Addonics Port Multiplier Comparison Chart
Product Name 5x1 eSATA Port Multiplier for
Rack mount Systems
(AD5SARPM-E)
5x1 Internal SATA
Port Multiplier
(AD5SAPM)
5x1eSATA Hardware
Port Multiplier
(AD5SAHPM-E)
2x1 eSATA/USB Hardware
Port Multiplier
(AD2SAHPMEU)
5x1 External
Port Multiplier
(AD5ESAPM-E)
 
           
Suitable type of enclosures or systems
  • Rack mounted system
  • Addonics Storage Tower or Mini Storage Tower
  • SCSI enclosure with Centronic 50-pin back panel
Standard or low profile computer case with 1 free PCI slot
  • Rack mounted system
  • Addonics Storage Tower or Mini Storage Tower
  • SCSI enclosure with Centronic 50-pin back panel
  • Rack mounted system
  • Addonics Storage Tower or Mini Storage Tower
  • SCSI enclosure with Centronic 50-pin back panel
External
Chipset SiI3726 SiI3726 SiI4726 SiI5744 SiI3726
RAID Configurations
  • eSATA - Capable of RAID 0, 1, 10,5, JBOD when connected to a PM compatible RAID host controller
  • USB 2.0 -Supports Software RAID through
    Disk Management or Disk Utility (OS tools)
eSATA - Capable of RAID 0, 1, 10,5, JBOD when connected to a PM compatible RAID host controller
  • eSATA - Built in RAID 0, 1, 10, BigDrive when connected to a compatible host controller
  • USB 2.0 - Built in RAID 0, 1, 10, BigDrive
eSATA or USB - Built in BIG(Concatenated), FAST(RAID 0), SAFE(RAID 1), SAFE33, SAFE50, or JBOD (individual drives)
  • eSATA - Built in RAID 0, 1, 10, BigDrive when connected to a compatible host controller
  • USB 2.0 - Built in RAID 0, 1, 10, BigDrive
Supported type of connection to computer
  • Any PM-compatible eSATA controller
  • Any computer with a USB 2.0 port2
eSATA
  • Any eSATA port once hard drives are configured under a single RAID volume1
  • Any PM-compatible eSATA controller
  • Any computer with a USB 2.0 port2
  • Any eSATA port once hard drives are configured under a single RAID volume1
  • Any PM-compatible eSATA controller
  • Any computer with a USB 2.0 port
  • Any PM-compatible eSATA controller
  • Any computer with a USB 2.0 port2
Supported Host Controllers Port Multiplier compatible
host controllers with an eSATA port
Port Multiplier compatible
host controllers with a SATA port
Any controller with eSATA port or any USB 2.0 port2 Any controller with eSATA port or USB 2.0 port Port Multiplier compatible
host controllers with a SATA port
Type of Storage Devices SATA hard drives, SATA optical drives,
SATA-CF Adapter (ADSACF)
SATA hard drives, SATA optical drives,
SATA-CF Adapter (ADSACF)
SATA hard drives,
SATA optical drives
1
SATA hard drives,
SATA optical drive on port 1 only
eSATA hard drives, eSATA optical drives,
SATA-CF Adapter (ADSACF) with SATA-eSATA converter cable or plug
Configuration Requirement3
via SATA controller with SiI3132 or SiI3124 chipset
via SATA controller with SiI3132 or SiI3124 chipset
  • via SATA controller with SiI3132 or SiI3124 chipset
  • via USB 2.0 port2
  • via SATA controller with SiI3132 or SiI3124 chipset
  • via USB 2.0 port
via SATA controller with SiI3132 or SiI3124 chipset
Maximum number of Storage Devices 5 5 5 2 5
Maximum Volume Capacity 2TB with a 32-bit operating system, 256TB theoretical maximum with 64-bit operating system 2TB with a 32-bit operating system, 256TB theoretical maximum with 64-bit operating system 2TB with a 32-bit operating system, 256TB theoretical maximum with 64-bit operating system 2TB with a 32-bit operating system, 256TB theoretical maximum with 64-bit operating system 2TB with a 32-bit operating system, 256TB theoretical maximum with 64-bit operating system
Supported Operating Systems Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, Mac OS X and above, Linux kernel 2.64 and above Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, Mac OS X and above, Linux kernel 2.64 and above Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, Mac OS X and above, Linux kernel 2.64 and above Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, Mac OS X and above, Linux kernel 2.64 and above Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, Mac OS X and above, Linux kernel 2.64 and above
Hot Swappable Depends on the SATA controller it is connected onto Depends on the SATA controller it is connected onto Depends on the SATA controller it is connected onto For eSATA, hot swap depends on the SATA controller it is connected onto. USB 2.0 connection supports hot swap. Depends on the SATA controller it is connected onto
Mounting Configuration Horizontal mount Mounting direction depends on PCI
bracket inside desktop case
Horizontal mount Horizontal mount latch mount holes located at
bottom of the case
Dimensions (W x D x H) - 85 mm x 55 mm x 23 mm (W x D x H) - 85 mm x 22 mm x 49 mm (W x D x H) - 85mm x 55mm x 23mm (W x D x H) - 85mm x 55mm x 23mm (W x D x H) - 135mm x 65mm x 25mm
Host Link Speed 1.5 / 3Gbits/s 1.5 / 3Gbits/s 1.5 / 3Gbits/s 1.5 / 3Gbits/s 1.5 / 3Gbits/s
LED Connectors Host link, storage device, power and system ready Host link, storage device, power and system ready Host link, storage device, power and system ready Power, Device A/B (Power and Drive Activity), SATA Host, USB Host, System Ready, Alarm Host link, storage device, power and system ready

1
To connect optical drives or use hard drives connected as individual drives with no RAID, the Hardware PM must be attached to controllers with the SiI3124 and SiI 3132 chipset.
2 Requires eSATA to USB 2.0 Converter (AAU2ESA)
3 Setting of the Port Multiplier requires configuration software from the controller, with the exception of the Hardware Port Multiplier (which uses it's own configuration software). All Addonics controllers only include the software to configure the standard Port Multiplier under Windows OS at this time.
4 Certain Linux distributions must patch the kernel with libata-tj-stable before they will support the Port Multiplier. Click here for instructions on how to patch the kernel under several Linux distributions.