Tempo-X eSATA

Sonnet has announced the Tempo-X eSATA 4+4 8-port Serial ATA PCI-X host controller. The $200 device replaces the Tempo-X SATA 4+4, adding features while retaining the same price. New features include eSATA connectors used in the external ports, drive activity LEDs, and hot-swap drive connection support. Sonnet also announced the addition of hot-swap functionality to the Tempo-X family of SATA PCI-X host controllers. Customers who have already purchased and installed a Tempo-X host controller may now to add this new feature.

Like the Tempo-X SATA 4+4 it replaces, Tempo-X eSATA 4+4 offers four internal ports, plus four external ports for connecting SATA drives. The external ports now feature eSATA connectors, the emerging standard for the external deployment of Serial ATA storage solutions. Designed for applications where swapping drives is required, eSATA connectors and cables offer better shielding for improved EMI characteristics, have better retention than the internal SATA I version, and are rated at 5,000
insertion cycles.

The Tempo-X eSATA 4+4 utilizes the PCI-X interface. Users can connect up to eight hard drives for up to 4 terabytes of storage space and can group them in a RAID 0 (striped) array to achieve sustained read/write
speeds in excess of 545MB/s. With the addition of hot-swap functionality, users can change projects and drives on the fly.

by MacNN Staff