port multiplier

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port multiplier

Also called a "fan-out," it is a device that expands one physical socket/jack into several. For example, an eSATA port multiplier allows multiple external SATA drives to be connected to one eSATA port on the computer. Also called a "port expander," another example is a USB hub, which allows multiple USB devices to work with one USB port on the computer. See SATA and USB.

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The industry's first 3Gb/s SATA host controller supporting PCI-Express, the SiI 3132 offers full advanced SATA functionality normally limited to server-class systems, including 3 Gb/s SATA data transfer rates, Native Command Queuing, support for port multipliers with Frame Information Structure (FIS)-based switching and support for ATAPI commands, making it compatible with optical drives such as CD-ROMs and DVD+/-RWs.

PCI-EXPRESS SIL 3132 COMPATIBILE WITH OPTICAL DRIVES

Port Multiplier enables 15 drives to be connected to a single SATA controller.

Is SATA ready for the enterprise?

The test results below are achieved by using a Silicon Image 3Gb/s Port Multiplier and 2--4 Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 SATA 1.5Gb/s, 400GB disk drives.

SATA disk drives; 3 versus 1.5 gigabit/sec: dispelling the myth of higher interface rates

When a port multiplier is added to a single SATA port, a single host port can access up to 15 drives.

What is SATA II? How is it different from SATA "one"? Should I care if my system supports SATA II?

The new SATA II specification addresses this rising demand with its new Port Multipliers (PMs).