For our latest products, please visit the OWC website at www.macsales.com

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions - Knowledge Base

[Thunder Dock] Why is my eSATA drive not recognized?

If your eSATA drive or eSATA port multiplier is based on the Silicon Image 3726 or JMicron 575 chipset and not all slots or ports are occupied, make sure to always connect a drive to the first slot or port. The first bay (disk 0) cannot be empty!

In some cases, the sequence of how the devices are connected can make a difference. If you have connected the docking station to your computer via Thunderbolt first and only then plugged in the eSATA drive, disconnect the Thunderbolt cable and re-connect it. Alternatively, plug in the eSATA drive first, before you power on the docking station. For example:

  1. Connect the eSATA drive(s) to the AKiTiO Thunder Dock.
  2. Turn on the power to the eSATA drive(s).
  3. Plug in the power adapter to the AKiTiO Thunder Dock.
  4. Connect the Thunderbolt cable from the AKiTiO Thunder Dock to the computer.

If you are still experiencing problems, make sure that your OS is up to date and that the system uses the latest version of the EFI firmware. For more details about EFI firmware updates, please see http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1237.

Note:
The SeriTek/5PM eSATA hard drive enclosure from FirmTek is not compatible with the AKiTiO Thunder Dock. The TR4M in JBOD configuration from Sans Digital has also been reported as incompatible.