Sonnet Tempo SATA E4P Problems

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Level 1

0 points

Sonnet Tempo SATA E4P Problems

Hi,

I have a Sonnet Tempo SATA E4P card (firmware 2.2.1) that seems to be causing me grief in 10.6.2. I'm having problems waking my '09 Mac Pro from sleep—basically it won't—and I have drives in my external enclosure (a Firmtek 5-bay PM) randomly dismount. Is anyone else having these types of problems?

This is the information in the OS X Problem Report:

Interval Since Last Panic Report: 228097 sec
Panics Since Last Report: 3
Anonymous UUID: 100D5522-639C-4AA0-9623-121B99B80040

Mon Mar 1 17:21:01 2010
panic(cpu 6 caller 0x13614a7): ATA Disk: Error when attempting to reset device, status = 0xe00002d7

Backtrace (CPU 6), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x92873ea8 : 0x21b2bd (0x5cf868 0x92873edc 0x223719 0x0)
0x92873ef8 : 0x13614a7 (0x1365d04 0xe00002d7 0x5ef 0x17593000)
0x92873f18 : 0x1364057 (0x17593000 0x136420a 0x92873f4f 0x0)
0x92873f58 : 0x1363e80 (0x17593000 0x27a317eb 0x92873f78 0x2a0596)
0x92873f78 : 0x22f973 (0x17593000 0x0 0x92873fc8 0x227634)
0x92873fc8 : 0x29d68c (0x863ea0 0x0 0x10 0x0)
Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.sonnettech.SonnetSATABlockStorage(2.2.1)@0x135f000->0x1367fff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily(2.5.0)@0x11ec000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily(1.6)@0xe07000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task

Mac OS version:
10C540

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 10.2.0: Tue Nov 3 10:37:10 PST 2009; root:xnu-1486.2.11~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: MacPro4,1 (Mac-F221BEC8)

'09 Mac Pro 2.66, 16 GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD 4870, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Mar 1, 2010 5:36 PM

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Answer 1

FirmTek

Level 1

40 points

Mar 2, 2010 7:45 AM in response to Joe Grzenda

I have a Sonnet Tempo SATA E4P card (firmware 2.2.1) that seems to be causing me grief in 10.6.2. I'm having problems waking my '09 Mac Pro from sleep—basically it won't.

Dear Joe,
You may want to review the E4P 2.21 driver install tip found here:
http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/archives/feb10/022510.html#S26630

While troubleshooting the E4P problem, I would only install one hard disk in the 5PM enclosure to eliminate the possibility that the issue is related to a defective hard disk. I would also disconnect all USB and FireWire devices except the mouse and keyboard. (Sometimes USB hubs/devices can cause wake on sleep issues with Mac OS X)

If you have previously installed other 3rd controller drivers, It is a good idea to remove them while troubleshooting the E4P. If you need help with this - you can send a description of the problem you are experiencing and a copy of the Apple System Profiler data to FirmTek support at http://www.firmtek.com/support/

These tips should help to resolve the issue,

FirmTek Support

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Answer 2

Joe Grzenda Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 2, 2010 6:40 PM in response to FirmTek

Hi,

Thanks for the post and reference. I'll try these ideas and report back. I really appreciate your support.

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Answer 3

Mar 20, 2010 7:10 PM in response to Joe Grzenda

Wow, someone else having the exact same problem as I have been having for
a solid month now. I thought it might have been the drives. I thought it might
have been the 5 bay enclosure (both Burly and Sonnet). Then, after a solid month
of pulling out my hair, I found out the problem is the Sonnet Driver. I contacted
Neal at Sonnet, who was helpful at first. Apparently he had sent me the previous
version of the driver to try, but I did not get it.

In any case, I noticed from the start that the Sonnet driver would not show up in the extensions list in about this Mac. I tried a fresh install of the system on a new drive, and still it did not show in the extensions. However, I installed a new system on an external FW drive, and the Sonnet driver did show, and worked fine.

I'm running a test now, on a new drive, where the Sonnet Driver does not show in the extensions, to see if the drives all drop. I'm also going to try a clean install of Snow Leopard on another drive, to see what happens. I have not tried the previous version of the driver yet.

This has been so hugely time consuming. I am a full time professional photograher, and have not had access to my terrabytes of storage due to this nightmare, which all started when I tried to install the newest driver for the E4P card.

I can forward you that previous version, to see if that works or not. At least I know I'm not alone, or crazy in this.

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Answer 4

Mar 30, 2010 2:32 AM in response to Joe Grzenda

I have similar issues with a Sonnettech E4p card, which has never worked satisfactorily as I have proved that the driver issue prevents wake up from sleep and OSX loads noticably slower with the driver loaded.

I have raised the issue with Sonnetech Asia via an agent who has responed:

Quote:
Here is the reply from Sonnet regarding your issue:

"Version 2.21 of the driver is causing some sleep problems for some customers. We usually knock those customers back to 2.19. However, 2.19 isn't 64-bit compatible so it may not be a solution for Tony. Our software engineer is working on fixing the problems."
Unquote.

I have tried the driver with 10.6.3 today hoping that might have fixed something but no change.

I hope that their engineers will move quickly to solve the problem as I cannot find 2.19, and I prefer to operate in 64bit mode on my MacPro.

