eSATA / Mountain Lion

Question

eSATA / Mountain Lion

I did expect this -

having upgraded to 10.8, I can't say I'm surprised that my eSATA drivers are not working.

I'm not sure whether they were last upgraded by Silicone Image in 2010 (with Snow Leopard) or 2011 (with Lion), they seem to be dated 2010, atlthough I could swear there was an issue with the Lion upgrade a year ago.

I forget who the manufacturer is on my PCI card - the system profile for it is

pci1095,3132

I just tried installing what I believe is the latest driver from Silicone Image (SiI3132r5_1.7.5.0_Sil_Pkg.mpkg)

anyhow, it seems to do nothing - oh well!

Hopefully Silicone Image will come along with an updated driver soon!

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how get an eSATA driver for Mountain Lion from Silicone Image or anyone else?

I'm running a four-drive enclosure - they're not all RAIDed together - just four individual drives.

I wouldn't mind buying a new PCI or PCI Express card if I have to... (that would be easier than the alternative, which, I imagine, is buying four USB2 enclosures for these drives... or a way more expensive alternative would be to invest in either USB3 or Thunderbolt technology, which would mean I would have to buy four enclosures - or something that holds four drives - AND either USB3 or Thunderbolt PCI cards for my 2008 MacPro! It might come to that anyhow, if eSATA is gradually being phased out, we'll see if Silicone or someone comes up with something for Mountain Lion...)

thanks

Will

Posted on Jul 27, 2012 10:38 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 27, 2012 11:08 AM in response to WillFriedwald2

It isn't clear whether that version of the driver is 64-bit-capable or not. If it is 32-bit-only, then it won't load in Mountain Lion. You might try installing the slightly older beta version (1.2.5.0) that explicitly claims to be a 64-bit-capable driver.

http://www.siliconimage.com/support/searchresults.aspx?pid=32&cat=3

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Answer 2

Jul 27, 2012 7:30 PM in response to WillFriedwald2

I ran into the same problem. After installing 10.8 the Silicon Image software was moved into the incompatibel software folder and I couldn't access my eSATA drives via the card.

I tried to uninstall the driver following these directions, but none of the files/folders were there as I'm guessing the OS moved everything for me when it determined it was incompatible.

1. Disconnect all devices that connected to EC-ES03D

2. Reboot

3. Delete /System/Library/Extensions/SiliconImage3132.kext (If this file exist in the OS)

4. Delete /System/Library/Extensions.kextcache

5. Delete /System/Library/Caches/com.apple.kernelcaches/*

6. Reboot

(If you would like to re-install the driver, please follow below steps.)

7. Login in as an administrator user

8. Re-download and install the Mac OSX driver.

I then installed 1.2.5.0, as mentioned above, and everything worked fine with the install. I hooked the card back up and the drives fired up without a hitch. Hope your's is working again soon.

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Answer 3

Jul 27, 2012 10:06 PM in response to McGrooter

ooh! nuts!

I was trying to do this on a completely new 10.8 Mountain Lion system - without any previous 10.7 software hanging around...

but this morning I tried installing the 3132 driver and, as I said it didn't work.

Now you're telling me I have to uninstall the 3132 driver and, what's worse, take out the PCI express card? now that's frightening - because right now I can still go back and forth between the previous 10.7 system (on another startup drive) and the new 10.8 system - I don't want to think about lousing up the 10.7 system eSATA, which I know, at least, works!

I guess I'll screw my courage to the sticking place and give it a try in the morning...

thanks!

W

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Answer 4

Dimme

Level 2

291 points

Jul 28, 2012 5:28 AM in response to WillFriedwald2

I have a genirc silicon image card also. When I upgraded to Mountain Lion I too had the drivers moved to the Incompatible Software folder. It was verson 1.2.5.0. I just reinstalled the same drivers and all is well. I think I did the same when I went to Lion.

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Answer 5

Jul 28, 2012 8:29 AM in response to Dimme

am going to try it - the only thing that frightens me is removing the card - what if it then won't work with my now-still functioning 10.7.4 startup drive system? Oh! Oh! Oh! Worry! Worry! Worry!

okay, now, re-reading McGrooter's advice, I have two questions:

* EC-ES03D - what exactly is this?? Not clear if that's the card or something else.

* McGrooter talks about putting the card back, but the instruction, reading it in the cool clear light of morning, says to disconnect the devices. In other words, to pull the eSATA cable out of the card. It does NOT say to remove the card... or am I reading it wrong?

all right, going to follow the instructions and then install the 1.2.5.0 - time for prayer!

w

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Answer 6

Jul 28, 2012 9:08 AM in response to WillFriedwald2

am totally astonished - it seems to have worked!

1. Disconnect all devices that connected to EC-ES03D

(STILL NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS - BUT I DISCONNECTED THE CABLE FROM THE PCI-EXPRESS CARD, ASSUMING THAT'S WHAT IT IS....)

2. Reboot

3. Delete /System/Library/Extensions/SiliconImage3132.kext (If this file exist in the OS)

(THIS DID NOT EXIST IN THE NEW 10.8 SYSTEM...)

4. Delete /System/Library/Extensions.kextcache

(THIS WAS THERE - AND I DELETED IT, YES.)

5. Delete /System/Library/Caches/com.apple.kernelcaches/*

(THE ASTERISK STANDS FOR ANYTHING & EVERYTHING IN THIS PARTICULAR PATH?- IN ANY EVENT, THIS ALSO DID NOT EXIST IN THE NEW 10.8 SYSTEM...)

6. Reboot

(If you would like to re-install the driver, please follow below steps.)

7. Login in as an administrator user

8. Re-download and install the Mac OSX driver.

I then re-started yet again for good measure, prayed fiercely for 15 minutes, held my breath and turned on the eSATA drives... and here they are!

