry to instruct the drive how to use the inputs as disk data and as a Hub for an exernal device.

2. The support guy said that there should be no problem using either the FW 800 or 400 as a FW hub and doing a clone backup.

as akika123 posted, they do have a 30 money-back policy, the idea of trying is a good one --thanks for the suggestion.

I guess I should have just called them in the first place, but maybe asking the question and sharing the information with the community was worthwhile.

Thanks for all responses.

Andy

anika123 · 03-12-2009, 12:13 PM

Quote:


	sharing the information with the community was worthwhile.

Yes indeed. Anyway please keep us posted on this thread about your success. I would be curious to find out if I have had bad luck or bad drives or both

03-11-2009, 11:10 AM	#1
andyda Triple-A Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 52	NewerTech - miniStack as hub and Time Machine backup The new iMac only has one Firewire 800. I have some Firewire 800 drives I am going to use as "clone drives". With my current iMac (an aging 1st gen iMac G5) I currently use a USB hub to get my USB out where I can reach it. What about using one of the Quad interface NewerTech - MiniStack drives as a Firewire 400/800 and USB hub? http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ministackv3 As a side benefit I could also use the drive as a Time Machine backup since it would already be on as a hub. Thoughts and/or other ideas appreciated. Andy

03-11-2009, 03:59 PM	#4
stewiesno1 Major Leaguer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sydney , Australia Posts: 419	Personally I wouldn't be daisychaining drives if that is what you are thinking of doing andyda. I think you would be setting yourself up for a few problems. I have no knowledge of the miniStack as a device although it does get pretty good reviews. I have just read a few reports where the authors have said that despite its promises , firewire is still not as failsafe in this regard as we would like to think. I would love to be proved wrong on this though. Remember that not all firewire devices are created equal although I think the ones that appear in Mac resellers do appear to be of the better quality. Some companies do a better job of meeting FW specs than others. If you have a device that barely meets FW specs then it can cause problems if it is part of a chain. Sometimes for both daisychained drives to work they also have to be connected up in a certain order. Much better to buy a powered firewire hub and connect your drives up that way even though I don't think there is any such beast as a FW 800 hub only FW 400. Stewie Last edited by stewiesno1; 03-11-2009 at 04:11 PM.

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03-11-2009, 01:35 PM	#2
jeffo All Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 713	I have the older version of this drive, and i really like it.

03-11-2009, 04:25 PM	#7
stewiesno1 Major Leaguer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sydney , Australia Posts: 419	Ah well there you go. My GoogleFu is weak today. I would like to hear from anyone who has used one of these miniStacks or others like it as a hub as a friend of mine is wanting to do exactly the same as the OP. Stewie

03-11-2009, 08:13 PM	#9
stewiesno1 Major Leaguer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sydney , Australia Posts: 419	How did you have them connected anika123 ? Firewire or USB2.0 ? Stewie

03-12-2009, 12:27 AM	#10
andyda Triple-A Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 52	This has become a lively thread. Lots of good info, some liking the MiniStack some not. I believe the last post may have hit on something... The connection method I was planning on connecting via Firewire 800, but is as it is advertised, that it can be a Firewire/USB hub, then it seems that it would have to be connected with Firewire 800 and USB. As I understand it, that is a real no, no for disks, but if it is a hub, then maybe it would be OK. Any experience? Andy

03-12-2009, 11:54 AM	#12
andyda Triple-A Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 52	A quick update... I just called OWC/MacSales and asked a couple of questions 1. When connecting up both a Firewire (800 or 400) and a USB the has circuitry to instruct the drive how to use the inputs as disk data and as a Hub for an exernal device. 2. The support guy said that there should be no problem using either the FW 800 or 400 as a FW hub and doing a clone backup. as akika123 posted, they do have a 30 money-back policy, the idea of trying is a good one --thanks for the suggestion. I guess I should have just called them in the first place, but maybe asking the question and sharing the information with the community was worthwhile. Thanks for all responses. Andy