What is FireWire Target Disk Mode?

What is FireWire Target Disk Mode?

What is FireWire Target Disk Mode? To understand FireWire Target Disk Mode, we need to know about FireWire and what it does, then examine the Target Disk Mode aspect of FireWire. FireWire is the brand name of Apple Inc. for the IEEE 1394 interface. Another name for this FireWire is i.Link, which is the Sony brand name. FireWire is also called IEEE 1394, however the standard for the 1934 additionally defines a backplane interface. It is a serial bus interface standard for personal computers, as well as for digital audio and for digital video, that offers high speed communications and isochronous real time data services. Because of lower implementation costs plus a simplified more adaptable cabling system, FireWire has replaced Parallel SCSI in various applications. HANA, or the High Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance, has adopted IEEE 1394 as the standard connection interface for audio/video component control and communication. FireWire also comes in a coaxial, wireless, and fiber optic versions using the isochronous protocols.

With FireWire Target Disk Mode, a Macintosh computer that has a FireWire port, which would be the target computer, has the ability to be used as an external hard disk that is connected to another computer, which is the host. Once a target computer is started up as a FireWire hard disk and is available to the host computer, files can be copied to or from that volume. A computer does not have the ability to go into FireWire target disk mode if the "Open Firmware Password" option has been enabled.

There are certain requirements that must be met by the target and the host computer to take advantage of the target disk mode of FireWire. For the host computer, the requirements are just a few. The host computer must have a built-in FireWire port, or have a FireWire port on a PC card . The host computer must also have version 2.3.3 or newer of FireWire. The last requirement is that the host computer must have a Macintosh operating system with version 8.6 or later.

For the target computer, the requirement needed to take advantage of FireWire target disk mode is that the target computer must be a certain model to take advantage of this mode. There are numerous models of Macintosh computers that meet the requirements for FireWire target disk mode. The first model to meet these requirements is the Slot Loading iMac that has a Firmware version of 2.4 or newer. All of the models of iMac that were introduced after the date July 2000, and the Summer 2000 models all meet the necessary requirements. Every eMac, and this includes all models, also meets the requirements as well. All models of the Mac mini have also met the requirements for target disk mode. Power Mac G4 with AGP Graphics and with ATA drive models also meet the necessary requirements. Also included in the list of models that have the requirements are the Power Mac G4 Cube, all models of the Power Mac G5, all models of Macbook and Macbook Pro, all models of iBook that were introduced after September 2000, and FireWire versions of PowerBook G3.

To utilize FireWire target disk mode, all other FireWire devices must be unplugged before using FireWire target disk mode. Until the two computers have been disconnected from each other or target disk mode has stopped being utilized, it is important not to plug in any FireWire devices. First ensure that the target computer is turned off. If the target computer is a PowerBook or iBook, make sure that the AC power adapter is plugged in. Use a FireWire cable to connect the target computer to the host computer. The host computer does not need to be turned off for this. Start up the target computer and then immediately press the T key and hold down until the FireWire icon appears. The hard disk of the target computer should become available to the host computer, and should appear on the desktop. If the target computer is running on Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, open System Preferences, choose Startup Disk, and click Target Disk Mode. Once the computer is restarted it will restart in target disk mode. When the file copying is completed, just drag the hard drive of the target computer to the trashcan on desktop, or select the Put Away option from the file menu if it is a Mac OS 9, or for Mac OS X choose the Eject option from the file menu. Turn the power off on the target computer and then unplug the FireWire cable. If the host computer does not have the target computer's hard drive available, check the connections of the cable and then restart the host computer.