I'm totally astonished - I was certain I would have to wait months before Silicone Image would come up with a driver that worked with Mountain Lion!

thanks to all of you very fine gentlemen for making this a wonderful day for me! Wait till I tell my girlfriend!

(will report back later... hopefully it will still be working!)

W

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Answer 7

Jul 29, 2012 8:48 PM in response to WillFriedwald2

Glad it worked. Sorry for the confusion about the EC-ES03D. That is the card I have, which is in an express card slot on my MBP. I would have suggested trying it without removing the PCI Express card on your desktop, so I'm glad that worked after all.

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Answer 8

DF111

Level 1

10 points

Aug 1, 2012 7:16 PM in response to David A. Gatwood

I had the same issue when upgrading from Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion, where the eSata no longer was talking to my G Drive Q. I downloaded (and installed) the driver from Silicone Image (that you recommended), and the G Drive immediately mounted, even before rebooting the computer.

(So perhaps there is no need to go through all the motions that the other folks have been going through.)

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Answer 9

Aug 16, 2012 11:00 AM in response to WillFriedwald2

I'm using the following Silicon Image PCi card in a MacPro circa 2008> http://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-com-Express-eSATA-Controller-Adapter/dp/B000ZLR GKQ/ref=cm_rdp_product

And a http://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-com-Flush-ExpressCard-Controller-Adapter/dp/B00 2LM2760/ref=cm_cr-mr-title in a Macbook Pro late 2008 -

The Sonnettech driver works with both setups in OSX 10.7 and 10.8 and is the most up to date Silicon image driver I can find - here's what happened...

"I've just installed mountain lion OSX 10.8 and been informed by the computer that the 'silicon image driver is incompatible and has been removed'. However a little icon in still present in the menu bar when the card is plugged in, listing it a 'Mass Storage Controller'. Hmm maybe it works without a driver now? Plug in ESATA drive.....nothing. Oh dear!

Download from direct link> http://www.sonnettech.com/support/downloads/software/DSKCD-E2PE342PE_NEW.dmg

Install the ' Tempo SATA E2P, Tempo SATA Edge ExpressCard/34 and Tempo SATA ExpressCard/34 Driver (OS X 10.5+) 1.2.6'

Full web page link here http://www.sonnettech.com/support/kb/kb.php?cat=345&expand=_a2_b401_b515&action= a3

You will most likely be told you can't install the driver as it is not from a 'recognised source' so you need to go the SYSTEM PREFERENCES > SECURITY & PRIVACY > then 'Allow Applications downloaded from: - Anywhere - This will allow the installer to run, I'd recommend switching back to the original, more secure setting once you have installed.

Reboot.

That's it, your ESATA card/drives will work with Mountain Lion! Please note this worked for me, your experience may vary."

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Answer 10

Mark3D

Level 1

20 points

Nov 1, 2012 3:26 AM in response to WillFriedwald2

I have done as you said. I have removed the external LaCie disk, unplugged the cable, I didn't find any file to delete. Then I rebooted and logged in as root, downloaded the SiI3132_1.2.5.0_Sil_Pkg.mpkg

installed it, rebooted, logged in as normal user, plugged the HD via eSata, turned it on and nothing happened! How can I mount the LaCie volume?

This trouble has come out just on Mountain Lion. Never happened before.

Any pointer will be welcome.

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Answer 11

Nov 1, 2012 2:20 PM in response to Mark3D

For help read my post above re: Sonnet Tempo drivers. These have been updated since the Sil3132 driver and are working perfectly for me on 10.8.3 - The Sonnet ESATA cards used Silicon image chips so the driver works with ANY generic Sil ESATA cards.

I am using these drivers on my 2008 macbookpro with an Expresscard and a 2009 MacPro with a PCi card.

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Answer 12

Nov 10, 2012 11:44 PM in response to McGrooter

Thanks for this, been struggling to get my Silicon Image e-SATA working since installing 10.8, following instructions here and down grading to v1.2.5 worked for me, 2 drives now working with 10.8.2.

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Answer 13

fkfc1

Level 1

8 points

Nov 12, 2012 3:14 PM in response to Mark3D

I'm also not get my "LaCie SATA II ExpressCard 34" adapter to allow reading of a JBOD, nor 2 other eSATA-connected devices. I tried hooking in a WD drive with USB2, which worked, but not with eSATA thru this LaCie card.

1. Disconnect all devices that connected to EC-ES03D

2. Reboot

3. Delete /System/Library/Extensions/SiliconImage3132.kext (If this file exist in the OS)

4. Delete /System/Library/Extensions.kextcache

5. Delete /System/Library/Caches/com.apple.kernelcaches/*

6. Reboot

(If you would like to re-install the driver, please follow below steps.)

7. Login in as an administrator user

8. Re-download and install the Mac OSX driver.

I followed this list.

1. yes

2. yes

3. yes

4. did not find anything with that name in /Library. Is this a typo that should read "Extensions/kextcache"??

5. did not find anything with that name in /Caches. I did delete "/Caches/com.apple.kext.caches/*"

6. yes

7. yes

8. yes

This didn't work for me. Anyone with suggestions? Thanks.

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Answer 14

Colinin

Level 1

5 points

Dec 4, 2012 11:28 AM in response to Andrew Smith7

Thanks Andrew Smith7!! Worked like a charm!!!

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Answer 15

Dec 20, 2012 7:15 AM in response to McGrooter

Quick question...

After you completed these tasks, if you go to About This Mac, click More Info..., click System Report..., and then go to the PCI Card tab and select your 3132, does it show you have a driver installed? Mine does not (running 10.8.2)

Thanks.

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