eSATA connector: drives a SATA port extender (SiI3726 1-to-4 Serial ATA Port Multiplier).
USB connector: drives I/O controller for 8 status LEDs.
Extender/controller card replaces CPU card, much lower profile so smaller case.

Ilike that, its really neat.

Hey can I get one now???


and where!

_________________
HP MediaSmart- 2GB RAM - Upgraded CPU LE-1620
APC UPS - 1300VA
10.5 TB ( 6.5 for Data 4 for backup )
CFI ESata 4 Bay Enclosure
San Digital 4 Bay Enclosure-USB ( for backup )
3 Apple TVs - Streaming from MSS
2 Xbox 360 - Streaming from MSS

Too cool.... Can you show another view / angle?... Something about the flash reflection and a few other things makes me think this photo might be a work of 'art'

Photochop!

man...are you serious!?!?!
I got all excited for nothing...
Excuse me...I gotta take a cold shower

_________________
HP MediaSmart- 2GB RAM - Upgraded CPU LE-1620
APC UPS - 1300VA
10.5 TB ( 6.5 for Data 4 for backup )
CFI ESata 4 Bay Enclosure
San Digital 4 Bay Enclosure-USB ( for backup )
3 Apple TVs - Streaming from MSS
2 Xbox 360 - Streaming from MSS

Dang.... I think many folks already had their credit cards out...!

_________________
....JBick

EX475, 2 GB, LE-1640
PC1: Vista-->W7 Ultimate/32, (D-Drive RAID-5 Array)
PC2: Lenovo Laptop, Win XP Home SP3
2xLinksys WRT54G v1.1 and 2xNetGear GS105 Gbit switch

Not PhotoShop’ed that is for sure; hate it. Corel PhotoPaint actually. It is my dream accessory for my MSS.

The best extender I can find is the CFI-B4043PM-GG which is black, has 4 SATA bays and has the eSATA to 4 SATA drive multiplier (SiI3726). Its dimensions are great: 135W x 180H x 255Dmm compare that to the MSS of: 140W x 248H x 255Dmm. http://tecvine.com/4bayespomudr.html

But then you would have no LED status of the drive condition as you do for the 4 internal drives. That is why I wish HP would design one. Could come up with some form of a LED driver that would be driven by a USB connection. Then there would be 2 plugs to the MSS, the eSATA and one USB.

I would pay USD$250 for such a HP case. Who else would buy one?? Maybe other HP staff lurking here can get the concept to the MSS team as I have no idea who/where they are.

jarrod

Check out the posts about this over at MediaSmartHome:

http://www.mediasmarthome.com/forum/thr ... -Extender/

(No, I have not posted any "enlightenment" over there!)

_________________
....JBick

EX475, 2 GB, LE-1640
PC1: Vista-->W7 Ultimate/32, (D-Drive RAID-5 Array)
PC2: Lenovo Laptop, Win XP Home SP3
2xLinksys WRT54G v1.1 and 2xNetGear GS105 Gbit switch

That was me!!! I was so excited that I wanted to get it right away and wanted verification.....

I hate you Jarrod...lol

_________________
HP MediaSmart- 2GB RAM - Upgraded CPU LE-1620
APC UPS - 1300VA
10.5 TB ( 6.5 for Data 4 for backup )
CFI ESata 4 Bay Enclosure
San Digital 4 Bay Enclosure-USB ( for backup )
3 Apple TVs - Streaming from MSS
2 Xbox 360 - Streaming from MSS

Well I sent this post (Jarrods post ) to HP Canada.
I hope they will come and see This Great HP MediaSmart Extender.
I told this to my friends and told them to send this to HP.
You guys should do the same.
Tell your friends.
I want one or two of them.

_________________
Jacques

Sorry for my english but the french part of me take over some times.

I would have loved this to be true. I would definitely buy one

Yea it appear so but it got me thinking that it can somewhat be done and very easily or atlease I believe so.

So I began compairing the spacing on the backplanes of the MSS vs Rosewell and Sans Digital eSATA port multipliers and at this time they appear to be of the same spacing but I will need to rip them apart and measure to be sure. I was contemplating ripping one of my Port Multipilers aparts and retrofitting them in an empty MSS Case problem is I can't find an available case.

Furthermore I also think an 4 port SATA Backplane PCB, an SATA Bridge and powersupply can be retrofitted into an MSS case and work making everything work and with extra fans to keep the drives cool if needed.

Of course I am just thinking out loud about this but I do not think its over complicated but may prove to be more expensive then say buying a Sans Digital or Rosewell 4 Bay eSATA port multiplier but certainly it would be cool.

So if anyone see's a case available please let me know I do not care which MSS it is as long as its not an LX series just the EX series

_________________
Exploring the possibilities!

Migrated from WHS2011 to WS2012E: HIGHLANDER

~ Norco 4220 Enclosure
~ Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5
~ AMD Phenom II X4 995 3.2 GHz
~ 8 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
~ 3 Supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8

A forum member has already accomplished this task might look for his post.

here you go this might help:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4185

Thanks T-Bone! I read through erails project and it confirmed my initial thought about the CFI Backplane used by Rosewill and Sans Digital in their port multipliers plus it provided some additional information which I found usefull. There is another company selling a similar unit but its USB and they are currently selling USB versions which I believe I can convert to 8 bay units if I can only just get my hands on MSS Enclosures and trays and its been a while since I have seen such things on EBay so I will keep my eyes open.

On occasion some part out their units to increase the money they can make on failed units so while I do not wish anyones unit to fail I am looking for such individuals who do part out their units and right now I want 3 of them so its going to be a long process to obtain 3 enclosures with complete sets of trays without having to custom fabricate them because I want it all to look close to original as possible.

_________________
Exploring the possibilities!

Migrated from WHS2011 to WS2012E: HIGHLANDER

~ Norco 4220 Enclosure
~ Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5
~ AMD Phenom II X4 995 3.2 GHz
~ 8 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
~ 3 Supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8