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Answer 5

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Mar 30, 2010 3:25 AM in response to Tony Dickinson

I just did a clean install 10.6.0 and updated, then installed latest Sonnet driver. Too early yet but haven't run into any issue (Mac Pro 1,1).

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Answer 6

Mar 30, 2010 4:22 AM in response to The hatter

Hi thanks for the reply, I have tried that with the same result ie being unable to wake up from sleep. I also notice that it appears to take longer to start and shutdown with the card driver loaded.

Is it possible to update the firmware on the card, as I cannot find any Sonnett application to do that?

My MacPro is early 2009 version 2X2.26 Nahalen w 16GB memory

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Answer 7

Jun 16, 2010 5:25 PM in response to Tony Dickinson

I have now had this E4P card for 1 year plus and despite being very expensive Sonnett have failed to make this card work as expected, and despite using their latest driver 2.2.4 (Tempo SATA Pro Family Driver (OS X - Mac Pro or MacBook Pro only) 2.2.4), my MacPro will NOT wake from sleep with the driver loaded. Their appears to be no real solution and I have removed all my internal disks in the MacPro and loaded a single spare, reloaded OSX 10.6.4 yesterday, and with the basic OSX only loaded plus the E4P driver, the system will not wake up from sleep and requires a reset.

I am very disappointed with the standard of service and lack of acknowledgement from Sonnet regarding this well known problem in respect of an expensive device which does not work as adverised. By copy of this mail to Sonnetech Asia despite being very patient I would ask for a replacement card that works or a return of the card with a full refund.

I cannot keep resetting my computer and am not prepared to wait any longer for a fix.

Brgds/Tony

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Answer 8

arbjerg

Level 1

0 points

Jul 10, 2010 12:03 PM in response to Tony Dickinson

I hav also been experiencing the same problems panic drops, unable to wake from sleep, random ejects. After Mac OS 10.6.4 it worsened. I am not convinced it is purely Sonnets issue, but regardless I am willing to try out other cards as status quo is totally unacceptable. Does anyone have experience with other sata express cards? Do they work or is this maybe a Mac OS issue?

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Answer 9

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Jul 10, 2010 12:09 PM in response to arbjerg

Mac OS updates 'breaking' controllers is.... well, almost normal thing and comes with the territory.

Which is why a working bootable backup (clone); waiting a week for reports to surface; checking to see if Sonnet has a beta (ask), and you can almost always find readers sending in reports to sites like AccelerateYourMac and MacIntouch.

Sonnet uses SiliconImage chipset. I have the E4P on my Mac Pro 1,1 and it works. No panics, sleep, ejects, neither before or after the 10.6.4 update.

But yes, it is possible on different models, even with different drives or enclosures (and not designed for non or multi interface). PM enclosures also have their own chipset that just adds more complexity.

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Answer 10

Sep 20, 2010 1:26 PM in response to The hatter

Just in case anyone is interested, I just bought and installed a Sonnet Tempo E4P in my 2010 Mac Pro 12 Core/2.93 Ghz machine, using the 2.2.4 driver. Like the other posters, my computer will not wake at all from sleep.

I bought this card because I was having problems with a HighPoint Quad 644 eSATA card. At least with that card, the computer would wake from sleep (although the drives connected to the card disappeared).

This is a real pain. I'm wondering what card I should try next.

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Answer 11

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Sep 20, 2010 2:15 PM in response to Lee Blaske1

FirmTek. In fact that would be where to start.

And FirmTek does pop in here from time to time.

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Answer 12

Sep 29, 2010 4:30 AM in response to Joe Grzenda

I had this update from my apple store (www.hightechhilversum.nl)
He had more clients with this issue.
i gues this will work,
Let us find it out.

this version is from May 2010

http://www.sonnettech.com/support/downloads/software/tsataiie1p_e2p_e342p_macv1.2.4.dmg

http://www.sonnettech.com/support/downloads/manuals/temposata_e2pqsg.pdf

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Answer 13

Oct 13, 2010 4:28 PM in response to Petro Van de Pas

I've been waiting on SonnetTech for a couple of months now to code a new driver which eliminates this sleep issues in Snow Leopard. I know many of you have been waiting much longer. I first called tech support a couple of months ago and got some snot-nosed tech who basically said "the guy doing the coding has got lots of more important things to do, so he'll get to it when he gets to it."
So, I called the SonnetTech Chief of Ops and he was nice and said a new driver would be released in a couple of weeks - I am still waiting... from the sound of it, management was completely unaware that so many people were having sleep wakeup issues with their Mac Pros using E4Ps... so if you want action, I recommend calling the Sonnettech Ops Chief and letting him know your pain. Also continue to post your issues here and on other forums. I've used SonnetTech RAID cards for years with great luck, so I am really surprised that they have not resolved this issue by now and that they don't even mention it on their website. I pay for their premium-priced products because I expect them to be high quality and up to Apple partner standards. So far on this issue, they've earned an F for effort.

Message was edited by: seminolefans

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Answer 14

Oct 24, 2010 1:10 PM in response to Lee Blaske1

Just wondering if anyone has found a fix for this? In particular you, Lee, as we both have the same machine...

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