On Thu, Dec 16, 2010 at 7:29 AM, Volker Armin Hemmann <volkerar...@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
