MacBook Pros (Early 2011) and ThunderBolt - Target Disk Mode?

I can try to confirm for you in 24hrs when I get mine. But with no cables that currently support the standard, much less anything to connect it to (except another MBP) it's hard to say for 100% without direct word from Apple. I'll be doing some investigation on that as well. I do know that the port is in fact powered, so that's a good sign, not that it's necessarily required for target disk mode.

I knew I'd find others interested in this...

USB doesn't support Target Mode now, only Firewire - but I'd REALLY love a robust new Target Mode option over Thunderbolt. It's so helpful for serious troubleshooting, dying hard drives, and cloning.

From: http://www.macworld.com/article/158145/2011/02/thunderboltwhat_you_need_toknow.html

*Does Thunderbolt support Target Disk Mode and Migration Assistant?*

On the new MacBook Pro models, you can use Target Disk Mode over a computer-to-computer Thunderbolt connection. (We assume this will be the case with future Thunderbolt-equipped Macs, as well.) However, Mac OS X’s Migration Assistant software doesn’t currently support Thunderbolt connections.

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This makes me very happy, assuming they are right.

Thanks. Needed that.

From MacWorld:

Can you boot a Mac from a Thunderbolt drive?

We suspect so, but we haven't yet confirmed this capability. We'll update this answer when we know more. We're also looking into whether you can boot your Mac from a USB or FireWire drive connected to a Thunderbolt port using an adapter.

Does Thunderbolt support Target Disk Mode and Migration Assistant?

On the new MacBook Pro models, you can use Target Disk Mode over a computer-to-computer Thunderbolt connection. (We assume this will be the case with future Thunderbolt-equipped Macs, as well.) However, Mac OS X’s Migration Assistant software doesn’t currently support Thunderbolt connections.

I just booted my new MBP into Target Disk Mode to transfer everything over from my old one, before I plugged in my FW800 cable, there was a Thunderbolt icon and a FW icon. Once I plugged in the cable, the TB icon went away. Makes me a bit sad as this could be the last ones with FW.

End of an era perhaps...

We should still be able to use a Thunderbolt to FireWire 800 (or FireWire 3200 perhaps?) adapter and use Target Disk Mode if we want to relive the slow old days. 🙂