SATA drives

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ILiya - 29 Dec 2004 12:23 GMT

Knowing that Windows NT 4 Server does not support USB interface, I consider
if it can work with hard drives with serial ATA interface before buying one.
Thank you in advance.

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Dave Patrick - 30 Dec 2004 03:35 GMT

There's no question that there won't be native support but check with the
drive controller manufacturer to see if they support Windows NT

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Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
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| Knowing that Windows NT 4 Server does not support USB interface, I consider
| if it can work with hard drives with serial ATA interface before buying one.
| Thank you in advance.

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Calvin - 30 Dec 2004 08:34 GMT

Hi Iluya,

Several people have reported success in these newsgroups over the last year or
so using SATA interface drives. The secret is using a SATA controller that has
supplied NT4.0 drivers. i know several companies (for example Promise
Technology) that provide such driver support.

One person even reported no problems with a large RAID SATA configuration, with
the drives in the array each approximately 250GB in size - ie: the overall array
rapidly heading towards 1TB in size !

As for USB on NT 4.0, the myth from Microsoft that it cannot be made to work is
just that - at total myth !!

Have a look at http://nt4ref.zcm.com.au/usb.htm for my thoughts on this subject.

This page is shortly to be completely re-written in light of the successful
trials I have conducted here using the IONetworks NT4 USB stack. I now have USB
access available for HID (Human Interface Devices - eg: Keyboards and Mice),
mass storage devices (eg: HDDs ad 'disk-on-key' Flash storage devices),
Removable media devices (eg: CD/DVD drives) and WebCameras. All of this works
flawlessly.

Calvin.

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ILiya - 30 Dec 2004 15:06 GMT

sounds very good. I'l give it a try.
Merry Crhistmas and Happy New Year!!!

> Hi Iluya,
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> Calvin.

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Karen - 26 Jan 2005 14:59 GMT

Hi Calvin,

How about a USB printer?

Karen

> Hi Iluya,
>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> Calvin.

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Calvin - 26 Jan 2005 22:44 GMT

Hi Karen,

I can't say I've seen any USB printers running on a NT 4.0 system - again
though, there is no PHYSICAL reason why it could not be made to work. The
problem would be finding suitable support code (drivers etc) to make it happen.

As I've said here many times before SOME USB devices can be supported and used
easily on NT 4.0, especially mass storage devices like 'disk on key' flash
memory devices and removable Hard Disk Drives etc... I also have a USB webcam
running fine here. There is also ready support available for 'Human Interface
Devices (HID)' ie: Mice and Keyboards :-)

At the moment I'm not a big fan of putting devices on the USB system if there
are other interconnection standards available - in the case of printers, the
good old Parallel Interface is just fine, and there is still plenty of models
still available, most supplied with NT 4.0 drivers.

I recently had to replace my trusty Canon LBP4u (4ppm laser) printer - it died
after 10 years of flawless and hard work :-( I was expecting to have a tough
time finding a suitable replacement. My fears were unfounded - it has been
replaced with a Brother HL-5140. This is a really nice 20ppm laser, parallel
port, generous size paper bin, full NT 4.0 support and (joy oh joy) a real PCL
printer, not one of these DREADFUL 'Windows Printing System' contraptions !

Have a look at http://nt4ref.zcm.com.au/usb.htm for my thoughts on USB and NT
4.0 - note to everyone on the newsgroup - this page is shortly to be expanded
and re-written, when I have some free time.

Calvin.

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