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Q: Daisy chaining mixed connectivity drives

I have an iBook (OS X 10.5.8 Leopard) with 2 USB 2.0 ports and a Firewire 400 port. The USB ports are in use, as is a hub plugged in one of them. I have a CalDigit AV drive connected to the iBook via a Firewire 400 - Firewire 800 cable. The drive also has an additional Firewire 800 port and a USB 3.0 port.

 

I'm wondering if a USB 3.0 drive can be daisy chained to the CalDigit drive through the USB 3.0 port, even if it is connected to the computer via Firewire 400.  If this is possible, I realize I would only get Firewire 400 speed, which is okay.

 

Or do I need to find another Firewire drive to daisy chain?

 

Thanks

iBook, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Apr 22, 2014 6:59 PM

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Q: Daisy chaining mixed connectivity drives

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  • by a brody,

    a brody a brody Apr 24, 2014 5:32 AM in response to gcakmn
    Level 9 (66,781 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Apr 24, 2014 5:32 AM in response to gcakmn

    Firewire and USB can only run independently.  For the most part only Firewire can boot iBook G4s.

  • by gcakmn,

    gcakmn gcakmn Apr 26, 2014 6:41 AM in response to gcakmn
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2014 6:41 AM in response to gcakmn

    My queston has become irrelevant for me, at least for immediate needs. I've found a Firewire drive I like that will play well with my current drive.

     

    But, it would still be interesting and perhaps helpful to someone sometime to know what if any mixing of connectivities might work . . .

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Apr 26, 2014 9:43 AM in response to gcakmn
    Level 6 (14,269 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 26, 2014 9:43 AM in response to gcakmn

    For the most part, these drives with USB and FW don't share to the other;

    the intent was to allow either one or the other. FW for older Macs that may

    be able to boot from a HDD (with oxford chipset) or USB2.0/3.0 for storage

    or for newer Intel Macs that may boot a clone from USB. However a Mac

    could use FW or USB when both are available, separately to boot clones

    if the computer hardware supports both. And if the external HD does.

     

    Depending on the circuitry in the external enclosure, are the possibilities.

    A logic circuit and extra cost, may allow the ports to share data across

    the two separately supported channels. Lacking that, most can't do it.

    Usually that is because they are like different frequencies, no converter.

     

    However you could try. Or contact the maker, to see if you get a reply,

    then share that information along with enclosure brand/model number.

    That may be curious, conditional, if it were to work at all with one setup.

     

    Good luck